Wrap up Winter at the Spring Festival!

Sun Peaks, BC - It’s been a spring full of incredible conditions and epic powder days. Over 175cm of snow fell in March, making it the snowiest month of the year! With more fresh snow in the forecast and sunshine for the weekend, the last few days of the season are promising to be no different.

The Spring Festival, April 9 and 10, is full of fun, free events for the whole family as we celebrate the last 141 days of skiing and riding the slopes of Sun Peaks.

80’s Retro Weekend – Saturday & Sunday

This weekend is going to be totally radical at Sun Peaks as the fun and colourful 80’s return to the slopes! Dress up in your most bodacious outfit and hit the slopes for some double daffy’s and back scratchers. Break out the rear-entry boots, straight skis, and neon one-piece outfits! Plus, don’t miss live entertainment from the band ‘Scarecrow’ provided by Okanagan Spring Brewery. And don’t forget to apply and reapply the zinc!

Human Dog Sled Race – Saturday, April 9 at 10:00am

Mush! Mush! Mush! Gather your friends and enter a team for the all-new Human Dog Sledding Races. Each team consists of four team members, including three sled pullers and one sled rider. The race sled will be provided for the competition, all you have to do is register and participate in the 100 metre mad dash! Points will be awarded for best costume, fastest time, and overall team spirit.

Dummy Downhill – Saturday, April 9 at 12:30pm (Registration closes at 11:00am)

Get your team together and start building your dummy for the annual Sun Peaks Dummy Downhill. All dummies need to be firmly attached to a set of skis capable of sliding down the hill, and hitting our custom built dummy downhill jump. Points are awarded for originality, design, appearance, and level of explosiveness upon impact. This is a great event for participants as well as spectators. Bring the video camera to capture the action!

Slush Cup – Sunday, April 10 at 12:30pm (Registration closes at 11:00am)

It’s hands down the funniest competition to take place on the slopes of Sun Peaks as participants dress up in costumes and hurl themselves across an ice cold slush pond. The goal? Make it to the dry shore at the far end of the pond! Points are awarded for costume, style, and overall crowd appeal and the winners have a chance to win some terrific prizes. This is a family event so all costumes must be tasteful and appropriate for all ages.

Top to Bottom's Race – Sunday, April 10 at 4:30pm (Registration closes at 2:30pm)

It’s the last run of the season and it’s all about speed. >From the Top of the World to Bottoms Bar & Grill, the first racer to ring the bell at Bottoms is declared the winner. Entrants must stay on the designated course on the 5 Mile Ski Run. Speed suits are not permitted, but costumes are encouraged.

Sun Peaks Ranked with the Best in the World in recent Condé Nast Magazine Poll

Sun Peaks, BC - Sun Peaks Resort continues to stand up with the best resorts in the world after a top 20 ranking in one of the world’s leading travel publications. Condé Nast Traveler’s 2010 Ski Poll ranks Sun Peaks as the 2nd best ski resort in Canada, and 13th best in North America.

Close to 26,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers voted in this 15th Annual Ski Poll.

Resorts were judged on terrain and conditions, lifts and lines, après-ski/activities, dining and local ambiance. Sun Peaks was one of three Canadian resorts to make the Top 20: Whistler Blackcomb (#1), Sun Peaks (#13), and Mont Tremblant (#14 tie).

“Sun Peaks is honored to be recognized with Whistler as the leading destinations in Canada,” says Christopher Nicolson, President of Tourism Sun Peaks. “The resort is known for it’s village design, reliable snow and expansive terrain spread over three mountains. But perhaps more importantly, visitors pick up on the genuine sense of welcome and hospitality of residents.”

Tourism Sun Peaks up for National Tourism Award Snow Bum Campaign an Award Finalist

Sun Peaks, BC - Tourism Sun Peaks (TSP) has been selected as a finalist in the National Awards for Tourism Excellence, presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC). TSP’s I want to be the Snow Bum campaign from last October is one of three finalists for the WestJet Online Marketing Campaign of the Year Award. The Snow Bum campaign was designed to generate both public and media awareness about Sun Peaks as a world class ski destination, leading into Winter 2009/2010. Thanks to strategic targeting through organic Facebook and Twitter buzz, plus editorial pitches to key media publications, the campaign, and ultimately the resort, garnered significant interest around the world.

The Masters Dominate at Sun Peaks Resort

Canadian Masters Alpine Championships Held Over Easter Weekend
Sun Peaks, BC - Athletes from across the country took to the slopes of Sun Peaks over Easter Weekend as the BC Interior resort hosted the Canadian Masters Alpine Championships for the 10th year in a row.

Three generations of skiers took part in the 2010 Championships, racing for age class national titles in Super G, Giant Slalom and Slalom. Fastest times of the days were posted by 20 year old Emma Beattie from Ontario in both the women’s Giant Slalom and Slalom, while 55 year old Gerry Whittaker from Kelowna dominated on the men’s side, taking gold in all disciplines. And the true master of the weekend was 90 year old Rolf Hauge of Midland, Ontario, the oldest competitor in the field, who won gold medals in the Super G and Giant Slalom events.

Hauge and Beattie were just two of 23 racers who travelled to Sun Peaks from Ontario for the Championships. There were also extremely strong showing from Quebec with 13 racers. The combined Ontario/Quebec team won the Dave Murray trophy for the best region, defeating British Columbia for the first time in five years.

The Sun Peaks Alpine Club held their own during the Championships, with Melanie Roberts winning the overall title for her age category and posting the 4th best women’s time in the Ladies Super G.

Winter’s Not Over Yet at Sun Peaks!

