Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort

The Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort does not need much of an introduction as it is very well known to Western Canadians. It is located in Banff National Park, 135 kms west of the Calgary international airport and 8 kms west of Banff on the Trans Canada Highway #1. There are 12 total lifts which include one 8-passenger high speed gondola, 7 quad chairs, 1 triple, 1 double and 2 magic carpet tows. There are 107 named runs at Sunshine Village and it’s vertical rise totals 3,514 vertical feet. For more mountain statistics for Sunshine Village click here.

Sunshine Village caters to families and skiers/snowboarders of all ages and abilities. They have an exceptional ski-school program and the Tiny Tigers daycare takes care of kids as young as 19 months. They also have a wide variety of terrain ranging double blacks like Delirium Dive to green cruising runs off of the Strawberry Chair. The run breakdown is 20% Beginner, 55% Intermediate and 25% Expert which reiterates the fact that there is something for everyone.

What’s new at Sunshine Village

The brand new West Wing of the Sunshine Mountain Lodge features eco-luxury in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. As Banff’s only ski-in, ski-out accommodations, this 84-room lodge offers unique views and Banff’s premier lodging experience. For more information on the Sunshine Mountain Lodge click here.

Sunshine Village has purchased a new high-speed quad lift from the Vancouver Olympic Committee, giving the resort a lasting legacy from the 2010 Games. The lift will replace the Strawberry triple chair, and will be up and running for the beginning of the 2010-’11 season.

What you may not know about Sunshine Village

This resort is home to some of Canada’s best snow – it has 3,358 acres of skiable terrain and relies almost entirely on natural snow. The village is situated at 7,200 feet above sea level, high in the Canadian Rockies which can only be accessed via the high-speed gondola.

Sunshine Village is spread across three mountains, and offers the unique experience of being able to visit two provinces – Alberta and British Columbia – in one run. The Continental Divide chair crosses into B.C. and back into Alberta before you unload.

The skiing and snowboarding season here is super long. This year, they opened on November 11, 2009 and won’t shut down until May 24, 2010 with the annual Sunshine Slush Cup Party.

The Rogers Terrain Park is the area’s largest, with more than 50 park features on 12 acres of snow.

Top 5 reasons to visit Sunshine Village

1. They have the longest non-glacial skiing and snowboarding season in North America running from November until late May.

2. The new West Wing of Sunshine Mountain Lodge is the only ski-in/ski-out accommodations in Banff

3. The exceptional elevation of the resort ensures champagne powder conditions all season long

4. Being in the heart of Canada’s oldest national park creates a unique natural experience and provides amazing scenery for guests

5. It is a family friendly resort with a broad range of terrain suited to every ability level

To learn more about Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard resort, visit their website at http://skibanff.com/.

Congratulations to Matt Hansen who was our Go Big! Contest winner and took home 2 full day lift tickets to Sunshine Village. Big thanks to “A Banff Boutique Inn” for providing my accommodations during my visit to Sunshine Village. Also a big thank you to “Avalanche Ski Wear” for their contributions to our marketing initiative.



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