Daniel and Sean Daniel and Sean from Newtown in Sydney were at the inaugural NZ Gay Ski Week in 2003 and came back again in 2005. This September will be third trip to Queenstown, for what is now the largest gay and lesbian alpine event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. “In 2003 we had a fantastic time and the second trip was even better,” Daniel explains. “The mix of snow, sun, spectacular scenery and friendly locals makes Queenstown a perfect place for a ski holiday, add a stack of friendly gay guys, hot spas and cool parties and you know you are going to have a brilliant week. Sipping a cocktail in the bar after a hard day on the slopes with new friends is definitely the way to relax and while Queenstown may not have a gay bar as such, during Gay Ski Week, half the bars become gay for the week.” Daniel says the week is a great opportunity to meet a different group of gay people from the usual ‘Sydney scene queens' they normally see. “There are lots of Kiwi's and a handful of people from other countries. The week attracts people of all ages, from rural and regional areas and guys who do not normally visit gay bars and clubs – plus of course you always get a fair number of spunks!” The guys make a point of staying in the base hotel for the week. “The base hotels have all been excellent, the staff friendly and no one seems to mind when we take over the hotel spas, saunas and bars at the end of the day. Each morning the ‘Pink Bus' picks us up from our hotel and our friendly, hunky bus driver – straight, unfortunately! – takes us to the best snow area for the day in a coach full of queens.” Ski Week stories - on (and off) the slopes Courtney Act at Coronet Peak The first Ski Week the Sydneysiders attended involved a small group of around 20 people: “We all got to know each other very well, and we still keep in touch with several people we met in 2003. “The biggest night in the first year was when we took over the Millennium Hotel for a fabulous drag show hosted by Buffy