Sun Peaks Resort

As we watch the snow melt and shades of green take over the mountainsides, it's the perfect time to reflect on this past winter season and what it meant to each of us. For the inaugural members of the Sun Peaks Ambassador Team, it was a season of successes, exploring new places, and making new connections. Sun Peaks Resort is proud to support these athletes in their pursuits on the mountain, on competition circuits, and in community endeavors, as they continue to hone their skills and reach for new heights.

Our four talented Ambassador Team athletes were busy this winter, travelling and competing throughout BC, Canada, and globally. Here is a recap of their accomplishments this season:

GABI DINN (16, SKIING - FREESTYLE) Competed internationally with the Freestyle BC Park & Pipe Team as well as with Team Canada. Gabi competed at the Yukon Canada Cup, Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympics, Sun Peaks Canada Cup, 2024 Freestyle Jr World Championships in Italy, and 2024 Freeski National Sr Championships in Whistler, BC.

"My aspirations for next season are to keep improving and creep into higher competition circuits, while maintaining a balance with education and life."

CHARLIE ROBERTS (18, SKIING - MOGULS) Competed internationally with the Freestyle BC Moguls Team. Charlie placed 9th at the Idre Fjäll FIS Open in Sweden, 15th at the Canadian Selections in Apex, BC, 8th at the Canada Cup in Panorama, BC, and 11th at the Canadian Moguls Sr Nationals.

"My goal for next year – to make more NorAm finals!"

KATIE BRAYER (20, SNOWBOARDING - SLOPESTYLE) Competed with the BC Snowboard Provincial Slopestyle Team. Katie placed 3rd at the Stoneham NorAm Cup in Quebec, 1st at the BC Provincial Slopestyle Series in Whistler, and 6th at the Sun Peaks NorAm Cup.

"This was a tough season with snow conditions, but I’m super happy with my results. I’m hoping to compete in a few World Cup events next season!"

NAYTE BROWN (17, SNOWBOARDING - SLOPESTYLE) Competed with the BC Snowboard Provincial Slopestyle Team and the Sun Peaks Freestyle Club. Nayte won 7 medals this year, including 1st at the BC Provincial Slopestyle Series in Whistler. He competed at Air Nation and in the finals of the 2024 Freestyle Junior Nationals.

"My season was full of ups and downs but I am super grateful to have this awesome community to support me and an amazing park to train in. Next season I hope to expand on different aspects of my boarding, such as street, backcountry, filming, and coaching while still competing for Sun Peaks Resort."

Sun Peaks Resort’s Ambassador Team program also supports a stream of community ambassadors, who receive a season pass and other perks in exchange for contributing to marketing projects. These local athletes stepped into many fun and creative projects over the season, from working with visiting media to starring in in-house video and photography shoots. For the full line-up of the winter 2023-24 Ambassador Team members click here.

The Sun Peaks Ambassador Team is now a fixture in our community programming, aimed at supporting local athletes whose talent is helping to share Sun Peaks with the world. Following on from the success of the inaugural winter team, we are excited to launch a summer version of the Ambassador Team to support local mountain bike athletes. The summer program will support four athletes and four community ambassadors during the upcoming 25th Anniversary season of the Sun Peaks Bike Park.

2024 Summer Ambassador Team applications are now open.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that we wrapped up winter 2023-24, but in only seven months we will be kicking off another season of skiing and snowboarding here in Sun Peaks. Next winter promises to be a big one as we welcome the addition of our newest detachable chairlift: the West Bowl Express.

Excitement is mounting for this new, high speed, quad chairlift and the alpine access it will unlock. Construction work on the lift, a project three years in the making, has already resumed this spring and everything remains on track for a planned opening near the start of the winter 2024-25 season.

For those unfamiliar with the West Bowl, it’s a zone of terrain located in the alpine of Tod Mountain and is one of our highest elevation skiable areas. The West Bowl was previously serviced by the West Bowl T-bar, which operated loyally in this location for over 20 years. When that lift was decommissioned in 2021 the terrain remained open, but was only accessible via a short hike.

