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Aspen gay ski week returns for 36th year

Thu. November 29, 2012

Drew Carey performs at premier GLBT winter travel event—January 13-20, 2013

Aspen, CO - Aspen Gay Ski Week, the nation's largest and oldest gay ski event, returns for its 36th year from January 13 to 20, 2013, along with presenting sponsor, Bud Light. Iconic comic Drew Carey will perform at the historic Wheeler Opera House as part of the nightly events throughout the week.



This year, proceeds from the event will benefit GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), the Trevor Project, the Point Foundation, and the local program TEACH (Teachers Empowering Agents of Change), the Western Colorado AIDS Project, the Gender Identity Center of Colorado, as well as local schools of the Roaring Fork Valley.

"World-famous Aspen plays host to a week of epic skiing, après-ski events at The Limelight Hotel and exciting nightly events," remarked Todd Heimel, board president of Roaring Fork Gay and Lesbian Community Fund. "Back by popular demand is the ‘mountaintop party,' accessible only by a moonlit gondola ride up Aspen Mountain, to an elevation of 11,000 feet. Once there, guests dance the night away at high altitude."



Each afternoon during Aspen Gay Ski Week, The Limelight is the site for après-ski parties from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., attracting up to 1,000 daily. Sponsored by Bud Light and Svedka, these events feature DJ entertainment, free gifts from sponsors, a hospitality suite, heated pool and two hot-tubs.



On Friday afternoon, the city of Aspen gathers to view the popular downhill costume competition, hosted by Miss Richfield 1981—seen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Today Show. In years' past, contestants can be seen skiing down Aspen Mountain in riotous costumes, such as Madonna, St. Paulie girls and water skiers.

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