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by Robert Ellsworth
It’s Mammoth or bust for the thousands headed to Tom
Whitman’s sixth annual Elevation Gay Ski Week, March
12-16.
Win with IN!
Here’s your chance to win two VIP Passes to Elevation
2008. Just a few seconds on the Elevation website could land
you and a guest all-access passes to the hottest parties
in Mammoth. To enter, go to www.mammothgayski.com/incontest by March 4.
Snow sweeps down, settling on our noses as we make the ascent
to the glistening caps. Up, up and away, we soar in the lifts,
rising high above the setting sun. Wind whips off the peak,
briskly across our tanned faces. Suddenly, Mammoth Mountain
emerges with a light veil of billowy cloud swirling around
the summit. White capped mountains plunge into the ravine,
not to mention a 6-foot-3 muscle daddy zipping by in nothing
more than a skin-tight, neon jumpsuit. All too soon my wingman
perches on a ridge, blue glow reflected off the snow. Ineptly,
I get out, tumbling in the crunchy snow. We strap on our
boards and stand on the edge of an infinite, steep basin
in untracked powder, before my buddy, a keen snowboarder,
launches himself, and I hesitantly follow. Once I push off,
a buzz takes over as I soar down the slope. Pure nirvana.
Yes here we are in March—forget about the desert or
the beach— and there is beaucoup snow, not to mention
a surfeit of sexy men: perfect conditions for gay powder
hounds.
It is the exhilarating beginning of a five-day ski weekend,
selected as much with an eye on the man candy as on the quality
of the skiing. Yes, it's Elevation 2008, the sixth annual
Mammoth Gay Ski Week, being held from March 12-16. For the
last six years, thousands of gay men have dashed to Tom Whitman’s
rollicking snow soiree. You just can’t beat the thrills
and spills of California’s most chillin’ ski
town.
“Elevation was modeled after Altitude, the original
Whistler Gay Ski Week. I wanted it to be about making new
friends, snowboarding and having a great time,” says
Whitman. “To me, Aspen is more about VIP events and
fancy restaurants. Elevation, like Mammoth, is more inclusive.
Everyone comes to the parties, drops the attitude and meets
people from all over the country.”
He’s right. It’s this unspoken camaraderie and
the resort’s inherent grandeur that make the week such
a blast.
For the infusion of snow bunnies who flock here each year,
Elevation is the coolest of tickets, offering high-octane
boarding and high-powered hook-ups in surroundings of pristine,
pine-swathed slopes. Size matters, which is why the well-endowed
Mammoth is showered in accolades by all the major ski and
snowboard magazines. At an elevation of 11,053 feet, it’s
an alpine region of 3,500 acres of sweeping beauty, lovely
lakes and beautifully groomed trails. But best of all, you
won't find the long lift lines that you find in Tahoe or
Aspen.
This year, January storms dumped tons of fresh snow with
a solid 100+-inch base, so whether you're a skier who sticks
to the bunny slopes or a snowboarder who's trying to perfect
a daring 360, there’s no better place for the adrenalin
junkie.
But Elevation isn’t just for speed demons and diehard
snow addicts. If the idea of barreling down a mountain is
a little worrisome, fear not, there is a packed roster of
activities, including the traditional nocturnal Party @ 10,000
Feet, featuring a moonlit ride on the mountain gondola; Cliffhanger,
the most awesome dance event of the season; and plenty of
rowdy après ski parties.
At the Lakanuki—think Gilligan’s Island as a
ski shack—the clientele runs the gamut from Hollywood
agents, like Jonathan Perry, to doctors turned dizzying drag
queens. Two gender illusionists, Helga and Ivana, decked
out in bedazzled ski couture, entertain, while rowdy blokes
kick back Jägermeister. “Besides the great snow
and intense boarding, you just never know who you are going
to meet on that late-night gondola ride coming back from
the mountain top party,” Perry say, explaining why
he continues to come back year after year.
And he’s right. By the end, half the single dudes seem
to have scored. It’s like a gay cruise without the
passport, motion sickness or cabin fever.
The Village Lodge provides a stress-free haven where boys
relieve their achy muscles in the steamy pool—some
in board shorts, and others, “California style.” After
an exhilarating day charging the slopes, what better way
to unwind than a misty hot tub at the main lodge with some
shredded friends? Landscape architect Greg Sanchez travels
to Elevation every year. “I wouldn’t miss it,” he
says. “One of my favorite things to do is bomb it down
the back of the mountain into the snow-capped trees. I call
it Chronic of Narnia. The parties are a bonus.”
So whether it is sleep or gravity you choose to abuse, look
no further, thrust your pole deep into Mammoth Mountain and
experience a gay man’s pièce de résistance!
Elevation takes place March 12-16. For more information,
go to www.mammothgayski.com.
[GETTING THERE]
 The Mammoth Lakes are 300 miles from Los
Angeles (about a four-and-a-half-hour drive). For frequent
flyers, there is a charter service available into the Mammoth
Airport. You can also find inexpensive flights into Reno
and from there, rent a car for the three-hour drive.
[LODGING]
While there are a wide variety of accomodations
throughout Mammoth, Elevation has secured discounts at its
host hotels. To work the discount, contact Jason Couvillion
at jasonc@travelcts.com.
Space is limited, so make your reservations today.
Mammoth Mountain Inn
www.tinyurl.com/3x8b5g
Comfy, old-school vibe with an action-filled Jacuzzi. Adjacent
to the Main Lodge at the mountain base, this funky, recently
renovated hotel offers ski-in/ski-out accommodation, in a
cozy, kitschy atmosphere.
The Westin Monache Resort
www.westinmammoth.com
For those who like posh, five-star comfort and upscale amenities,
this recently opened gem features 230 guest suites with fireplaces,
slate floors and plush beds. It also boasts breathtaking
views and impeccable dining.
The Village at Mammoth
www.villageatmammoth.com
After an exhausting day swishing down the slopes, rest your
head in comfort sequestered here in Mammoth’s magical
old town. The property features 166 condominiums built in
the midst of a mix of exceptional restaurants, snazzy boutiques,
art galleries, bars and brew houses.
[THE SLOPES]
Tucked into the Eastern Sierras, the mountain averages
40 feet of snowfall per year. The terrain covers 3,500 acres
with a vertical drop of 3,100 feet, and plenty of California
sunshine—over 300 days a year. If you're renting
equipment, there’s less strain on your wallet if
you eschew the resort and do it in town. Try Footloose
Sports Center, at the corner of Canyon and Minaret (www.footloosesports.com),
and Wave Rave Snowboard Shop, on Main Street (760) 934-2471,
for snowboards and accessories.
[THE PARTIES]
Wednesday, March. 12
Welcome Event
9 p.m.-midnight
Lakanuki, 6201 Minaret Rd.
Suite 200, Mammoth www.lakanuki.com
Thursday, March 13
Smack! North
9 p.m.-midnight
LuLu, 1111 Forest Trail Rd.,
Unit 201, Mammoth
www.restaurantlulu.com
Friday, March 14
Friday Apres-Ski
3-6 p.m.
Lakanuki
THE PARTY @ 10,000 FEET
8 p.m.-midnight
Catch the gondola at the main lodge to the mountaintop party.
SatURDAY March. 15
Malibu Beach Party Apres-Ski
3-6 p.m.
LuLu
Cliffhanger
9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Canyon Lodge, 1 Minaret Rd., Mammoth
SunDAY March. 16
Sunday Apres-Ski
3-7 p.m.
Canyon Lodge
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