Sunshine Village turns 90!

Continental Divide Chairlift follows the line which divides Alberta and BC at Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

It's not often you get to ski with a nonagenarian but 2018 is your chance as it is Sunshine Village's 90th birthday! 

Rockstar Terrain Park at Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

Launched way back in 1928 by CP Rail as a summer hiking lodge, the Rocky Mountain resort which straddles Alberta and British Columbia, has grown up in tandem with the increasingly popular pursuit of skiing and has now matured into an international ski destination without losing any of its natural allure. The snow is so great (think light, dry and fluffy) and so consistent that the resort does not have to do any snowmaking over its 3,300 acres blanketing three mountains! Instead, Sunshine uses an ingenious, although labour-intense, system of snow harvesting using strategically positioned wind breaks, and only resorts to a snow cannon to supplement the ski-out at the beginning of the season. And, despite not having snowmaking, Sunshine still has the longest non-glacier ski season anywhere, starting early Nov and ending late in May - plenty of time to book a trip this season! You can keep an eye on the snow depths throughout the winter but right now it is already at 360cm cumulative snowfall with a 126cm base, one of the most substantial in North America over this holiday season. 

Goat's Eye Mountain at Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

You can see by the photos I have sprinkled throughout this article - generously contributed by ZoneSki.com photographer and writer Christian Falardeau - how serenely beautiful it is at Sunshine. Falardeau was there over Christmas on a week's trip with his wife Vanessa Sancho. As part owner of a Canada-wide construction product manufacturing and distribution company, he visits Alberta regularly for his work, always saving at least a day or two for skiing. "I fell in love with the panoramic view four years ago and these two places make me fall in love with skiing every time I come," he says. 

Contemplating the Angel Chair and Continental Divide at Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

Although his favourite time is the spring - late April at Lake Louise and early May at Sunshine - he decided to bring his wife over for a Christmas trip this winter. "We stayed at Hidden Ridge Lodge in Banff while skiing at Sunshine Village," he told me. The plan: to experience the Alberta Rockies in deepest winter and celebrate the holidays with ski progression. "My wife started learning to ski last winter when I brought her on a full week ski trip to Club Med in Torino, Italy," Falardeau explains. With three more ski days in Québec, she added half-day group lessons at Sunshine on Dec 23 and 25 and another at Lake Louise on Dec 24. Falardeau says the quality of the ski instructors at both resorts is "second to none". And I know from previous experience they must both have loved the outdoor hot tub at Hidden Ridge Lodge - both for its soothing heat and the stupendous Bow Valley views which literally make your heart sing.  

Jumping for joy at Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

Skiing is intrinsic to the Falardeau/Sancho lifestyle: "To my wife, skiing is a good way to enjoy the winter. She will ski maybe 12 days per year. For me, skiing is everything - I try to ski at least 50 days per year," he says. With experiences in 2017 from France (La Plagne, Les Arcs, Chamonix), Italy (Torino, Courmayeur) and Chile (Vale Nevada, La Parva, El Colorado, El Arpa) as well as North America (RED Mountain, Whistler, Mt Hood and SkiBig3), he contributes adventurous articles and poignant pictures to ZoneSki.com and is a dedicated ski commentator on Facebook. "I am also following a ski guide and reporting his backcountry travels around the globe," he told me. "ZoneSki.com gives me the possibility to express myself." 

Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

So, how is Falardeau such a perceptive and prolific photographer? Turns out he is a student of Bernard Brault, sport photographer for La Presse (Montreal's largest newspaper), who covered 17 Olympics. "He taught me how to see and capture images," says Falardeau who favours a Nikon DSLR D7200 with 17-140 and 70-200 lenses for his ski photography. "He is also behind the choices of material I use."

