SKI BUMS :: Gay & lesbian skiing and snowboarding club

How many people are in SKI BUMS?

For the 2008/2009 season, we had just over 525 dues-paying members, and we maintain an active mailing list of over 3,000 GLBT skiers and snowboarders. To our knowledge, SKI BUMS is the world's largest GLBT skiing and snowboarding club.

What's the best reason to join SKI BUMS?

The people. The people. The people. Visit our testimonials page for evidence; the BUMS themselves are the singular best reason to join us. Traveling with a group like ours makes for excellent friend-making. It starts with the love of the terrain and the challenge of an exhilarating day, it grows with the chance to talk on a chair lift or warm up around a fireplace, and ends with the relaxation of drinks and dinner with friends. It's the stuff of timeless memories, and the kind of thing that's increasingly hard to come by in this virtual technology world of a city we live in. SKI BUMS seeks to provide a real alternative to the standard offerings of gay culture; we celebrate natural highs, meaningful friendships, and the marvelous rush of tearing down a mountain of freshly fallen snow. We're having a great time, and we'd love you to join us.

Where do you go?

All over the world! In the last few seasons, in addition to a fun series of daytrips, we've visited North America's best resorts, including Whistler / Blackcomb, Vail, Aspen, Jackson Hole, Park City, Telluride, Lake Tahoe, Big Sky, Killington, Stratton, and Stowe plus international trips to Chamonix, Zermatt, St. Anton and Bariloche. Visit the Group Trips page to learn all about our destinations for 2010, which include trips to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Mammoth, Jackson Hole, Snowbird, Killington and more.

What are your members really like? Am I going to fit in?

The BUMS, as they're affectionately known, have developed a reputation for being down-to-earth, friendly, genuine, personable, and just plain cool people. We're not a typical gay crowd. Check out our testimonials page and see for yourself!

Where do your members live?

For our 2009 season, we had members from 24 different states, plus Canada and the United Kingdom. Many of our members are from the NYC area -- where SKI BUMS is based -- but we're seeing groups of members join from Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago. New for 2010, we're planning to host Social Events in some of these cities; be sure to add your name to our mailing list to find out when there's an event in your area!

I haven’t been skiing / snowboarding in years. Is everyone going to laugh at me?

Of course not! SKI BUMS welcomes everyone, from those who are completely new to skiing and boarding, to those who might feel just a little rusty. We even plan an annual local daytrip, "Bunny Hill," for those who want get on skis or a board for the very first time. It's a great way to introduce a friend to skiing and boarding -- in a fun, easy-going atmosphere -- where we can all happily laugh at ourselves.

How many women are in SKI BUMS?

In 2009, we set a new record, with more than 75 female SKI BUMS members. We also hosted our very first all-girl trip, a daytrip to Belleayre, NY called "Girl Powder." It was a stellar success -- go check out the Photos page to see how much fun we had! Most excitingly, we're seeing women join all of our trips. In 2010, we're planning our very first all-female overnight trip, and we'll continue to host our special get-together, which we call Pow.Wow.

For the overnight trips, how do you assign roommates / condomates?

For all of our trips, we give you the option to request a roommate or condo unit with other friends who are also on the trip. If you don't request someone to room with, we'll happily match you up with other BUMS based on your preferences. We've even got a nifty online form so you can tell us what kind of atmosphere you prefer. :)

What percentage of your members ski / snowboard?

About two-thirds of our members only ski, and one-third snowboard, but many do both. If you're eager to learn to board, you've come to the right place. We've got a whole group of skiers who are making the transition into snowboarding, much to the delight of our die-hard boarders!

What is the skill level of the BUMS?

Currently, about 25% of our members have identified themselves as beginners, 40% are intermediate, and 35% are advanced. There are always plenty of other people at your same skill level for you to enjoy making new friends on the slopes, and SKI BUMS makes it easy for you to find one another. On each trip, we host group-ups in the morning so you can start your day on whichever trails you'd like to tackle along with other BUMS.

Are most of the BUMS single? Are there many couples in the group?

About two-thirds of our members say they're single. What's interesting, though, is that many of the BUMS who are in relationships joined SKI BUMS primarily to make new friends. We believe that there's something great about forming friendships around shared interests, and skiing and riding together is a fantastically fun, low-pressure way to get to know new people. We've seen a number of couples join SKI BUMS together; a daytrip makes for a fantastic "getaway" date!