We are excited to re-introduce guests to this area of the resort, which features beautiful alpine views on a sunny, south facing aspect. New trails and the return of regular grooming in the West Bowl means the zone is set to offer a fantastic new pod of intermediate terrain with plenty of cruisey blue runs to enjoy. Combined with the Crystal chairlift that opened in 2020, skiers and riders of most abilities will now have more options to enjoy up in the alpine on those gorgeous bluebird days!

Built by Doppelmayr, a world leader in mobility with ropeways, this $12 million capital project brings our chairlift count to eight, in addition to five surface lifts. The major components of the lift have begun to arrive in Sun Peaks and the Doppelmayr team is now on-site to start assembly. We expect to be flying towers, crossarms, and sheave assemblies up to the alpine for installation in May and we will share more updates of the action at this time. Right now, our in-house crews are working on select tree removal over the snow so that this work causes zero ground disturbance.

Stay tuned for another update in the fall with the exact details of what to expect in the new and improved West Bowl. For now, we can share that the new lift is double the length of the previous T-bar (with new top and bottom terminal locations), it will provide a quick six minute ride to the top, and there will be new trails and expanded terrain to explore.

Excited?! If you are as stoked as we are to get back on the slopes next winter and spend more time in the alpine, be sure to lock in your 2024-25 Alpine Season Pass now at the cheapest price of the year. The Best Buy sale ends April 30, 2024.

Sun Peaks, BC (February 2, 2024): Ten local skiers and riders are now officially representing Sun Peaks Resort as newly named Ambassadors. After a tremendous show of support with over 100 applications, these 10 athletes and community members will work closely with the resort through the 2023-24 winter ski season.

The Sun Peaks Ambassador Team program launched its inaugural season in November, in search of four athletes and six locals to enter a mutually beneficial relationship of supporting and celebrating local talent, while representing and showcasing Sun Peaks to the world. Athletes must be at a provincial or national competition level and Ambassadors must be active in the community and at a high skill level of skiing or riding.

“We were pleasantly overwhelmed by the positive response to the launch of the program this season,” says Sam Loxton, Sun Peaks Resort’s Marketing and Content Manager and program lead, “It was a fun and challenging process to review the applications and make our selection. We’re stoked to be partnering with these 10 individuals for 2023-24 and are looking forward to continuing the program in future years.”

The Winter 2023-24 Sun Peaks Ambassador Team members:

Athlete Stream

Katie Brayer, 20 – BC Snowboard Provincial Slopestyle Team, Sun Peaks Freestyle Club Charlie Roberts, 18 – Freestyle BC Moguls Team Gabi Dinn, 16 – Freestyle BC Park & Pipe Team / Team Canada – 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games Nayte Brown, 17 – BC Snowboard Provincial Slopestyle Team, Sun Peaks Freestyle Club

Ambassador Stream

Zuzy Rocka, 32, snowboarder Raine Celesta-Camille, 19, snowboarder Marlie Marchewka, 36, snowboarder Mikey Wheeler-Johnson, 39, snowboarder Gabriella Cattaneo, 19, skier Olson Advocaat, 17, skier

The Ambassador Team program is split into two streams – Athletes and Ambassadors. All team members receive a season’s pass and exposure through Sun Peaks Resort’s content creation and publishing. Athletes also receive a $2500 cash stipend and membership to Sun Peaks Alpine Fitness to support their competition endeavours. In return, Ambassadors are required to participate in Resort content production and assist in on-mountain hosting of special guests.

As a testament to the calibre of local athletes applying to the program, athlete ambassador, Gabi Dinn of Kamloops, recently returned from the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Korea.

“It was an amazing opportunity and experience,” says Dinn, “Being my first competition outside of Canada, it gave me a perspective on competing at the international level and the extra attention it attracts — becoming comfortable with all the cameras and additional pressure of representing Canada. It was a rare and special experience and I’m honoured to have attended.”

Dinn, along with fellow athlete ambassador Charlie Roberts, will be competing at this weekend’s Canada Cup hosted in Sun Peaks. The Canada Cup is a sanctioned event by Freestyle Canada which prepares athletes for international competition and provides access to FIS points. In November, Roberts competed at the FIS Open in Idre Fjäll, Sweden, placing in the top 10 in moguls.

