Sun Peaks Resort Opens Saturday with All Lifts Turning

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Sun Peaks Resort Opens Saturday with All Lifts Turning

Over 70 alpine trails will be open and all lifts will be turning, including the NEW West Bowl Express chairlift
 

Sun Peaks, BC, November 20, 2024 – Canada’s second largest ski area will be among the first ski areas in BC to open for the 2024/25 season, with lifts spinning for the public as early as 8:30am on Saturday, November 23. The brand new West Bowl Express chairlift will also be making its debut on Saturday, and will for the first time ever be carrying skiers and riders to a top elevation of 2,093m on Tod Mountain. 

Recent cooler temperatures and fresh snowfall have produced over a foot of new snow in the past seven days, with a current mid-mountain snow depth around 80cm/2.6ft. The mountain operations team has confirmed that over 70 alpine trails will be open and that all lifts will be turning for opening weekend, November 23-24. The Nordic trail network will also be opening, with over 35kms of cross country trails groomed and track set. With season opening conditions off to a strong start, the resort is giving eight lucky winners plus a guest the very first seats to ride the new $12 million West Bowl Express chairlift on its first official day of operations.

“The anticipation of opening the West Bowl Express chairlift and knowing guests will again be able to explore the West Bowl terrain with ease is something that we’ve been looking forward to for months,” says Aaron Macdonald, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Sun Peaks Resort. “This new high speed detachable quad lift and improvements to the West Bowl zone, including new trails and terrain, has transformed this upper area of Tod Mountain. We thought what better way to celebrate than by giving a few lucky guests those coveted first chairs.”

To enter the West Bowl Express First Chair Ever contest, guests just need to complete an online entry form. The contest closes Thursday evening and winners will be contacted on Friday morning. Winners and their chosen guest will receive a complimentary lift ticket for the day if they don’t have a season’s pass. 

All guests riding the West Bowl Express chairlift on Saturday will have the opportunity to ring the newly gifted, cast iron bell from Doppelmayr's head office in Austria, which will be mounted at the base of the West Bowl Express. This long-standing tradition symbolizes good luck and prosperity. 

In addition to the excitement of first turns for the season and the grand opening of the new lift, guests arriving early to the Sunburst and Sundance chairlifts will receive complimentary cinnamon buns, while quantities last. Harry Bear will be joining the festivities, a favourite with the kids, and the annual Après and Ales celebration will take place at Masa’s Bar + Grill from 3:00-6:00pm, every ticket and pass holder receiving a beverage courtesy of Granville Island Brewing. 

To read more about what’s new this winter in Sun Peaks, this online article showcases the highlights, including a new on-mountain kids zone, snowmaking enhancements, new snow cross course, and so much more: What’s New for Winter 2024/25  

Peaks Cards for discounted 3 or 5 day bundles of lift tickets are now on sale, only until December 15. 

Quick links: 

Weather & Conditions 
Webcams 
Trail Status 
West Bowl Express press release 

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About Sun Peaks Resort: Sun Peaks is a resort community in the heart of British Columbia and a year-round destination for guests in search of a welcoming and stress-free mountain experience. In winter, it boasts the second-largest ski area in Canada and is consistently recognized as one of the top ski resorts in North America. In summer, Sun Peaks offers a wide range of activities including an 18-hole golf course, lift-access downhill and cross-country mountain biking, hiking trails and a year-round lineup of events. Sun Peaks is recognized for its environmental policies and practices and was the first resort in North America and the only resort in Canada to earn the ISO 14001 designation for environmental management.

For more information or to schedule a visit, please contact:

Christina Antoniak
Director of Communications
Sun Peak Resort LLP
P: 778-694-6565
E: cantoniak@sunpeaksresort.com