It's a grey rainy day in Queenstown today, so around 300 Gay Ski Weekers are taking the opportunity to relax and pamper themselves while hoping for better conditions tomorrow.
"My knees are aching from assuming the position for the last three days... if you know what I mean," chuckles Bob from California, who was up early for a dip in the pool at the Crowne Plaza hotel this morning. "I'll be at the Day Spa all day, maybe the hot pools later, and be ready to hit the mountain again tomorrow."
Massage and skincare treatment appointments are popular choices today for weary Skiers today, while others are catching up with gossip from home using Queenstown's internet cafes, and shopping in the city. Several stores in town have signs up welcoming gay tourists and offering discounts with Gay Ski Week ID cards.
"Part of the magic of Queenstown is its variable weather conditions," the week's organizer Mike Sanford reminds us. "We've been blessed all week so far, but now we're hoping the bad stuff will clear for the end of the week."
Last night's mid-week Ski Bum Party at the Yacht Club went from 9pm until after Midnight, with the venue seemingly packed with Sydneysiders – "it looks like all of Oxford Street has emptied out – everyone's here," laughed one Aussie.
Tonight's event is the DNA magazine Lake Cruise Dinner on the old coal-powered TSS Earnslaw. DNA's editor will attend, along with a writer and a model from the popular Australian body-beautiful gay glossy. Then tomorrow there's an all-day tour of the region's award-winning wineries – with tastings, naturally.
The Metservice predicts showers early tomorrow, clearing in the afternoon.
