SameSame.com.au ~ Inside Out Australia

The White Stuff

Feature, By Cameron M, 21st June, 2009

It’s freezing. Your toes are cold, you can’t go to the beach anymore, and all you want to do is sit at home and whinge. Hey, that’s normal. Winter is here and it sucks. Still, why not make the most of it by hitting the snow?

If you’ve ever fancied skiing or snowboarding down under, now is the time to haul yourself into action. Snow fell on cue in Australia and New Zealand this year, with both countries reporting heavy snowfalls at all ski resorts during the very first week of the season.

Of course, you could easily grab a bunch of friends and drive down to Perisher, Thredbo, or Mount Buller (recommended). You could even quit your day job and work as a lifty for the entire season (only recommended for those undergoing a midlife crisis). Failing that, you could check out one of the three gay ski events being held in Australia and New Zealand this year.

Before you roll your eyes, let me wholeheartedly agree that group holidays are often very-deserving targets of slander (the thought of Club Med sends shudders down my spine). But, after having a blast at Gay Ski Week New Zealand last year, I’ve since changed my tune. Hundreds of people turned out for the event, the parties were great, and the snow was unreal. Lo and behold, the converted.

The major difference between attending a gay ski event and hitting the slopes with just a few friends is the guaranteed promise of a gay-friendly crowd and plenty of GLBT-oriented events.

To get Same Samers one step closer to putting on a pair of ski boots this winter we’ve compiled a list of the three gay ski events happening in Australia and NZ. We’ve also thrown in a few tips for any first timers hitting the snow with one of these gay ski events, but feel free to add your tips and recommendations in the comments field if you think we missed anything.

See you on the slopes!

Gay Ski Week New Zealand (GSWNZ)
GSWNZ is definitely the big daddy of ski weeks, boasting a nine-day itinerary that’s jam-packed with events in and around beautiful Queenstown.

One of New Zealand’s most breathtakingly beautiful cities that sits near three excellent ski fields (Cardrona, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables), Queenstown also has the added advantage of being one of New Zealand’s biggest party hotspots. Unless you’re a monk it’s impossible to avoid enjoying a few of the 150 bars that are crammed into its windy streets.

If you get bored with the snow (highly unlikely), you can rest up at the hotel or try another adventure sport: ski-diving, heli skiing, jet-boating and bungee jumping are all on offer. If relaxing is more your thing try a hot pool, winery tour, bike riding or hiking.

GSWNZ runs from 29 August to 6 September. Click here for more information.

WhiteOUT! (Australia)
The doyenne of GLBT ski events in Australia, WhiteOUT! will celebrate its 10th birthday this year. The whole event is not for profit, and as such the costs are as low as they go. WhiteOUT! puts on plenty of side events to keep people entertained, such as dinners, parties, group lunches and après ski get togethers, but you can also expect to be cramming in a lot of skiing during the three days you’re there.

Accommodation can be booked through High Country Reservations, and their list of events includes plenty of things for voyeurs (i.e. non-skiers) to do too. WhiteOUT! has all the hallmarks of a good old gay and lesbian get together in the snow. Run by avid skiers who are keen for everyone to join in on their fun, take your gear, take your friends, and get on down!

WhiteOUT! runs from 23-26 July at Mount Buller. Click here to check out the full details on their website.

Frosty Fruits
Run by Points of Difference Events, Frosty Fruits is the resident newcomer to gay ski events in Australia. At first glance it is by far the most luxurious of the three.

The Frosty Fruits experience includes return transport from Sydney to party-central Thredbo in a 6-star coach with a gourmet dinner box thrown in to sweeten the ride.

Accommodation, lift passes, all meals (yep, breakfast, lunch and dinner!) and all special events (i.e. gourmet dinners and parties!) are also included in the package.
Prices differ depending on your needs – cheaper if you bring your own gear or if you’re not going to ski at all (a “whatchman” or “whatch her” package), and slightly more expensive if you want your ski hire arranged for you.

Frosty Fruits runs from September 4-7 in Thredbo. Click here for more info on their virgin voyage to the snow.

And regardless of which snowfield takes your fancy, here are tips for taking on the snow:

If you’re a beginner, get lessons from a professional.
Often well-meaning friends will take novices to the top of a steep run to “show them the ropes”. All too soon these well-meaning friends tire of being the teacher, and with a quick “you’ll be right! I’ll see you down at the bottom!” they’re off and racing, leaving the knock-kneed novice to inch his/her way to the bottom. Having a lesson or two will speed up the learning process, and prevent you from stabbing your friend with a ski rod at the end of the day. Besides, lessons are relatively cheap and the instructors are frequently hot. Need I say more?

If you’re hiring your gear, take a few moments to learn about the specials each hotel/ski run/ski shop has to offer.
Cardrona in New Zealand offers a two day lift pass + full ski/snowboarding gear (clothes included) for less than the price of hiring the gear alone.

It’s okay to go to a gay ski event alone.
You’re not a loser, and every skier/snowboarder knows that the snow isn’t to everyone’s taste. You’ll soon meet like-minded friends on the slopes and in the sauna after the day is done.

Pack some snacks for the slopes.
Snow holidays are notoriously expensive all over the world, if only for the astronomical accommodation/food costs incurred in ski towns and ski resort base camps. You may feel cheap while stocking up on muesli bars with all of the other tight arse backpackers in the supermarket, but it will save you from buying that $5 mars bar and the $15 sandwich when you’re up on the slopes.

Renting an apartment with friends can prove far cheaper than staying in a hotel.
It can also be a lot more decadent if you book in advance. Friends at GSWNZ rented a 3-storey house complete with garden, open fireplaces, a spa, and views of the lake, all for a nightly cost cheaper than the four star group hotel.

Take or hire a car.
Catching the bus with the rest of the gang is novel the first day. Missing the bus the next day because you were too drunk to get out of bed at 6am will soon kill any desire to rely upon a bus to get you around. Sharing a hire car with friends should cut down costs.