Let Sunshine Village brighten your winter
This winter, you can be a part of history. Escape the city for the picturesque tranquility of Banff Sunshine Village, an internationally acclaimed ski destination celebrating its 90th birthday in 2018.
First established in 192829 by the CP Rail company as a summer lodge, the resort offers more than 1,335 hectares (3,300 acres) of diverse terrain on three mountains for skiers and snowboarders to discover. Its location 20 minutes west of Banff, high on the continental divide straddling the Alberta/British Columbia border, makes it a natural snow magnet.
Famous for Canada’s best snow and longest non-glacier ski season, spanning from early November to late May, Sunshine Village is also an excellent venue for new skiers to master the sport.
“We get a fair amount of new skiers every year as people love to learn in the Canadian Rockies,” says Kendra Scurfield, media and communications manager. “Our snow is so light and soft, it makes for a more forgiving learning environment. And with more than 90 centimetres of snow in the past week and a half, which just keeps on falling, our conditions right now have never been better for taking advantage of the early ski season,” she said late last month.
The resort takes part in the Never Ever Days program, which provides the ultimate beginners’ package including equipment rental, a lift ticket, and lesson for just $25.
There are also plenty of challenging runs for medium and expert skiers, too, including the-heart-pounding, double black diamond Delirium Dive.
Make sure to get a ride on Canada’s only heated chairlift, the Tee Pee Town LX high-speed with heated seats, footrests and orange bubbles for weather protection.
And the Sunshine Mountain Lodge, accessible only by gondola, is the only ski-in, ski-out hotel in the Banff and Lake Louise National Parks, offering mountain access from your door and the area’s largest hot tub to soak in after a day on the slopes.
New this year, try out the “sunshine express” shuttle service from Banff to Sunshine and back. The resort is offering free shuttle service to all Sunshine skiers and snowboarders.
Learn more about Sunshine Village’s offerings this season at skibanff.com or call 1-87-SKIBANFF.