Ahead of our own preview/international focus on the 5th annual European Gay Ski Week (EGSW), we share the first in a running series of press releases, our chosen extracts from the original P.R. looking back through the history of EGSW, before hinting towards what to expect from this most talked about gay ski week in the world.
Pulling Out All the Stops to Celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the European Gay Ski Week (EGSW)
Renowned for its fun-guaranteed and raucous entertainment, EGSW is providing Gay & Lesbian revellers the chance to participate in the most exciting winter event of the year!
Before EGSW – The Early Days
The roots of EGSW came from a venture lead by the Pure Organisation’s Kevin Millins in 2007. Then known as Man Mountain and originating with a group of 50 gay friends and acquaintances, all who attended the fun-packed week decided that they wanted to come back again for more.In 2008 Man Mountain moved to Tignes, France where it combined forces with another similar event called the Happy Gay Ski Week. With now 150 attendees, and gleaming with success, Kevin and his team decided that this combined venture needed a name – European Gay Ski Week (EGSW) was born!
EGSW – The History
Founded in 2008, Year 1 of EGSW took place in Tignes, France in March 2009with approximately 200 attendees. The ski week took place, with artists including Andy Bell from Erasure and Soul II Soul. A popular ski area and resort, with Pure Organisation’s experience in Clubbing and Parties and the fantastic snow, guests came back in even larger numbers. Year 2 almost doubled in numbers to 370 and doubling again in 2010 European Gay Ski Week had become the fastest growing and most popular gay ski week in Europe. By this time its reputation was growing throughout the industry as well and the role call of Clubs and Djs that were participating in the event were beginning to read like who’s who of gay clubbing from Europe and beyond. Amongst those who joined EGSW were Steven Redant, Trade, Pagano, La Demence, and Andy Bell of Erasure, Leomeo, Soul II Soul, Loveball and Crazyvores.
In 2011, EGSW decided it wanted to treat it’s attendees to a new resort – Alpe d’Huez. The yearly event was becoming such a huge success, with its now 1000+ attendees, and the ever-increasing list of big-named artists. EGSW also knew it had found a resort that could further cater for its revellers needs. Alpe d’Huez transforms itself into a gay-town for one week every year, and it is truly excellent!
In 2012, every club, restaurant, bar, and venue wanted a piece of the EGSW action. Party nights included the famous Snowball, Pool Party, and Erotica. The snow-conditions were perfect, the après-ski got even better, and it was not surprising that DJ’s and entertainers were literally begging to come back. And the revellers, well they just couldn’t stop talking about it!
For the 5th official anniversary of EGSW, as a special thank you to all that have supported the event over the years, EGSW is taking the event to a completely new level – not only offering the biggest-named line-up in history, but by being the first gay ski week in the World to present a two-country event providing snow-bound entertainment.
The line-up is guaranteed to be the envy of every other Gay ski event in the world and includes Hustlaball (USA), We Party (Spain), Rapido ( Netherlands), Lovechild (United Kingdom), Scream (France), Bear Necessity (Holland), Labs (France), Greenkomm (Germany). The extravagant parties and entertainment more spectacular than ever, the management even more devoted to participants needs, and even the skiing that touch better as the event is now one week earlier than usual, the 16th-23rd March, 2013.
With over 40 nationalities, the biggest name DJs and entertainment, 1200km of snow-guaranteed pisted runs, and hosted in two of the sexiest countries in Europe, it’s no wonder why EGSW is the most talked-about gay ski week in the World.