Story by Ed Salvato
For lesbian or gay skiers and snowboarders who simply can't wait till winter to schuss down those slopes, we got you covered! We discovered two winter events scheduled for September 2010. One event takes place in South America; the other in New Zealand -- Destinations in the southern hemisphere currently enjoying their snowy winter. Both feature lots of skiing and snowboarding though they both throw in extracurricular fun like parties, wine tastings, entertainment, après-ski gatherings, and more.
In its second year Bariloche Gay Ski Week takes place from September 5 though September 11. The charming Argentine mountain resort town of Bariloche (pronounced "ba-ree-lo-chay") is located almost 1,000 miles southwest of Buenos Aires, easily reached by air. Gay-owned and operated Bariloche Gay Travel can help you organize a trip to the region. You can pair a trip to Bariloche with a weekend in Buenos Aires, staying at the gay-popular (and so-called "hetero-friendly") Axel Hotel. Most participants are from South America though some fly in from all over the world.
Note: Just prior to posting this piece, we heard of another gay ski week in South America. This Gay Ski Week is taking place at the Nevados de Chilian in southern Chile August 22 to 27. There's no website for it and the information they provided is in Spanish. For more information, email Gonzalo Navarette.
Gay Ski Week NZ celebrates its 8th birthday this year from September 4 through 12. It is more established and more popular than the Argentine event and bills itself as "the biggest gay alpine party in the southern hemisphere." Also popular primarily with "locals" (meaning New Zealanders and Australians), there are many who jet in from the four corners.
For more information on Buenos Aires, visit our Buenos Aires Out City Guide.
To hear me discussing Buenos Aires and Argentina in general, listen in on this four-minute snippet from my recent Sirius OutQ radio appearance. (I'm the call-in travel expert on Sirius QutQ with Derek & Romaine.)
