A Day in the Life of Sundance

Sun’s out, funs out!

Spring has arrived in Sun Peaks and March is an ideal time to play on the slopes of our sunniest mountain. Head up the Sundance Express to explore a multitude of intermediate groomers perfect for spring skiing, powdery glades for those late season storms, and our top-to-bottom terrain park.

History

The original Sundance fixed grip quad chairlift was installed in 1993. It ran to where tower 15 is now located on the present lift. In 1995 the Sundance lift became the Sundance Express when it was converted to a high speed, detachable quad and extended by 240 vertical metres to its current top elevation. This opened up an additional 40 acres of new intermediate terrain in the resort.

The terrain park is a key feature of Sundance, a tradition that began back in 1994 with the opening of Sun Peak’s first park: the “Board Beyond Belief” Snowboard Park.

Favourite Runs on Sundance for:

Families

Three Bears is a go-to run for families. Kids love zipping past, around, and through the trees that dot this run, plus if you keep your eyes peeled you may spot some toy versions of the run’s namesakes hiding in the forest.

Grannie Greene’s is another family favourite on Sundance, which is fitting as the run was named in honour of our Director of Skiing Nancy Greene Raine and her beloved grandkids.

Powder Hounds

Sundance is a sleeper hit on powder days. With an earlier opening time of 8:30am, it’s a good choice for a quick lap or two to warm up your legs in the fresh snow before heading higher up. Lone Fir West, Lone Fir Centre, and the glades in between are our picks for scoring fresh pow first thing.

Cruising Cord

There is plenty of fresh cord to go around on Sundance. Beginner skiers and snowboarders will have a blast cruising their way down Rambler and Homesteader, while intermediates can take their pick of the numerous cruisey blue runs in between.

Fun fact: The four sun-themed runs at the centre of Sundance are named for the order that sunlight hits them during the day. Sunrise is the first to catch the morning light, while Sun Downer enjoys the very last rays each day as the sun dips behind the top of Mt. Tod.

Charging Steeps

Steep terrain is a little scarce on Sundance compared to the other areas of the resort, but those looking to open things up will find what they are looking for on the mountain’s sole black run: Peak-A-Boo.

Hitting the Park

No showcase of Sundance is complete without a mention of, arguably, the mountain’s crown jewel: our top-to-bottom terrain park. The park runs the full length of the lift line and is packed with rails, jumps, and other features, with Sundance Express providing a quick return to the top to hit lap after lap. It’s the perfect place to slide, flip, and spin your way through a spring day.

Pre-Ski Fuel Up

Just steps from the base of the Sundance Express are two of the village’s best breakfast options: Bolacco Café and Vertical Café.

Bolaccos is a Sun Peaks institution, with owners Konrad and Elizabeth Glowczynksi serving up coffee and tasty treats to the skiers of Sun Peaks since the mid-90s. Stop by on your way to the lift for delicious baked goods, great coffee, and fresh sandwiches (pro tip: the mustard is a must-do).

Vertical is a newer addition to the village, but is also quickly becoming a key part of the community. Owned by the O’Toole family, Vertical features a breakfast and lunch menu focused on locally sourced products with plenty of vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and gluten free options to suit every diet.  

Not sure which one to pick? They’re conveniently located side by side, which makes it easy to switch things up between the two depending on your cravings that day.   

Après Scene

Head to Mantles Restaurant and Lounge for an après or dinner option right at the base of Sundance. Choose from the beautiful views on their outdoor patio or cozy up with a cocktail by the fireplace in the lounge, while enjoying the culinary creations of their kitchen team.

Located in the lower lobby of The Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre, Mantles’ position in the heart of the village makes it a great spot to start a night out in Sun Peaks.