Whistler celebrates diversity

 Whistler celebrates diversity; welcomes 19th annual WinterPRIDE

Whistler, B.C. - WinterPRIDE, Whistler's gay and lesbian ski week, celebrates its 19th annual celebration and if the saying ""growing older is inevitable; growing up is optional"" applies, this festival is right on track, aging gracefully while maintaining its youthful spirit.

WinterPRIDE has evolved into one of the largest and most-renowned gay ski weeks in the world, attracting thousands of attendees to the mountains to experience the vast array of sport, culinary, health and wellness and entertainment events. 

WinterPRIDE 2011 spans eight days, from January 30 to February 6 and offers more on and off-mountain events than ever before. Combining the world-class skiing and snowboarding options offered in Whistler with a jam-packed schedule of apres entertainment, dance parties, activity options and culinary events, WinterPRIDE is a must-attend event on the Gay and Lesbian travel calendar. 

This year, some of the headline entertainment includes New York's Last Standing comic finalist Michele Balan, RuPaul's 2010 winner - Tyra Sanchez, Rock Star: Super Nova finalist Zayra, headline DJs including Eddie Baez, Ted Eiel, Adam Dreaddy, Nick Bertossi and JC Simon. 

Festival-goers won't want to miss the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones at the welcome party at the Whistler Conference Centre Sunday night. Afterward, the party moves to Buffalo Bill's for the welcome dance. 

Tubing, fondue and snowCAT tours, dogsledding, snowshoeing, ziplining and snowmobile tours are just a few of the activity options available within this year's festival program. 

Not sure about navigating your way around Whistler and Blackcomb mountains? Check out the daily Travelocity Never Roam Alone ski guiding program.

The cowboy and cowgirl party at Buffalo Bill's on Tuesday is a chance to show your country flair. Looking to get a little bent? Then the Southern Comfort gender bender party event at Garf's is where you'll want to be Wednesday evening with special guest drag appearances, including Kendra Doll. 

GayWhistler partners with FlyGirl on production of some of the festival's signature women's events including the Shred Betties Bash on Saturday, February 5. 

WinterPRIDE is produced by GayWhistler, which also operates GayWhistler.com, a year-round resource for gay and lesbian travellers to Whistler. For more information about this year's festival, visit www.gaywhistler.com

Whether you plan to visit for the duration of the festival or if you are looking for a mid-week or weekend getaway, Whistler offers exceptional winter vacation package to suit everyone's needs. Experienced local reservation agents are available to assist you with booking your vacation. To find out more about Whistler activities and to book your winter vacation package, visit www.whistler.com. 

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Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America for the past 12 years in a row, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 9,000 permanent residents.

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.