Top of the World
Elevation: 2,080m
Posted October 29, 2019
The countdown to opening day of the ski and snowboard season is on! With several October snowfalls already giving us a taste of the good stuff, stoke for another awesome winter is building fast.
From new businesses in the village to new events, there are plenty of exciting changes in store this season at Canada’s second largest ski area. Here’s the scoop on what’s new for winter 2019/20:
New Cats for the Grooming Fleet
Fresh cord lovers rejoice! With the addition of two brand new PistenBully 400 cats to the grooming fleet we’ll be serving up even more perfectly groomed snow each day. These higher efficiency models come equipped with the highest level SNOWsat technology - a means for the team to track real-time snow coverage and maintenance requirements. Existing cats in the fleet will also be fitted with some of the SNOWsat functions.
SilverStar Reciprocal
New this winter, Sun Peaks Alpine Season Pass holders now get two free days of skiing with our friends at SilverStar Mountain Resort. Of course, this deal goes both ways, so skiers or snowboarders who call SilverStar home can enjoy free turns in Sun Peaks too!
Work on the New Crystal Chairlift Has Begun
It may not be spinning until next winter, but work on the new Crystal quad chair is already well underway. The preliminary stages of construction began over the summer and in early October concrete for the base of each tower was poured via helicopter. The project, now on pause while the snow flies, will be completed next summer, with the new Crystal ready to open for the 2020/21 winter season. Fear not though, the original Crystal will still be running as normal this year to deliver you to the goods up in the alpine. For more information about this project click here.
New Partnership with Red Bull
We are excited to announce a new marketing and distribution partnership between Sun Peaks and Red Bull! Keep an eye out for new events and activations, plus your favourite Red Bull products, around the resort for this season and beyond.
A Winter of Wine
After a successful debut last season, the Savour the Sun Mountain Wine Festival returns with an expanded lineup of events this December. The festival now features five signature events over four days, packed with delicious food and the very best wines from Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country, topped off with our world-class early season skiing. Interested? Tickets are now available online.
This March also sees the addition of a brand new festival in the village: the inaugural Sun Peaks Wine and Food Festival. Stay tuned for more details about this event, which will feature four days of collaboration between local restauranteurs and wine experts sure to tantalize your taste buds. Tickets are available here.
New Executive Chef and menus for slopeside Dining
If you like to indulge in a cinnamon bun between runs or love a good après, then keep your eye on the exciting new changes happening in the Sun Peaks Food scene.
Over the summer the Resort welcomed a new Executive Chef, Luca Paola, to oversee the on-mountain dining experience. Chef Luca brings with him years of experience from kitchens around BC, most recently spending three years as the Executive Chef at Whitewater Ski Resort, a ski area known for high quality on-mountain dining. A commitment to fresh, tasty, and regionally infused dishes will be a key focus of the menus at Masa’s Bar + Grill, The Annex, and the Sunburst Bar + Eatery this winter.
With a new chef comes new menu options for mid-ski refueling. The Sunburst Lodge will be adding a build your own baked potato bar packed with delicious toppings, The Annex will be adding new and improved pizza by the slice varieties, and both restaurants will be featuring new grab and go offerings including healthy items like quinoa power bowls and salads. Masa's Bar + Grill will also be sporting a new menu, including fantastic Happy Hour specials for when you decide to park your ski boots for the day, as well as showing all the important games live on their big screens.
New Restaurants Hit the Scene
In the main village, Mountain Tiger is heading into its first winter since opening its doors. A hit with the locals, Mountain Tiger features a dine-in or takeout menu of freshly made Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern specialities.
Right next door is the new Fondue Stube, providing another post-ski dinner option. Styled after traditional fondue restaurants in the Alps it will feature a decadent menu of cheese, meat, and chocolate fondues paired with international wines in a cozy setting. Both of these new dining options are located at the top of the village in the Sun Peaks Lodge Studios building (formerly the Heffley Boutique Inn).
The completion of several construction projects at the west end of Sun Peaks will welcome additional dining options in that neighbourhood in early December. The Magic Cattleguard Taps & Takeout combines tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner options with a full bar perfect for an après brew or two, while Ohana Deli Market & Meals To-Go aims to provide healthy, high quality deli style food and pre-prepared meals to share.
Take Your Turns to New Heights
Ski or snowboard lessons with the Sun Peaks Sports School aren’t just for beginners and this winter they’ve added even more programs to help any level of skier/rider have their best season yet! Blast through bumps with the new Bump Private Lesson, master the perfect turn with a Carving Private Lesson, and sign up your future experts for the Teen Holiday Program or new Kids Private Lessons.
Yoga in the Mountains
This winter sees the opening of Sun Peaks’ first full time yoga studio. Sun Peaks Yoga, located in the new Peaks West development, will open its doors in early December to provide regular daily classes so locals and visitors alike can get their yoga fix.
Elevation Adds Black Crows
Elevation Bike, Ski and Board is expanding its selection of products this winter with the addition of renowned French brand Black Crows to the lineup. This independent freeski brand comes straight from the epic terrain and deep-rooted mountain culture of Chamonix, using that inspiration to create skis raved about by snow lovers around the world.
Construction Projects Ongoing Resort-Wide
The results of some busy years of construction in Sun Peaks are being revealed this fall. New residential and commercial units in the first phase of Peaks West are weeks away from completion, while happy Sun Peaks residents are settling into new homes in Echo Landing, VillageWalk, and on Burfield Drive.
Work on the highly anticipated Sun Peaks Centre is also proceeding well and will be continuing over the winter, with construction of the ice rink roof the current focus.
With so many exciting changes in store, winter 2019/20 is shaping up as another amazing season here in Sun Peaks. Opening Day is November 23 – see you on the slopes!