QSaltLake - Utah gay sports
What’s a better way to spend a winter weekend in Utah than in your Speedo ... or just looking at guys in Speedos? Or girls in skin tight one-pieces? Utah’s largest gay and lesbian, non-profit sports club, QUAC, will be hosting their annual fundraiser, Ski–n-Swim, Valentine’s Weekend, Feb. 12-14.
This year there are a few changes. For the first time, the Ski-n-Swim meet will be sanctioned by United States Master’s Swimming (USMS), the governing body for adult swimming in the country, allowing participants to pre-qualify for International Gay and Lesbian Aquatic (IGLA) swim meets and Master’s qualifying events. Secondly, the swim meet will take place on Sunday, instead of Saturday, allowing skiers, snowboarders and snowshoeing aficionados to enjoy Snowbird on a day that usually is less busy than a Saturday.
QUAC celebrates their 15-year anniversary, originally forming in Salt Lake City in 1995, when a few inspired swimmers created QUAC to compete against other amateur swimmers, water polo teams, divers and tri-athletes in local, national and international meets. QUAC is an all-volunteer, non-profit sports and social organization. (See related story, this issue.)
“Our group has been highly praised for not only offering an alternative to the bar scene, but offering many newly ‘out’ LGBT people a safe and friendly place to explore our community,” said Charlie Ward, QUAC president. “Although QUAC is primarily a gay organization, openly tolerant and friendly straight allies have also found a home within our group, making us one of the most diverse and friendly athletic groups along the Wasatch Front.”
This year, you can still register for participation for all swimming events, socials and Valentine’s Day in the snow, online at QUAC’s Web site. Most event participation requires registration, except Saturday’s swim meet and water polo tournament, at Steiner Aquatic Center, 645 S. Guardsman Way, near the University of Utah campus, with warm-ups at 11 a.m. and the swimming meet starting at noon. The water polo tournament will follow the swimming portion.
To kick off the weekend, the Sheraton Hotel will host Ski-n-Swim’s opening Social, 8-10 p.m., where participants may pick up registration packets, meet out-of-towners and QUAC members, old and new. A cash bar and light hor d’oeuvres will be available.
After the swimming tournament at Steiner, join QUACers at JAM for desserts and libations, starting at 9 p,m. JAM has recently acquired a liquor license and now serves alcohol, beer, wine and champagne. Again, it is a cash bar but local sweets will be provided by local gay-friendly establishments. JAM is located at 751 N. 300 West, in the Marmalade district.
Sunday is Valentine’s Day and Snowbird will be the location of a day on the hill. Snowbird is offering QUAC several options for participation, including a Tram, chairlift and lunch buffet ticket price, just the chair and buffet option, and a lunch buffet-only ticket. Snowshoeing starts at 10 a.m. and goes to noon, and everyone is to meet at the Cliff Lodge in the QUAC hospitality suite to get acquainted and head to the hill. The snowshoeing is designed for beginners, but it should be fun for all levels, especially with the new snow that has fallen in the last couple of weeks.
The Cliff Spa is also offering 50 percent off all services to anyone that signs up for any QUAC package at Snowbird, including buffet-only tickets. QUAC will provide the Cliff Spa a list of everyone that is participating with QUAC, for entrance at any time during the day that the Cliff Spa is open, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are preferred but all services will be offered if there is an opening.
Anyone that would like to rent ski, snowboard, or snowshoeing equipment can get up to a 25 percent discount for gear at Utah Ski & Golf locations in Salt Lake City and Park City, by just mentioning Ski-n-Swim 2010. Equipment is also available for rental at the Snowbird activity center or other ski and snowboard businesses around the Wasatch Front.
Sunday night concludes with a closing social at Club Sound, 7–9 pm. Again, a cash bar will be available for drinks and Club Sound is located at 579 W. 200 South.
Funds raised will support QUAC events throughout the year and benefit QUAC swimmers, divers and water polo team members that may need help getting to Gay Games VIII, in Cologne, Germany, July 31–Aug. 7.
“QUAC will represent Utah at tournaments in the Pacific Northwest, Southern California, the southwest, and the Intermountain Rockies,” said Ward. “QUAC is committed to offering free aquatic coaching to anyone interested in aquatic sports including swimming, water polo, diving, synchronized swimming, and open water and multi-sports like triathlons.”
For more information or to register for all events, visit www.quacquac.org or visit www.ski-n-swim.org.