Gay Ski Week fans in for 'flamboyant fun'

More than 900 gay snowsports enthusiasts in Queenstown for a week of "flamboyant fun" on the slopes and off start arriving in the resort today for the eighth annual Gay Ski Week.

Event co-organiser Craig Lawson yesterday said the week had become a solid fixture on the calendars of many gay people throughout Australasia.

"About 70 per cent of those attending are from Australia, and we're now one of the top five gay ski weeks in the world," he said.

An appearance by The Topp Twins this year was a milestone event, Mr Lawson said.

"The Topp Twins are gay icons in New Zealand and Australia, and we've got DNA Magazine, one of the biggest gay magazines in the world, hosting a hot-pool party at a really sexy venue, so things should get pretty steamy."

An Australian film crew shooting the week for an internet series ensured there would be lots of international exposure, Mr Lawson said.

"They're shooting for a series called Ski Camp. The website for a gay surf camp last year got over 600,000 hits, so we're sure this will get at least as many," he said.

Everyone in attendance would be having fun on the slopes and "partying hard," which was indicative of the power of the "pink dollar", Mr Lawson said.

"There's 900 people here with no kids and a whole lot of spending power and we'll be keeping the bars as well as all the tourist operators in Queenstown busy."

Many of the people in town for the event would be attending for their fourth consecutive year.

The added internet exposure this year would help ensure the week's status as a "must be there" event for many in the Australasian gay community, Mr Lawson said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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