After all the planning and anticipation the 2010 Winter Olympics have begun in Vancouver.  And as Alexandre Bilodeau said after winning Canada’s first gold medal of the games and the first ever at home, “The party’s just starting for Canada.”

And Sun Peaks is no exception. Masa’s Bar + Grill was packed for the opening ceremonies and people continue to gather and watch Canada’s best competing a mere four hours away. Bottom's Bar & Grill spontaneously started singing the national anthem after Bilodeau’s victory and on the slopes people are rocking their Canada gear. The atmosphere around here is definitely buzzing. To be honest, I forgot how easy it is to get so involved watching the Olympic Winter Games.

Masa's ladies show their Olympic spirit

Seeing the Canadian Boarder Cross guys doing so well in all their heats was so exciting to watch. Anything can happen in that sport! Congratulations to Alberta's Mike Robertson on bringing home the Silver. In the post race interview he seemed so calm and humble. He reminded of so many of the great riders I see here everyday; they are just out there to do their thing. You never know where that little grom on the chair ahead of you will end up one day. I wish all the Canadian athletes the best and I hope they know how much we are all behind them.

This week we also have a ton of US visitors as it’s President’s Week and our out-of-country staff will be cheering on their home nations, so in a truly Canadian style, it’s a multicultural event. Sun Peaks is encouraging everyone to wear their home country colours and cheer on their athletes.

Throughout the Olympics, the resort is holding its own 2010 Sun Peaks Games. Yesterday I went out to see how people were enjoying the 3 Peaks Biathlon. It’s one of many Olympic inspired events taking place, including skeleton in the tube park, curling, cross country skiing and others. We all know how life can be stressful at times so it was great to see the families out there enjoying their vacations and each other's company. It is true parents will do anything for their children… even crabwalk around some pylons and shoot Nerf guns.


Set to go at the bottom of Gentle Giant

Intense!

Keeping on the theme of athletic competition, on Valentine’s Day The Garden lit up the Rockstar Energy Terrain Park. Seventy competitors battled it out (but in a loving fashion of course).  Many of the regular competitors moved up from the junior to open categories showing stellar progression. The women’s competition was fierce and numbers were up from last year which is great to see.

Watching these competitors I really got a sense of how hard they work. The timed jams were intense and hiking the park repeatedly is no easy task. Sweaty but loving it, everybody gave it their all. Thanks for such a great show!

Gap!

Local Gordie took second in Advanced Open Board

Sgt Seaby kept the energy high and could be heard far across the mountain

Pluggin the website! 

The results after the final five board took their first run

In the Advanced Open Snowboard, Tyler Clark was first and walked away with Best Trick. Parker Blackstock placed first in Advanced Open Ski. Zuzy Rocka won first in Women's Snowboard and Kelsey Martin took the Women's Ski. Over five grand in prizes was awarded.

Just to let everyone know the comments section of the blog has been reactivated so I am extending last week's contest until February 23. Share your favourite runs to win a Sun Peaks prize pack. 

Go Team Canada!

Brandi

According to Wiarton Willie, Canada’s most famous groundhog, we can look forward to another six weeks of winter! He awoke last week to see his shadow, so hopefully we can enjoy a couple more storms before its patio and goggle-tan time.

This month I was stoked to learn Sun Peaks was featured in the Local’s Laps section of my favourite Canadian Magazine, Snowboard Canada. In every edition one lap is showcased at a resort from the local’s perspective. The Winter 2010 magazine features our 5 Mile run, starting at the top of the Crystal Chair and winding down the mountain using Rice Bowl, The Other Way, and ending in the park.

Everyone has their favourite lap or run; the one you can hit every day and still have a ton of fun. You proudly show your out of town friends and can always count on it when you don’t feel super adventurous. 

Instead of sharing with you my favourite run, I thought I would combo up a couple to feature one of my favourite mornings. It is basically one big lap, starting at the Burfield Day Lodge or at my house nearby. Hop on the Burfield Quad and prepare for a long but relaxing chair ride. Then, if the snow is right, skate over and drop in anywhere between Kookamungas and Sunny Side. This area is full of tree trails and deep powder stashes. You can’t really go wrong. Keep your speed up as you to hit the Round A Bout cat track to get back to the Mid Burf loading station. A couple of those will get your blood pumping. Ride and repeat.

Head right from here and you won't be disappointed

 
Your personal playground


The Mid Burf loading station cuts the chair time in half and keeps you up top

When my tummy starts to give me little grumbles I know it’s time to move on. From Top of the World, take the 5 Mile then swing right onto Last Chance. Right at the top of the second mogul field sneak into the trees on your right. A super mellow gladed area is usually pretty untouched and mine for the taking. Pop out onto 5 Mile again and then take Homesteader (which has some fun hits on the sides) to the bottom the Sundance Express. At the top of Sundance if I’m feeling a need for speed, the Sundance run directly under the chair is super fun to rip down. Or if I’m not done with the trees Lonesome Fir Glades has a few choice lines. A hint is not to drop in too soon off Homesteader.


