Cool Fun With Hard Poles: European Gay Ski Week

You don't have to be an Olympian to dig European Gay Ski Week, which will take over Avoriaz next year from March 19-26. But if you've got some downhill experience under your belt, you'll find some of the best conditions on the planet.

The iconic French Alps resort averages 26 feet of snowfall per winter, which gives EGSW more powder than any other European gay ski event. It's been rated one of France's most beautiful resorts and its piste, The Stash, the best in the world by media like Lonely Planet and CNN. Designed in part by Jake Burton, legendary founder of Burton Snowboards, The Stash is beloved by those who know snow for its awesome mash-up of tree run and terrain park.

Mountain Highs

Avoriaz, which sits at 6,500-feet-high on a rocky bluff, is a ski-in, ski-out resort designed to be car-free. Sleighs are used as taxis, streets double as ski runs, and all hotels have direct access to the slopes. Speaking of which, Avoriaz is located in the heart of Portes du Soleil, the largest linked ski area in the world. Spanning 12 Alpine resorts across France and Switzerland, it offers more than 400 miles of trails, five terrain parks and a super-pipe. There's a three-mile-long run to explore, a vertical drop of 4,800 feet, plus nearly 40 miles of black runs that'll whiten the knuckles of even the best skiers.

But newbies don't need to be intimidated -- throughout EGSW, white-hot instructors will offer LGBT-friendly classes specifically for Ski Week pass holders, so don't be afraid to grab onto your neighbor for support. Even the bunny hills have great snow and get plenty of sunshine at Avoriaz, and with almost 50 miles of green runs at their disposal, beginners won't get bored with hitting the same spots over and over.

Let's Get This Party Started

Man can't live by skiing alone, and European Gay Ski Week participants know how to have as good a time off the sticks as on them. Founded in 2008 when it drew just 150 participants, EGSW has grown to include more than 1,000 revelers from 50 countries who can hit up 25 parties along with 10 clubs with music from 20 of the world's greatest DJs.

Apr�s Ski, everyone's favorite bash from the last year, will be hosted daily in 2016 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. by The Global Dance Project with Ibiza's DJ Gordon Edge. Count on the Beardrop, presented by the infamous Paris Bearclub, to serve up serious testosterone-fueled fun for bears and the guys who love them. White (if not "virginal") attire will be de rigueur at the epic Snowball and the Mr. B. Erotica Party should indulge the kinkiest fantasies.

If you can keep it up all night long, there'll be an After-Hours soiree starting at 1 a.m. every morning during Ski Week. Check it out after enjoying the drag, burlesque, variety, comedy and acoustic music performances presented in the Electric Carousel Cabaret Lounge each evening. EGSW will also spice things up with special events like a lunch high in the mountains over Avoriaz that will feature falconry demonstrations and dinners exploring the region's cuisines, including fondue. Pack a swimsuit and be prepared to get wet and wild with the Pool Party, which will be held at Avoriaz's incredible Aquariaz water park, boasting a massive pool with climbing walls, a river with variable gentle currents, hot tubs and more.

Getting There

European Gay Ski Week 2016 may be set in the towering French Alps, but it's a snap to reach. Geneva International Airport is only about two hours away and Ski Week has organized transfers by private coach to and from the resort on arrival and departure day. If you want to go posh, Whitetracks offers private and shared helicopter and luxury road transfers between Geneva and Avoriaz.

Merrymakers likewise have a wealth of lodging options at Avoriaz ranging from five-star chalets and fully-serviced bed-and-breakfast suites to wallet-friendly budget accommodations. Ski Week has negotiated special rates for participants and promises to match cheaper prices for the same rooms, so booking with them might ensure the best rates.