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Altitude X bigger and better than ever

What: Altitude X When: Feb. 3-11 Where: Various Whistler Venues It’s here, it’s gay, and it’s out of this world.

What:

Altitude X

When:

Feb. 3-11

Where:

Various Whistler Venues

It’s here, it’s gay, and it’s out of this world.

With 3,000 attendees, an international DJ lineup and a planets-aligned theme, Altitude X hits town this weekend with a myriad of entertainment from Out On the Slopes Productions.

From the Avalanche kick off party at the Commodore in Vancouver Saturday night, the zingy atmosphere shifts north for the opening party with DJs Billy Carroll, Manny Lehman and more Sunday at The Westin Resort & Spa.

"We’ll have a very Wallpaper (Tyler Brule’s London-based urbana magazine) look and feel, with a very cool apres ski ice bar and little peak fireplaces," says Ken McAuliffe, on staff with Out on the Slopes. "A surprise music act will be playing every day at 4 p.m."

Brent Benaschak, who started the gay and lesbian ski week 10 years ago, says there will be "special surprises for the tenth anniversary this year."

Altitude grew from humble beginnings.

"Altitude and Whistler have really made a name for themselves, in what started out as a bunch of guys that shared an interest in snowboarding and skiing with a camaraderie atmosphere," says Laurie LaMarche, events co-producer for the past three years.

The week’s list of events includes a number of stage performances.

"Lea Delariea headlines the comedy night and charity auction. She’s a fantastic performer out of San Francisco who acted as both Eddie and Dr. Scott in a version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show," says McAuliffe.

Wednesday’s Cabaret features Kim Kuzma, Dee Daniels, and drag queens.

Thunderthrob: The Women’s Party is presented by Flygirl Productions and features DJ Tracey D.

DJ Brett Henrichsen from L.A. headlines the Tea Dance held at the Roundhouse and offers a hint of flavour from the circuit scene. Henrichsen has played the Pillage and Plunder Cruise, Jeffrey Sanker’s Beach Ball. His first single, Dreamweaver, gave him the start he needed while training at a record label.

The tea house dance tradition is an offshoot of the gay circuit scene, made popular by wealthy gay travelers.

"Circuit parties were originally a segment of the population that traveled around the world, who had the budget to do so, and meet other people," says LaMarche. "The tea dance has a longer tradition but it is also about meeting new people. Inside the gondola will be cold and dark, which will give people around 20 minutes to get to know six or eight people, from all over the world, and then that vibe carries into the Roundhouse party."

DJ Billy Carroll returns for Altitude X and will turn the tables at Meltdown. A NYC native, Carroll now spins in Miami at both the Waterfront and the Paragon venues. He has worked with Gloria Estefan, Donna Summer and Ottmar Liebert, playing Gay Disney Hard Rock Coliseum Party in Florida and the Black and Blues Military Ball held annually in Montreal.

Shine, the fashion show blitz, offers both ladies’ and men’s wear fashions from DKNY to Boy’s Co. and Ric Yuenn.

Throwing a spiritual twist into the works is the Gospel Brunch Singers featuring Sibel Thrasher, Leora Cashe and Candus Churchill.

Manny Lehman takes it down a notch at the Recovery Party. Known as the Latin from Manhattan, Lehman produced Circuit Sessions 1 and 04.

The youngest DJ act is Mat St. Marie, from Montreal, who spins at this his first mainstream act.

Each day of the festival has been aligned with a planet.

"Pluto, for example, is day one, a traditional symbol of rebirth and rejuvenation, while Jupiter radiates good fortune at the opening party," McAuliffe adds.

The week is also about benefit fund-raisers. The ski and board race and benefit on Thursday, Feb. 7, raises funds for the S.A.F.E. clinic.

Altitude ends with planet Venus which represents attraction and shared pleasure.

ALTITUDE X: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS & MUSIC

www.outontheslopes.com

Sunday, Feb. 3

6:30-9 p.m. Opening Party at the Westin Ballroom

Monday, Feb. 4

10 a.m. Group ski/snowboarding meets at the lightboard at the top of the Solar Coaster Express

3:30 p.m. Apres Ski Entertainment. Daily lineup including rock band Cherrybomb, at the Westin

8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Martini Reception & Show featuring Evasons telekinesis, Merlin’s

Tuesday, Feb. 5

10 a.m. Group boarding lessons, Meet at the Whistler Village Gondola Alpine Lightboard

Noon Picnic at Chic Pea, Whistler Mountain

3:30 p.m. Apres Ski Entertainment at the Westin

8:30-11 p.m Comedy Night featuring Lea Delariea & Charity Auction, Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler Resort

Wednesday, Feb. 6

10 a.m. Skiing/snowboarding, Meet at the top of the Solar Coaster Express

12:30 p.m. BBQ lunch, The Marriott

6:30-8:30 p.m. Snowmobiling

10:30 p.m. Cabaret featuring Dee Daniels, Kim Kuzma and drag queens, The Westin

10:45-2 a.m. Beach Party, Meadow Park Centre

Thursday, Feb. 7

8:45 a.m. Heli-skiing

10 a.m. Group skiing/ snowboarding, Meet at the Whistler Village Gondola Alpine Lightboard

1 p.m. Benefit Ski Race for S.A.F.E.

3:30 p.m. Apres Ski Entertainment at The Westin

8:30 p.m. Shine; the Fashion Show, Whistler Conference Centre

11 p.m.- 3 a.m. Post Show Party, Underground

Friday, Feb. 8

10 a.m. Scavenger Hunt, Blackcomb Mountain

Noon- 2 p.m. Snowmobiling

5:30-10 p.m. Mountain Top Tea Dance, Roundhouse Restaurant

9 p.m.-2 a.m. Thunderthrob Women’s Dance, Garibaldi Lift Company

11 p.m.-4 a.m. Meltdown party featuring DJ Billy Carroll, Underground

Saturday, Feb. 9

7:30 a.m. Fresh Tracks Breakfast

8:45 a.m. Heli-skiing

10 a.m. Group snowboarding, Meet at the Whistler Village Gondola Alpine Board

4 p.m. Apres Ski Entertainment & Awards, The Westin

9:30 p.m.-4 a.m. Snow Ball X featuring DJ Abel, The Whistler Conference Centre

4 a.m.-8 a.m. After Hours Party, Underground

Sunday, Feb. 10

10:30 a.m.-1 p.m Gospel Brunch featuring the sounds of Sibel Thrasher, Leora Cashe, and Candus Churchill, The Aubergine Grill at The Westin

9 p.m -3 a.m. Recovery Party featuring DJ Manny Lehman, The Whistler Conference Center