Top of the World
Elevation: 2,080m
A Summer Well Ridden: Stories from the Sun Peaks Squad
Looking back at summer 2026 through the eyes of the Sun Peaks Squad. From championship finishes to family laps, familiar trails, and unforgettable days at the Sun Peaks Bike Park, we're celebrating the people, passions, and moments that made this summer one to remember.
A Summer to Remember
Summer 2026 was one for the books, and our Sun Peaks Squad certainly made the most of it! For some, it was about chasing podiums, pushing personal limits, and finding that extra bit of speed on familiar trails. For others, it was about slowing down, spending time with family and taking in the magic of another summer on the mountain.
Made up of passionate riders, athletes, and members of our mountain biking community, the Sun Peaks Squad spent the summer doing what they love most: getting outside, sharing their experiences and representing the mountain they call home.
As we look back on another incredible season, we caught up with a few Squad members to hear about their favourite memories, biggest accomplishments and what keeps them coming back for more.
Big Moments on the Mountain: Squad Members Make Their Mark
There was no shortage of exciting moments for our Sun Peaks Squad this summer, with a few particularly impressive accomplishments worth celebrating!
One of the biggest highlights happened right here on home turf during the 2026 Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championships. Sun Peaks Squad member Megan Pretorius, 15, claimed the national title in the U17 category, clocking the fastest women's time of the entire competition at just five minutes and 10 seconds!
It's an incredible accomplishment for the young athlete, who has been riding at Sun Peaks since she was little.
"Sun Peaks helps me train and improve and it's where I began, so it means a lot to ride for them," Megan shared.
She went on to deliver another standout performance at the OG Canadian Open Downhill at Crankworx Whistler, taking first place in the U17 girls’ category with a time of 3:23.488. At just 15 years old, Megan recorded the fastest women's time of the entire competition, finishing more than 11 seconds ahead of the Elite women's category winner! An incredible achievement and another memorable milestone in an already exciting season.
Fellow Squad member Jon Smith had plenty to celebrate as well, earning his second consecutive BC Cup overall championship title in the Master Men A (35-44) category. Congrats, Megan and Jon!
Beyond the podiums and championship titles, there was plenty to celebrate off the racecourse, too. For many Squad members, the season was just as much about personal growth, new friendships, and finding confidence both on and off the bike.
More Than Just the Riding
For some Squad members, the biggest accomplishments of the summer weren't necessarily measured in race results.
For 14-year-old Louis Lapierre – the youngest member to ever join the Sun Peaks Squad – being part of the team was an opportunity to grow both on and off the bike.
"Joining the Sun Peaks team gave me the perfect environment to elevate my skills, helping me make massive progress in my riding confidence on the mountain and same goes for growth off the bike," Louis shared.
That confidence was put to the test following a frightening crash during one of the downhill races this summer, which left Louis with a cracked bike frame and a shaken sense of confidence.
But the setback didn't keep him off the mountain for long. With another bike to ride and plenty of encouragement from his fellow Squad members, Louis was soon back on the trails, rebuilding his confidence and continuing to progress.
Beyond his personal achievements, Louis also found a sense of community through the Squad. From filming days and learning new tricks to spending time on the mountain with fellow members Conor Systrom, Lily Holly, and Brandon Dupuis, the friendships formed along the way became another highlight of his summer.
For Brandon, the passion extended beyond riding and into photography, spending much of his time on the trails capturing shots of fellow riders in action.
"Outside of racing, I spent a lot of time riding the Bike Park and taking photos and creating content around mountain biking. Being able to combine riding with photography and content was a big part of my summer," he shared.
Conor echoed that same appreciation for the connections made throughout the season, especially as someone experiencing Sun Peaks for the first time.
“It was my first season riding Sun Peaks so it just felt like a constant wave of awesome new experiences, new trails, and new friends... being a part of the Sun Peaks Squad felt like the warm welcome to another part of the larger biking community I was so desperately looking for."
While the riding certainly brought everyone together, it was the friendships, encouragement and shared experiences along the way that made the summer all the more memorable.
 |  |
Favourite Laps & Memories
Of course, not every memorable moment on the mountain comes with a medal or a finish line. Sometimes, it's the familiar trails, the people you're riding with, and those little moments that stay with you long after the season ends.
We were curious to find out which of the trails were standouts as favourites amongst the Squad. Barn Burner and Steam Shovel were clear winners for Megan, Brandon and Jon, and Conor's favourite lap was Kaboom to Gnar Boom to Low Boom to Resurrection (write that one down!) For Jon, some of his favourite memories from the season were made riding alongside his two young kids, who are now old enough to ride the chairlift.
"Doing laps with them on Might As Well and Stella this summer will be with me forever," Jon shared.
For Lily, it was the quieter moments on the mountain that stood out. One of her favourite experiences was getting up early to film with the team, enjoying the trails before the mountain had even woken up.
"There was something really special about having the trails almost completely to ourselves and getting to experience the mountain when it was so quiet," Lily recalled.
For Amelia Burrill, the summer brought plenty of opportunities to connect with the Squad both on and off the trails. From taking part in the Bike Park's master content shoot to squeezing in a few rounds of golf with fellow riders, some of her favourite moments came from experiencing the mountain in different ways.
"I'm a big fan of a dual-sport day, so being able to ride and golf at Sun Peaks is pretty hard to beat," Amelia shared.
And she wasn't the only one making the most of everything Sun Peaks has to offer! Fellow Squad member Hiroto Takagi shared a similar love for dual-sport days, often spending his mornings lapping the Bike Park before heading out for an afternoon round of golf.
As the season came to a close, Mother Nature had one last surprise in store for Amelia.
"Snow and sunshine at the same time, with no rain…kind of a miracle!" she shared. "It was honestly the perfect fall day and such a fun way to wrap up the season."
From early-morning laps and snowy closing days to family rides, rounds of golf, and favourite trails, it's these moments that remind us why we love spending our summers on the mountain.
Same Time Next Summer?
And just like that, another summer on the mountain has come and gone!
Looking back on the 2026 Bike Park season, there's certainly a lot to celebrate. Even beyond the championship titles, personal milestones, and unforgettable laps, perhaps what stands out most is the community behind it all.
Of course, these stories are just a glimpse into the summer shared by our Sun Peaks Squad. From the riders chasing race results to those capturing content, sharing their favourite trails, and supporting one another along the way, each member brought their own energy and perspective to the mountain this season.
As Lily put it, being part of the Squad meant having "a fun group of people to go riding with and share the mountain with." For Amelia, it was an opportunity to connect with more people who share her love for mountain biking, the outdoors, and a little adrenaline along the way. And for Jon, it was an opportunity to share his passion for riding with his family.
Looking ahead, there's plenty to be excited about, too. Megan has her sights set on more racing and a trip to Europe, Lily is looking forward to progressing her freeride skills, and Conor is determined to tackle his ‘triple sports’ day (golf, biking, and hiking all in one day!). And Jon? He's already dreaming of more laps with his kids, even if it means bribing them into one more run with jellybeans or a popsicle.
To all our Sun Peaks Squad athletes and ambassadors, thank you for sharing your passion, your stories, and your love for this mountain with us. We're so grateful to have you as part of our community, and we can't wait to see where the trails take you next.
Until next summer, Squad!
 |  |