The trees between Last Chance and Spillway

At the top of Sundance again I make a break for Morrisey Mountain. Take Rambler and bear left at the fork with some speed onto the East Village Ski Way. Instead of taking Carpe Diem to the skier underpass, keep traversing over to the Orient Ridge area. It’s not widely used and has some great runs, like Ca M’a Fait Plaisir, and Fair Dinkum, which also take you right through the underpass to the bottom of the Morrisey Express.

Depending on how I’m feeling I might make a b-line for home or take my time and get in some Morrisey runs. This is the mountain I know the least and definitely demands more exploration. Many locals will tell you it is the best mountain out of the three because it is never crowded and gets less sun so the fresh snow lasts longer. Sooner or later, I’ll head straight off the chair and onto Back in Time. The first part is an easy sloped traverse into the wilderness.  You have no problem feeling secluded there. Then the vert begins with great snow along the sides I can slash all the way home. From the bottom I can walk to my house and grab some lunch or head back to the Burfield chair. Not a bad way to start your day.


My home run

What’s great is although I started and ended about 3 kilometers away from the village it was still basically ski in- ski out. The resort has been designed to provide almost 360 degrees of runs and terrain and has great flow from one mountain to the next. To view on the alpine trail map, click here.
 

This is also available as an interactive map on the website, just click on the link above

Even though this is an example of great morning, it comes nowhere close to hitting all my favourite spots, like Bluff Trees, The Other Way, Run Away Lane, and Cruiser and Blazer Glades just to name a few.  So don’t hold out on me! If you have a favourite route or run you would like to share for the chance to win a Sun Peaks prize pack, post it in the comments section or email me at marketingassistant@sunpeaksresort.com.

You can also share your photos in the Sun Peaks and Rockstar Energy JAY-peg Photo Contest. All season long you can submit your photos taken all over the resort for prizes and bragging rights. Some great, magazine-worthy photos have already been uploaded, so be sure to check them out and share your own. So far I’ve been amazed at the talents of both the photogs and the riders and skiers.

So keep on blazing your own favourite trails around Sun Peaks and take advantage the rest of this winter the groundhog has promised us. This week the 2010 Sun Peaks Games start on the same day as the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and run throughout the duration of the games. Everyone is welcome to come out and represent their country in the events ranging from hockey to the biathlon. On the weekend, for it’s sixth year, The Garden competition will held in the Rockstar Energy Terrain Park. Presented by Oronge Board Shop, there will sure be some talent wowing the crowds and walking away with cash and gear. 

Keep riding,

Brandi

It’s been an exciting week here at the Peaks and the upcoming week doesn't seem too shabby either. We received a nice amount of the lovely white stuff last night and more is forecast for the next couple days. Conditions are getting better and better everyday, and while I'm usually off hunting powder in the trees, my attention was turned to our terrain park last weekend.

Over 70 competitors met in the fading light to compete in Sun Peaks' first park competition of the season, Block Party, on Saturday night. These park rats, hailing from as far away as Ontario as well as some home town heroes, did not disappoint the spectators who gathered in the chill of the evening to watch these kids hit it.

One competitor gives 'er off the last feature in the darkness.

As the music began to pump so did the energy. During 30 minute jam sessions competitors used every feature they could to show judges they deserved a share of the over three G's worth of prize money and gear up for grabs.

First up were the little guys, 12-years-old and under. It never ceases to amaze me how the little groms show no fear and charge the park. I love watching them pull crazy tricks and think of where they are going to be in five years. I also wonder if they make their parents nervous. But nervous or not, I’m sure there were some proud papas in the sidelines Saturday night.

Throughout the Junior, Women’s Open and Advanced Open Categories, came wave after wave of sick park lines. The pace was high to get everyone as many chances as they could. Everywhere you looked people were throwing down and sometimes taking some hard-earned spills.

The evening ended with giveaways from event sponsors thrown into the eager crowd who cheered loudly for the comp winners, especially for Sun Peaks and Kamloops local ladies Emma Whitman and Zuzy Karczewska who placed first in Women's Open Ski and Snowboard. Many locals did well and deserve many congrats, as well as Whistler local Gord Emery who placed first in Advanced Open Snowboard. Later the party continued for some in Bottoms with a celebratory pint or two for the thirsty competitors. They had earned it.

It was an awesome way to set the stoke for the rest of the park season. Today the park crew is reworking the novice park and beginning to build their masterpiece under the Sundance chair. Snowmaking ended last week and with the amount that has fallen from the sky the Park Crew has more snow to work with than ever. Combine that with Rockstar Energy’s official sponsorship this year, the Bluebird Fund’s donations and the creative genius of the Park Crew and you get one sick set-up. Updates for the park can be found at http://www.sunpeaksresort.com/winter/terrainpark/updates.aspx.

Members of the Park Crew work on their labour of love.

The plan is to have the lower half of the large park ready for people to play on by this Saturday. With the next Sun Peaks park competition, The Garden, in February, there is plenty of time to sharpen your skills. Sun Peaks will also be holding the 2nd Annual Shredidential Election ’10, followed by Chairman of the Board in April. So get out there and show us what you got!

 See you out there,

 Brandi