Gear Up for the first annual men-only fetish weekend, July 22-24, 2011 at Saratoga Springs Resort. Come start your Dore Alley week right! Get away to a private wooded valley in the mountains near Clear Lake for a weekend with other kinky guys. New to the scene? Uncertain of your place in it? Do you have fantasies to explore but never had the opportunity? YOU are especially welcome. Take a course in Dominance 101 or submission 101. Or sit by the pool for the entire weekend if you like. Expose yourself (clothing optional) to new people, old friends, and join in fun activities: Play Space, Naked Wilderness Hiking. Workshops and demos in S&M, fisting, watersports, bondage, erotic massage and more will be open to all interested regardless of skill level! Enjoy the friendly crowd, chill atmosphere and secluded environment. This weekend has been created especially for the younger, less experienced men interested in BDSM/fetish techniques. There will be no judgment of experience or boundaries here: all who attend are welcome as they are.
With open plays spaces and optional workshops to attend, Gear Up is for both the kink curious and the heavy player. There’s something for everyone. Camping space, five meals and bar are included in the registration fees. Catering will be provided by Gary Alinger, which will include a range of excellent vegetarian and vegan choices. There will be time and space for clean/sober meetings and plenty of non-alcoholic refreshments.
Mario Torrigino, founder of Leather Levi Weekend, and event Chair Stephen Charles created Gear Up weekend after identifying a void in the Bay Area community. There are few non-commercial events for younger guys either involved with or curious about the world of BDSM and fetish explained Mr. Charles. Established groups have continued to cater to the wants of existing members and ignore the passage of time and changes in taste and sensibility. Once we had a more public community of personal interactions that ensured that beginners learned from trustworthy players. The rise of the internet as a place for hooking up has destroyed that public community and its monitoring role. This event will be a safe, respectful space for younger men to explore their interests in BDSM and fetish and also be mentored by more experienced and reliable players. Most of all, Gear Up is about rebuilding that person-to-person community in this age of internet hookups and decreasing kink-identified public space. We need to create the next generation of leaders of the Kink/BDSM community to preserve our unique culture and promote what we add to the greater LGBT community.
Located at the Saratoga Springs Retreat Center near Clear Lake, the site offers full amenities including bathroom facilities, showers, hot tub and pool. A limited number of indoor bunks are still available for an additional fee. Private cabins have sold through and there is a waiting list.
ABOUT GEAR UP WEEKEND Gear Up Weekend is a men-only fetish weekend to be held July 22-24, 2011 at the Saratoga Springs Retreat Center in Upper lake, CA. Gear Up was created to foster fellowship and build community within the San Francisco Bay Area male BDSM and kink community. Men of all experience levels are welcome at Gear Up as a safe, non-judgmental place to explore their interest in BDSM and kink and be mentored by more experienced players. Hands-on workshops on erotic massage, impact play, fisting and bondage will be open to all. Beginners are encouraged to attend. Basic registration includes camping space, five meals, full bar, showers, pool and hot tub, workshops and dungeon access. A limited number of indoor bunks are still available for an additional fee. Members of the Gear Up steering committee range from old guard veterans of LLW to those from newer kink groups as diverse as Urge, Fetlife and the Men of Discipline. Through this broad base of men of varied experiences working together, the planning of Gear Up is a reflection of what we hope to achieve for the broader community.
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