Sun Peaks Resort Opens Saturday With All Lifts Turning
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 2,093mon 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 open, 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 between 8:30am-10:00am will receive complimentary cinnamon buns, while quantities last. Harry Bear will be joining the festivities, a favourite with the kids, and the annual Après & Ales celebration will take place at Masa’s Bar + Grill from 3:00pm-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 article showcases the highlights, including a new on-mountain kids zone, snowmaking enhancements, new Powder Ventures 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.
