1st Queer Ski Weekend at Vail is packed full of skiing and apres events that celebrate inclusivity

This weekend, Mountain Pride will be bringing the rainbow to the slopes as it celebrates its first Queer Ski Weekend at Vail Mountain.

“I’m particularly thrilled about the opportunity for fellow community members to connect with the queer community on the slopes,” said Madison Partridge, the executive director of Mountain Pride. “This event offers a chance to celebrate our community, engage in outdoor activities, and forge meaningful friendships.”

Mountain Pride is a nonprofit organization working to bring advocacy, organization and support for LGBTQ+ communities across the Western Slope.

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While other mountains across Colorado have hosted queer ski days and events — including a Queer Ski Day at Beaver Creek in 2023 and a Queer Ski Weekend at Keystone on March 1 and 2 — this will be the first queer ski weekend in Vail for the Eagle County-based nonprofit.

From Friday, March 22, to Sunday, March 24, there will be several events hosted both on and off the mountain in Vail.

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The weekend kicks off on Friday evening with a party at Two Arrows Café and Bar. From there, skiing will begin on Saturday morning at the Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead with BBQ and a pride run during the day. Saturday’s events will wrap up with a Pride Aprés at Tavern on the Square and a Glitter & Ice Party at Chasing Rabbits. To finish the weekend, Vintage Vail will host a Slopes & Sequins drag brunch on Sunday morning.

Each of these events is meant to help create visibility and build a sense of community for queer communities in the mountains.

“Living and working in rural mountain communities, it can be hard to connect or feel comfortable attending events, so opportunities like these are helpful stepping stones to engaging with the community, for many that was the first time they could celebrate with the community while being here,” Partridge said.

However, events like queer ski days and weekends or Pride are more than just celebrations — they also serve as powerful responses to discrimination.

“They are catalysts for broader social change and cultural shifts toward greater equality and acceptance. They send a strong message that LGBTQ+ individuals deserve equal rights, representation, respect, and dignity,” Partridge said. “Despite progress, our community still faces significant discrimination and marginalization, as evidenced by the prevalence of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and high rates of mental health issues, such as suicidality, among LGBTQ+ youth.”

Added Partridge: “They provide platforms for LGBTQ+ individuals to show their identities proudly, challenge stereotypes and combat stigma and discrimination. All while doing it in a colorful and fun ski kit.”

Partridge added that as these events have occurred in other mountain communities, the organization has seen positive economic impacts as they attract visitors and bring support for local businesses.

For Vail’s ski weekend, the support goes both ways, with Partridge giving a nod to those that are contributed to the weekend.

“Without the contributions of our sponsors and allies, like Two Arrows, The Sebastian Vail, Epic Promise, Vintage Vail, Yes Please, Grand Hyatt Vail, and Chasing Rabbits, Mountain Pride wouldn’t be able to create programming and these vital spaces for connection, visibility, and advocacy,” she said, adding that “the parties and Drag Show help to support Mountain Pride’s year-round programming.”

In addition to organizing the local Pride in the Park and Queer Ski Weekend — as well as similar celebrations in neighboring communities — Mountain Pride has grown since its inception in 2022 to provide other resources to the community.

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This includes offering education and training around things like pronouns, gender-affirming practices, workplace consulting as well as diversity, equity and inclusion training. The nonprofit also has begun to advocate — as well as provide opportunities for civic engagement — for reform and equity both locally and on a state level. It also includes connecting LGBTQ+ community members to resources for all types of support such as mental health, peer, family and gender affirmation.  

The upcoming ski weekend represents much of the goals the organization aims toward all year.

“Creating a space where everyone feels safe, acknowledged and part of a larger community is immensely rewarding, albeit just a preliminary step toward broader inclusivity,” Partridge said.

To learn more, visit MountainPride.org.