Sun Peaks, BC - The season isn’t over yet at Sun Peaks Resort, and with 27cm of fresh snow falling over the last 7 days, spring skiing conditions are fantastic! So grab your family and friends to enjoy the last 10 days of the winter season, and take part in some of the fun end-of-season events!

Sunday, April 4 - Easter Egg Hunt
Meet the Easter Bunny and Harry the Bear at the top of the OSV run at 11:00am to hunt for goodies on your skis and snowboards!

Saturday, April 10 - 80’s Day at the Peaks
Dig out your one piece snowsuits, radical colours and throw your hair in a side ponytail to hit the slopes for 80’s Day!
Dummy Downhill
Get a team together and build your dummy for the annual Sun Peaks Dummy Downhill! All dummies need to be firmly attached to a set of skis capable of sliding down the hill and hitting our custom built dummy downhill jump. Points are awarded for originality, design, appearance, and level of explosiveness upon impact. A great spectator event! Register at Guest Services before 11am.

Sunday, April 11 - Coors Light Slush Cup
Hands down the most humorous competition to happen on the slopes of Sun Peaks, as participants dress up in costumes and hurl themselves across an ice cold slush pond in an attempt to make it to the dry shores on the other side. Points are awarded for costume, style and overall crowd appeal. A 2010-11 seasons pass and plenty of other swag is up for grabs! Participants must be at least 14 years of age.

Skiing 80 days for a Milestone Birthday

Sun Peaks, BC - Four years ago when he was 75 years old, Nick Maika skied as many days as his age during the winter season at Sun Peaks Resort.

Today at Sun Peaks, Nick officially hit 80 days on his Sun Peaks seasons pass as he once again celebrates a milestone birthday in 2010. Nick turns 80 years old in August.

Nick is a member of the Sun Peaks Antiques, a group who meet three times a week at the BC Interior resort to ski and share stories of the day. Many of his fellow Antiques were on hand as Nick skied his 80th day.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better day,” Nick said after skiing down to the base of the mountain. “I wanted to do it for myself, and 2010 is a great year to do it. With the Olympics and Paralympics happening this year, it will help me remember that 2010 was also the year I accomplished this.”

Nick’s daughter Frances came up from the Kootenays to ski with her dad on his 80th day.
“I’m super proud and I can only hope to ski 80 times the year I turn 80,” she said. “He’s taught all of us kids not to pay attention to your age.”

The Battle Begins at Sun Peaks

Sign up today for the Helly Hansen Big Mountain Battle!
Sun Peaks, BC - Teams of two will once again battle it out on the slopes of Sun Peaks as the Helly Hansen Big Mountain Battle returns to the BC Interior resort on Saturday, February 27.
Each team of two (skiers, snowboarders or mixed) will be racing around Sun Peaks on a course designed by well known big mountain skier, Chris Davenport. While being tracked by FLAIK GPS devises, teams must cover all of the designated GPS checkpoints, including an inbounds hike! FLAIK GPS provides real time data on each team as they race. Not only monitoring the time and speed of each person, the devise also ensures teammates stay within 200 feet of each other.
Two local Sun Peaks ski instructors dominated the field in 2009, with a time of 2:30:57, and won an all-expense paid trip to Aspen/Snowmass to square off in the final Battle in the Bowls. The 2010 Battle in the Bowls takes place Sunday, March 28.
Sun Peaks Info
Sun Peaks YouTube Video

Thiago Touches Down at Sun Peaks

The Official Snow Bum Arrives for 3-Month Stay

Sun Peaks, BC - As the Best Job in the World wrapped up in Queensland, Australia on New Years Eve, the winner of a promotion inspired by the Queensland video contest arrived at a BC Interior Ski Resort.
29 year old Thiago Lucena from São Paul, Brazil landed at Kamloops Airport today to begin a three-month stay at Sun Peaks Resort as their official Snow Bum. His role? To ski, snowboard, dogsled, snowmobile, attend resort events, and then tell the world about his experiences using social media avenues such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Thiago will also be writing blogs for www.snowbumcanada.com.
A crowd of journalists, resort representatives and curious onlookers were on hand to welcome Thiago as he stepped into the airport terminal off a flight from Vancouver.


“It’s exciting to be here! I never expected to be treated like a celebrity,” said Thiago at Kamloops Airport. “This is going to be an incredible experience. When I go to Chile and Argentina, it’s only 10 days of skiing…this is 3 months!”
Tourism Sun Peaks’ President Christopher Nicolson says the Snow Bum contest was inspired by the Queensland promotion and it’s very fitting that Thiago arrives at Sun Peaks for HIS dream job, after Ben Southall wrapped up his year as the Island Caretaker in Australia. “After the build up over phone and email, it’s great to meet such a fantastic individual in person.”
Sun Peaks Info

Race for your Country at Sun Peaks

Sun Peaks Family Cup begins TODAY!

Sun Peaks, BC – Guests from around the globe gathered in the Sun Peaks Village to ring in 2010. Now as the new year gets underway, these international visitors will be raising their home flags and racing for their country during the 4th Annual Sun Peaks Travelplan Family Cup, beginning today!
The Family Cup grows every year and the 2010 edition is no exception, with activities for the next seven days, leading up to the marquee event on Saturday, January 9…the Family Cup Giant Slalom Races. Countries will be going head to head in this fun, recreational race, battling for the Family Cup and of course, bragging rights!
Leading up to Race Day, resort visitors can participate in obstacle courses, along with ice skating and tubing parties.
New this year for the Family Cup is the High Roller Mountain Marathon, which will have participants visiting tents set up at the top of every chairlift and rolling dice, in an effort to accumulate the most points!
Another new event is the Après Ski Olympic Fashion Show, taking place Thursday, January 7th at the brand new Morrisey’s Public House in the Delta Residences.
Sun Peaks Info
Sun Peaks YouTube Video