Rounding out the contingent, Katie Brayer and Nayte Brown both placed first overall at the BC Snowboard Provincial Series Slopestyle events in Whistler Blackcomb in early January, with Brown also taking first in the U18 category at the same event in Big White later in the month.

The Resort is looking forward to launching the mountain bike equivalency of the Ambassador Team program in spring 2024. Stay tuned for details.

For more details on the Ambassador Team program and athlete bios visit: www.SunPeaksResort.com/corporate-info/ambassador-team

Sun Peaks, BC (January 17, 2024): The snow is falling at Canada’s second largest ski area and with more in the forecast, mid-season conditions are shaping up nicely. The operations teams are gearing up to welcome thousands of skiers and boarders after the recent cold snap.

“Close to 100% of the alpine trails are now open and our Nordic trail network is fully operational,” says Christina Antoniak, Director of Communications for Sun Peaks Resort. “We’re looking forward to a return of more seasonal temperatures, making for an enjoyable on-mountain experience. Guests visiting over the next few days and through the weekend can look forward to some fantastic skiing and riding conditions!” With 41cm of new snowfall since January 3, including 20cm from January 9-10, overall conditions and snow quality are favourable for this time of year.

On mountain events are in full swing with Air Nation kicking off yesterday, running through Thursday. Air Nation is an annual slopestyle event that brings together freestyle snowboard athletes from across North America. Spectators can watch the action on the Terrain Park’s big jumps right from the village base.

The second session of the 3-part The Stoke Series, runs this Friday at 5:00pm. Upwards of 50 skiers and snowboarders partake and is also an easy spectator event taking place at the Base Camp terrain park zone. The series culminates with the Garden Party rail jam at the end of the season. All proceeds are being donated to the Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation.

Finally, the 27th edition of the TELUS Nancy Greene Alpine Classic is only 10 days away. This fun, recreational race event features a Cross course for teams of four skiers and/or snowboarders. Guest coaches this year include Olympic Ski Cross Champion, Kelsey Serwa, along with Nancy Greene Raine, Kathy Kreiner (1976 Giant Slalom Champion) and local Sun Peaks Olympic athlete, Elli Terwiel, who raced for Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Funds from this event will support the Sun Peaks Education Society, as well as a contribution to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

For the full line-up of Sun Peaks Resort events taking place this season, visit Sun Peaks Events.

Sun Peaks, BC (December 22, 2023): The Organizing Committee for the TELUS Nancy Greene Alpine Classic is very pleased to announce that Olympic Ski Cross Champion Kelsey Serwa will be a special guest coach at the annual fundraising event to be held in Sun Peaks on Saturday, January 27th.

Kelsey won a silver medal in the 2014 Sochi Olympics then followed it up with a gold medal in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. Kelsey also won two X Games championships as well as the 2011 World Ski Cross Championships. 2010 Olympic Champion Ashleigh McIvor, who has been a big part of the TELUS sponsored event since 2017, is unable to attend this year. Now retired, Kelsey will be a wonderful replacement for Ashleigh. A recent UBC graduate in Physiotherapy, she is now working as a physiotherapist in Whistler. Kelsey is also doing a great job commenting on World Cup Ski Cross events for CBC Sports.

“Ashleigh has told me how much fun it is to be a coach at the TELUS Nancy Greene Alpine Classic." says Serwa, "I’m pleased that TELUS has invited me to be their guest coach and really looking forward to being there and meeting the enthusiastic supporters of the event."

Kelsey will join two other Olympic Champions at the event: host Nancy Greene Raine and 1976 Giant Slalom Champion Kathy Kreiner. Local Olympic celebrity, Elli Terwiel, who raced for Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics will also be coaching at the event this year.

“Kelsey grew up racing for the Big White Ski Area, which was co-founded by her grandfather Cliff Serwa." says Greene. "Her bubbly personality and extensive experience in both ski cross and alpine racing will be great addition to the coaching staff.”

The annual event raises money for community charities, with the proceeds this year going to the Sun Peaks Education Society as well as a donation to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

For more information about the TELUS Nancy Greene Alpine Classic, please visit the event page here or contact Nancy Greene Raine at 250-851-1649.

