Hit the slopes for gay ski week

By Jeff Marsh

Because I live in Chicago, I have the annual dilemma of whether to use a week of my all-too-scarce time off to take a ski vacation or a beach vacation. With temps plunging below zero recently and piles of snow all around, you would think my choice would be a no-brainer. But while Mexico and Florida are frequently on my mind in wintertime, I inevitably head to a ski resort.

The majority of my ski vacations have been with my family, but this year I am headed to gay ski week in Telluride with friends. I still have many fond memories of my first gay ski week experience at Whistler severalyears ago. In the past, many gay ski weeks had the reputation of being nine-tenths circuit party and one-tenth sport, but times have changed. While the dance and pool parties are still on the schedule at ski weeks including Telluride, most of these events promote “unpretentious fun” with “zero attitude,” which is just the way I like it.

One of my favorite things about a gay ski week vacation is the camaraderie. Every morning skiers with similar abilities gather in groups to attack the slopes. While I aspire to join the black diamond group someday, there are plenty of skiers — myself included — who stay on the blue intermediate runs. It is nearly impossible not to make new friends from all over whether it be on the slopes, at the lodge, or at the numerous après ski activities. And who wouldn’t enjoy drag queen downhill races with a champagne bar at the finish line?

Telluride may be Colorado’s “Best Kept Secret,” butfrom February 23 through March 1 the secret will be OUT!  See you on the slopes!

Upcoming gay ski weeks:

Telluride — Feb. 23-Mar. 1, 2008
Lake Tahoe Winterfest — Mar. 2-9, 2008
Elevation at Mammoth Mountain — Mar. 12-16, 2008

Related Orbitz resources:

• Gay ski vacations
• Gay travel Telluride
• Gay travel Lake Tahoe
• Gay travel Mammoth Mountain
• Hotel deals

Jeff Marsh takes great pride in having created the first-ever TV ad with gay puppets and airing it on Bravo before the Runway was even built.

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