On A Queer Day You Can Ski Forever

On A Queer Day You Can Ski Forever

Winter may not be peak season for Europe; but from January-March, gay winter sports fans come to Europe to ski, party and make new friends at one of these well-established gay ski events.

Arosa Gay Ski Week - Switzerland

Arosa Gay Ski Week 1Launched in 2005, the Arosa Gay Ski Week is no newcomer to the LGBT winter event. The gay-friendly resort of Arosa in the Swiss Alps hosts this popular event every year in January.

The resort has an impressive backdrop, set amongst the mountain landscape of Graubünden. Arosa’s base elevation is 5,900 feet, with the vertical drop less than 2,800 feet - ideal for cruising ski.

The activities take place at different locations throughout Arosa. The organisers bring in world-class, international acts and gay-favorite DJ’s such as Micky Friedman (Berlin), Juiceppe (Zurich), Steven Redant (Barcelona), etc.

A wide selection of gay-friendly hotels and apartments are available, but book well in advance.

[click here for hotels in Arosa, Switzerland]

Gay Snowhappening - Austria

Gay Snowhappening 1This is perhaps the longest-running gay ski event in Europe. Gay Snowhappening happens annually in March in Sölden and features a fun-filled programme of activities and adventures - skiing, snowboarding, jovial hut evenings and dance parties.

Well-known circuit parties like Salvation (Berlin), Forever Tel Aviv (Tel Aviv), Sinners (Munich), SEXY CGN (Cologne), Circus (Vienna) and OMG (Prague) have all joined the event, featuring an all-star DJ lineup, dancers and performers.

There are many great-value hotels and resorts in Sölden, though they sell out quickly during high season.

[click here for hotels in Sölden, Austria]

European Snow Pride - France

With more than 600 participants from alEuropean Snow Pride 1l over Europe, North America and beyond, the European Snow Pride is one of the biggest gay winter sport and music festivals in Europe.

The week-long event takes place in March at the world-class, snowsure resort of Tignes, Espace Killy (Tignes+Val d'Isère) in the French Alps.  The organisers have established a unique partnership with the resort that commits to important issues concerning the LGBT community, supporting gay marriage and fighting against homophobic discrimination.

Espace Killy covers more than 300 kilometres of pisted runs, spread across 10,000 hectares and is considered one of the most beautiful ski areas in the world.

[click here for hotels in Tignes, France]

European Gay Ski Week - France

European Gay Ski Week 1Like the Snow Pride event, the annual European Gay Ski Week (EGSW) is held in France around March.  It features many activities including mountain-biking on snow, night sledding, skydiving, paragliding, dog sledding, etc. In the evening, guests can enjoy dance parties with DJ’s, cabaret shows and performances.

For several years, EGSW has been hosted by the Alpe D’Huez resort, but in 2015 the Avioraz resort takes over. This beautiful resort has snowy pedestrianised streets, horse-drawn sleigh taxis, and accommodations that have direct access to the slopes.  Avioraz also features a unique water park that has a large pool with climbing walls and an open-air hot spa.

[click here for hotels in Avioraz, France]

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