SUN PEAKS, BC (May 26, 2023): The Sun Peaks concert lineup for summer 2023 will provide more live outdoor entertainment than ever before. The community’s natural mountain amphitheatre will play host to Canadian music icons Current Swell, Shred Kelly, Delhi 2 Dublin, and many more. And Retro Concert Weekend is, according to Sun Peaks locals, "the best weekend of the summer”.

Three pop-up venues throughout the village and slope-side to the Village Day Lodge—plus the new Sun Peaks Centre Stage—will provide a variety of venue sizes suitable for each unique performance.

The best thing about these concerts? They’re free! Visitors and locals are invited to bring their lawn chairs or dancing shoes, and enjoy the easy-going mountain village atmosphere and amazing talent. The schedule runs from Canada Day though to the end of September:

July 1 Maritime Kitchen Party - Village Stage Soul Patch - Clock Tower Stage

July 7 Delhi 2 Dublin - Clock Tower Stage

July 16 Jana Seale - Village Stage

July 21 Zuffalo - Village Stage

July 29 Current Swell - Slopeside

August 4 The Yellow Brick Road Experience - Centre Stage at Sun Peaks Centre

August 19 Sister Speak - Village Stage

August 25-27 12th Annual Retro Concert Weekend - Slopeside

September 1 Shred Kelly - Slopeside

September 23 Madison Olds - Village Stage

“Tourism Sun Peaks is excited to present a summer full of free music and events. From our Friday celebrations on the first Friday of each month to our Retro Concert weekend, Sun Peaks will be a constant hub of activity, filling the mountains with the sound of music” said Tourism Sun Peaks President and CEO, Arlene Schieven.

The full music lineup can be found at sunpeaksresort.com/music

SUN PEAKS, BC (APRIL 5, 2023): Continuing with a targeted investment strategy to improve the overall mountain and guest experience, Sun Peaks Resort is pleased to announce a brand-new high speed detachable quad chairlift coming to the alpine area of the resort.

The West Bowl Express will be located in the upper reaches of Mt. Tod and will provide enhanced access to a popular area of the resort known for quality snow and scenic vistas. The new Doppelmayr constructed lift will cost an estimated $12 million dollars and will be complete in advance of the 2024/25 winter season.

‘Sun Peaks continues to evolve and this significant new lift infrastructure will diversify the experience in an important pod of terrain in the resort. Guests will have additional trails and vertical to explore with the convenience and efficiency of detachable lift technology,” says Darcy Alexander, Vice President and General Manager.

Work to build the new West Bowl Express is already well underway. Detailed planning, engineering, and ground construction has been recently completed. Additional electrical and foundation work will be carried out this summer with final lift installation to take place the following year.

This investment announcement follows substantial improvements to the mountain product in recent years, highlighted by the brand-new Orient chairlift, the Crystal chairlift replacement and last years hugely successful expansion of lift-accessed mountain biking via the Sundance Express for summer. With the West Bowl Express slated to open in November 2024, Sun Peaks will have placed three new chairlifts into operation in just under a six-year period. These initiatives reflect the resort’s commitment to delivering a world-class skiing and snowboarding experience at Canada’s Second Largest ski area.

Sun Peaks will provide more details about the new West Bowl Express chairlift in the coming months. Guests can stay up-to-date on the latest developments by visiting the website and social media channels.

SUN PEAKS, BC (March 16, 2023): Although the Sun Peaks 2022-23 winter season is nearing its end, there is still plenty of stoke for spring with phenomenal skiing conditions, a great lineup of events, celebrations and unbeatable retail sales.

Retail sales: Until April 10th

From now until April 10th, shops are depleting their winter stock by offering sales ranging from 25%-70% off. Check out Elevation Bike, Ski and Board, Jardines, Freefall, John Tod Trading, McSporties, Sneaky Scallywags, Southside Board Shop, Sun Peaks Sports, Sun Peaks Yoga, the North Face Mountain Outfitters, and Three Peaks to get yourself outfitted for next season.