Can straight people join?

Sure! SKI BUMS welcomes the entire LGBT community -- and our straight friends. We'd love to help revolutionize the gay culture in New York, to create atmospheres where men and women and our straight friends all have a fantastic time... together. Join us!

Do I have to become a member in order to ski or snowboard with you?

Yes. You must be a registered member in order to ski or board with us. One of the perks of membership are the invitations to join our trips. We are a private travel and activity club; only our registered members may join any portion of our trips. If you'd like to check us out before joining, we invite you to meet the BUMS at Avalanche, which is open to anyone, and an easy, fun-filled way to see what the BUMS are like.

Do you host social events outside NYC?

Although most of our social events take place in New York City, we've got members joining SKI BUMS from throughout the US and Canada. For 2010, we're planning to host our first Avalanche events outside New York. Be sure you're on our mailing list to get the invites! You're welcome in SKI BUMS, no matter where you live.

How much do the trips cost?

Prices vary, depending on our destination. Our local daytrips usually cost around $100, for lift ticket, ski or snowboard rental, and our own bus there and back. For more up-to-date information, visit our group trips page.

Do you help arrange lessons on trips?

Yes. Most of us take lessons throughout the season; it's the best way to improve. Many of the resorts that we visit on our daytrips include complimentary lessons for groups like ours, which makes SKI BUMS is a great way to polish your skills!

If I'm a paid member, may I drive to meet you at a daytrip resort?

Yes! Although our daytrip bus rides home are arguably the highlight of the day, we know that some who live outside NYC may find it more convenient to drive. We still ask you to sign up for the trip at least one week in advance, so we can include you in our pre-trip information emails and make sure you know where to find us. If you choose to drive, SKI BUMS will not provide your lift ticket, equipment rental, etc. You'll need to take care of that on your own.

Why don't daytrip drivers get lift tickets when they sign up?

It's nearly impossible to coordinate the distribution of everything. Drivers often arrive later than we do, and at the resorts we visit, buses are usually directed to one parking lot, while drivers are sent to another. Cell phones get bad reception. Trust one on this one; as a driver, you won't want to have to find us in order to get your lift ticket, especially if you've arrived after we've already begun skiing & riding. When you sign up as a driver, we'll email you our exact time and location for morning group up, lunch, and après ski, so you can find us when you arrive.

Do you plan trips to the gay ski week events?

In the past, we've organized outings to various gay ski week events -- and we may do so again -- but we've found there isn't much for us to organize beyond what the gay ski weeks' organizers are already offering. We usually have a handful of members who attend these events each year, and Avalanche is a great place to meet them. SKI BUMS maintains regular contact with the hosts of the major gay ski weeks; if you'd like more info on any of these events, feel free to ask us.

What if I sign up for a trip, then need to cancel?

Our cancellation policy varies, based on the destination. You'll find each cancellation policy listed at the bottom of each trip information page.

Is anyone into telemark, backcountry, snowcat or heli-skiing?

Several of our members are very into tele, backcountry and heli-skiing. We're planning some exciting heli and backcountry trips for our 2010 season, in fact. If you're into backcountry or tele, you'll want to be sure to let us know.

What about cross-country skiing?

Although SKI BUMS focuses on alpine (downhill) skiing and snowboarding, we're seeing a growing interest from those who would enjoy exploring the cross-country trails at some of our ski destinations. If you're thinking about joining a SKI BUMS trip to do some cross-country skiing, let us know; we'd love to hear your ideas.

May I make arrangements to arrive early or stay late for one of your trips?

Absolutely. In some circumstances, we'll ask you to make those arrangements on your own, but feel free to contact us if you're interested in arriving at a destination early or sticking around for a while.

Who created SKI BUMS, and who puts everything together?

SKI BUMS is the brainchild of Chris French, who grew up skiing the challenging farmland hill terrain of northern Illinois. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he moved to NYC... and met very few gay skiers or snowboarders. He created SKI BUMS in 2003, and what started as a simple hope to make new friends has grown into a full-fledged job. In addition to running and operating SKI BUMS, planning trips, organizing social events and designing the website, Chris works in the off-season as freelance writer and graphic designer. Send Chris an email >

Are many of the BUMS single?