PHOTOS: The Swiss Alps Queer Up for Arosa Gay Ski Week

Last week a storybook corner of the Swiss Alps put out the rainbow flag for the eighth annual Arosa Gay Ski Week. The gods must’ve been on our side–the event was preceded by a massive 12-foot snowfall that blanketed the Alpine countryside in pristine powder that was perfect for swishing down.

The town of Arosa is perched high in the Alps of eastern Switzerland—near the borders of Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein–and just a  train ride away from Zurich.  But the 250 or so snow bunnies who came in for the ski week hailed from 30 countries across Europe and well beyond. As usual, skiers ran the gamut of skill-levels, and several local instructors were on hand to help throughout the week. For those with two left skis, though, blanketed lounge chairs facing the breathtaking 8,000-foot Weisshorn mountain awaited at the Tschuggenhütte.

Other non-skiing events throughout the eight-day adventure included a classical concert at the village church, a horse-drawn sleigh ride, a drag queen ski race and plenty of parties filled with gorgeous Nordic types. When guests wearied from a day on the slopes—and a night on the dance floor—they retired to rooms at one of Arosa’s many picturesque inns—many of which, like wonderfully cool Hotel Seehof, are former Alpine health sanitariums converted into a hip mountain getaways.

If you like to get your adrenaline pumping on the slopes—or elsewhere—start getting ready for Arosa Ski Week 2013!

Photos: Dan Allen, Thomas Haywood Photography, Boje Ploeg

Click through for photos from the Arosa Gay Ski Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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