Garden Party Rail Jam: March 18th

The Sun Peaks Park Crew will host the Garden Party Rail Jam – an open format rail competition. Shredders comfortable on L and XL features can win prizes by showcasing their tricks, culture, sportsmanship, and creativity.

The Elleboard Snowboard Camp: March 21st

The Elleboard Snowboard Camp will follow – a national program from Snowboard Canada, produced in partnership with Sun Peaks Resort, inviting women of all abilities to work with experienced coaches on progression in the terrain park.

Hub International Nancy Greene Festival: March 24-25th

The 18th Annual Hub International Nancy Greene Festival returns with over 600 kids participating in a speed trap, dual GS, jump contest, skier X style kombi course, moguls, and other fun events. Nancy will be in attendance to show her spirit for the racers, sign helmets and hand out awards.

Sun Peaks Food and Wine Festival: March 30th – April 2nd

The last weekend of March brings the Sun Peaks Food and Wine Festival. Local restaurants and businesses will host an array of events like paint and sips, axe throwing and wine tasting, bubbles and brunch, and more.

Peak Pride: March 30th – April 2nd

March will also end with the world’s largest collection of winter pride events here in Sun Peaks! Sun Peaks is partnering with the Rebellious Unicorns to host events including Drag Bingo, comedy shows, group skiing and the Peak Pride Parade. Wonder Weekend: April 8-10th

The return of the classic spring festival, Wonder Weekend, will close out the 2022/23 season. All weekend long, skiers and riders are encouraged to sport their favourite vintage threads and participate in a myriad of contests and activities.

“It’s all about getting together and getting excited about those last turns of the season,” says Arlene Schieven, President and CEO of Tourism Sun Peaks. “The playful spring conditions combined with the return of classic festivals like the Sun Peaks Food and Wine Festival and Wonder Weekend are a great way to top off an amazing season”.

Reflecting on Winter 2022-23

As the winter comes to a close, we reflect on a season full of successful events, record-breaking fundraising initiatives and stellar snow conditions. Sun Peaks Resort partnered with RedBull to bring the first RedBull Homerun event to Canada, attracting 260 participants. The 26th annual TELUS Nancy Greene Alpine Classic raised a record-breaking $70,000 for the Sun Peaks Education Society and the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation. Tourism Sun Peaks was also proud to partner with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association to host the 7 Celebrations – Reconnecting in Sun Peaks event where Juno-nominated, Canadian rock band, the Trews performed live, and community members and visitors celebrated the history of the Secwépemc peoples. And to top it all off, skiers and riders have been revelling in late season pow days – Sun Peaks saw over 130cm of fresh snow between the beginning of February and March!

The Ontario-based, six-time Juno nominated rock band, The Trews will headline a weekend of free outdoor concerts in Sun Peaks March 3-4, 2023. On tour with their seventh studio album, the Canadian band will perform live in the Sun Peaks village as part of the 7 Celebrations – Reconnecting in Sun Peaks event series.

Along with The Trews, Sun Peaks will welcome #1 rated on the Indigenous Music Countdown band, the Margit Sky Project, BC local Duane Marchand, The Young’uns, and Soul Patch.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association to offer a weekend of celebration of Indigenous culture and to be able to host variety of outdoor concerts that will be free for all to attend” said Arlene Schieven, President and CEO of Tourism Sun Peaks.

The 7 Celebrations – Reconnect in the Thompson Okanagan event series, in partnership with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, funded by the Canadian Heritage Grant is a celebration of the deeply rooted, rich cultures that are historic to our province. A significant part of this culture involves the Indigenous communities like the Secwepemc peoples, native to Swelkwek’welt (otherwise known as Sun Peaks) that used and cared for these lands for upwards of 8000 years. Throughout the weekend, Secwepemc storytellers and entertainers like Kenthen Thomas and Paul Michel will be here to unravel Indigenous legends and education about the histories of their ancestors. Sage Hills Drum Group and Dancers will join the entertainment line-up, performing live outdoors.

The last pillar of the event will be the “Reconnecting in Sun Peaks Artisan Market.” Located at the Sun Peaks Centre, this artisan market will feature an array of Indigenous artisans and creators.