Surreal Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

Over the holidays I, too, spent several sensational days skiing at Sunshine, scene of many a Hudson holiday over the past 18 years. I've seen the lodges develop into mountain modern chic with a parallel culinary enhancement, all within the environmental strictures of being smack bang in breathtaking Banff National Park. What I particularly noticed this year, in between rambunctious runs on silky snow, was the fervent friendliness everywhere. In fact, several Brits I met on gondolas and in the lodges, commented on it, too, noting that people - whether workers, locals or fellow visitors - are genuinely interested in sharing their experiences, their joie de vivre, their tales, their tips - and their tables. Convivial conversations that really make your holiday.  

Ploughing the pow at Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

Olympian Dave Irwin, at Goat's Eye Gardens on Wednesday,
sporting a colourful ski outfit designed by his wife,
Lynne Harrison and available at her shop/gallery:
Silver Tree Studio, Canmore

Goat's Eye Gardens - ideal for a quick stop-off while doing leg-challenging loops on the Goat Glades, South Chutes or Wildfire - has had a trendy overhaul this season, now sporting leather armchairs, lots of individual table and comfy chair groupings (rather than benches with backless stools), wood trims, new windows and doors, and masses of backpack shelving. Not to mention the more glamorous loos! 

Also, had a great late lunch at the Chimney Corner in the Sunshine Mountain Lodge another day, nabbing the cosy fireplace sofas for mulled wine and mountain munchies - courtesy of a very chatty server. It was a lovely treat after five or six hours on the snow-drenched slopes. I also really appreciated the free hot chocolate first thing in the morning at weekends and log fires down at the base (ideal for hanging out by the heat while hubby fetches the car at day's end).

Cosy haven on the hill at Sunshine Mountain Lodge
Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

THIS SEASON
Sunshine is currently confabbing about celebrations for its 90th birthday bash: Kendra Scurfield says that they are "working on launching a Heritage-Meets-Today" style campaign, so look out for news of that in the coming months. Events will kick off in the spring.  

Other ski resorts commemorating 'big birthdays' this season include Silver Star, BC (turning 60), celebrating with discounts and deals as well as the chance to win a 2018/19 season pass - deadline Jan 31. Aspen already marked its 50th in style with a weekend of parties Dec 15-17 at Snowmass. 

Powder puff at Sunshine Village - by Christian Falardeau

NEXT WEEK
For the perfect introduction to wintersports, Sunshine Village has a Never Ever Day coming up Jan 8. Never Ever Days are an enticing beginners’ package for skiing or snowboarding. Everything is provided – equipment rental, beginner lift ticket, and a lesson – for just $25 (+tax) for ages 9 and over (5 plus in Quebec). More than 80 ski areas across Canada will be offering Never Ever Days throughout the 2017/18 season but with limited spaces, so book in advance via the Canadian Ski Council website. Participating resorts include Nakiska, Lake Louise, Mt Norquay, Castle Mountain, Fernie, Kimberley, Big White, Panorama, Silver Star, RED Mountain, Marmot Basin, and Whitewater among many more. 

THIS MONTH
January is also Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month in the USA with resorts such as Crested Butte, most Ski Vermont hills and all 14 Ski Utah resorts taking part, offering $49 deals on lessons, rentals and lift ticket packages. 

Coming up in the next few weeks are more articles about the places I've been visiting over my Dec/Jan trip to Canada (still ongoing), including:
- fabulous few nights at the Lake Louise Inn with great skiing at the Lake Louise Ski Resort
- boutique bed and breakfast at The Cube in downtown Revelstoke as well as amazing skiing on the Revy ski hill
- downhill daytrips to gnarly Nakiska from Canmore
- road trip to stay right on the sensational slopes at Panorama Mountain Resort 
- signature stay in gorgeous Golden, BC with skiing at Kicking Horse 

Katskiing at Keystone, Colorado - by Dr Simon Hudson

Want to know where else you can get masses of soft, fluffy snow this season? Check out my new adventure article about katskiing at Keystone: https://www.snow.com/experiences/adventure/keystone-adventure.aspx