Mass ski event hits NZ

Hundreds of international gay and lesbian skiers and snowboarders are set to descend south of the equator this winter.

The largest GLBT skiing and snowboarding club in the world — Ski Bums — is heading to New Zealand for Gay Ski Week in July.

Gay Ski Week NZ event director Mike Sanford said he was “thrilled” GLBT skiers and snowboarders were making the trip.

“I’ve been in communication with them for years and out of the blue got a call from the Ski Bums director who said he is organising a group for the event, so this is exciting news,” Sanford said. “It has been awesome — the international interest we are getting — and we can’t wait to host the Ski Bums members and show them some true Kiwi hospitality.”

The Ski Bums have more than 750 members from the US, Canada and the UK. They will join Australians and New Zealanders on the snowfields in Queenstown for what’s set to be one of the largest gay ski weeks worldwide.

New York-based Ski Bums director Chris French said members are looking forward to the trip.

“New Zealand sits at the top of the wishlist for skiers and snowboarders from around the world,” he said.

Gay Ski Week NZ runs from July 23 – 31 and will include party events.

info: Visit www.gayskiweeknz.com