With the Wild Things, Mr. Incredible and the Church Lady

The Aspen Times
By Janet Urquhart
January 22, 2005

Irreverent Bible Belt humor, free beer, schwag and assorted foolishness marked Friday's Bud Light Downhill Costume Contest, a popular hallmark of Aspen's Gay and Lesbian Ski Week.

A few hundred spectators gathered in the sun at the base of Aspen Mountain to watch outrageously clad skiers and boarders slide down Little Nell in a quest for prizes and cheers.

Sister Helen Holy of the "First Southern Fried Self-Satisfied Baptist Church," aka "the Church Lady," emceed the action with her familiar brand of scriptural wit, much to the delight of the "homoseculars" and "lesbyterians" in the crowd.

Winning the individual competition was Becky May of Snowmass Village, dressed as Rainbow Brite, edging out contenders like "Mr. Incredible" and "Amanda Reckonwith."

Fetching the highest score in the group judging were The Wild Things, costumed characters inspired by the children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are." Donning the costumes were Todd Heimel, Brian Bernot and Jason Jacobs, the team representing the Aspen Gay and Lesbian Community Fund, which sponsors the annual ski week.

"Somebody got locked inside with a crack pipe and a hot glue gun," observed the Church Lady, examining their costumes.

The Wild Things edged out a perennial group favorite, participants from Outwest Global Adventures. Their "Queer Eye for the Straight Skier" skit parodied the popular television show and featured an on-stage makeover of a fashioned-challenged "straight guy," right down to his skivvies.

The 28th annual Gay Ski Week concludes this weekend with a final bash at the Sky Hotel and skiing on Sunday.