Visitor reviews for Sunshine Village

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• March 16, 2009
  HaterHater from CANADA
  

  It is partly true that there are no steeps at Sunshine Village. The parts included are Satandish, Wawa, and Lookout.
  But get on Goats Eye and numerous steeps can be found, such as The Chutes, Hells kitchen, Freefall, along with some good glading. The hiking trail to the top of Goats Eye and to The Chutes brings you to fantastic stuff, which is steep and gathers tons of snow. Anywhere on Goats is a significant amount more than the report says, making it fantastic.

  Delirium dive, is steep, deep and long. If the hill (Sunshine Village) is reporting 10, it's 20 in the dive. Long and steep fall line descents can be found that they can't find anywhere in Cananad.

  I know I'm sounding like a Sunshine freak, so here is the bad stuff. The lift system at Sunshine Village is awful, as Angel should have just been extended to the top of Lookout. Sunshine Village is windy and barren. I have skied days where the hill has had to close because of wind.

  Tipi town is awesome, and doesn't get skied because of the nasty chair. If you're willing to sit on wood for ten minutes it is worth it. Great backcountry at Sunshine, especially off Wawa.

• March 05, 2009
  sunshinesucks from CANADA
  

  Sunshine Village can have its good days but this season and last they have been few and far between. When there is snow it can be fun, with the emphasis on can be. The mountain is flat for the most part. Yeah, there are a few drops at Sunshine Village in Garbage and Headwall but they get tracked fast and then there is nothing left. Do yourself a favour and go to a real mountain like Louise, Fernie or Revelstoke. What use is 2 feet of powder when there is no speed to cruise through it

• January 08, 2009
  heelside from CANADA
  

  Sunshine (Sunshine Village) is a lot of fun, and is the most consistent mountain for snow in the Calgary area (other than Fernie in Jan & Feb). If you have never been to Sunshine and are there on a busy day try stopping at the mid station on your way up (most people go straight to the top and it gets crowded there to start the day).

  Both Delerium and the backside of Wawa typically have the best snow on the mountain and both will bring big smiles. The ski out can be a bit nasty almost any time of year so if you like your gear sometimes using the gondola is a good idea.

  As for accommodations staying on hill is overpriced. For the same cost you can stay at an awesome place like emerald lake and from there you can choose between Louise, Sunshine and Kicking Horse.

  Happy skiing & riding
  (Canada's best snow is Powder King).

• January 03, 2009
  charlie from CANADA
  

  Most of the poor reviews for Sunshine (Sunshine Village) seem to center on the numerous 'flat spots' on the hill. There is no denying this, but all you need to do is attach yourself to a knowledgeable local for a day, and you will learn everything you need to navigate the hill.

  Once you know Sunshine, it is the best hill in Alberta by far, with loads of hugely technical chute and terrain skiing, gorgeous powder bowls, and a real lack of Armani-clad Eurotrash poseurs (yeah, I'm looking at you, Louise and whistler).

  Sunshine gets tons of dry fluffy snow, and on runs like Tipi-town, Standish, and the bowls of Wa-Wa, ten centimeters becomes 2ft of fresh every time.

  The lack of exposed wind surfaces, and the lack of snow-making equipment means there is almost no icing, even in spring conditions. Grooming is minimal, there is enough corduroy for the greenies to be able to learn, but otherwise the staff spend their time maintaining snow-fences, farming the copious snow, and marking hazards. I have seldom been on a mountain with more varied terrain, and best of all, almost every run has a green path, a blue path, and a black one, so skiers of varying ability can ski together all day and never be bored.

  The mountain is in the park, which means, thankfully, that it has been spared the Disneyesque marketing fairy-tale ski village treatment. There is an on-hill hotel, with the best hot tub I have ever been in, but otherwise this is your fathers ski-hill: cafeteria trays, friendly bartender in trappers pub, and a good thing too. Who needs lodge lizards and posing bunnies? Aren't we here to ski?

  Patrol is by some of the friendliest and most knowledgeable skiers I've ever seen...and on slow days it's easy to ski a few runs and get a real feel for the mountain with them. In addition, sunshine has an excellent snow-host program, free, which pairs you up with a guide for a few hours. It's a good way to learn the basics of the mountain an avoid the flat spots everyone has been talking about...

  I sound like a cheerleader here, so let me give you the flaws as well. Parking here is really bad. You want to be at the hill by 8am, or you will be walking a long way to the base gondola. On days when you don't show up until 11, they have valet parking. It costs 20$, but it's worth it. You avoid a walk that could be 2km, or an hour wait for a shuttle bus.

  Another big minus for Sunshine is Goats Eye mountain. The skiing there is fantastic, if it has snow (which it has less than half the time.) It's frigidly cold, windswept, and usually rocky (but after a good dump, it's the best in-bounds skiing in the Rockies, bar none (caveat: I have not yet skied Revelstoke) But it's a big teasing pile of rocks, and drives me insane.

  The final thing I dislike about Sunshine is the prices, not that they are more expensive than anywhere else really; just that skiing in general is overpriced.

• December 29, 2008
  RACR from CANADA
  

  Sunshine (Sunshine Village) is ok; closer than lake Louise and not as one-dimensional as Norqay or Nakiska. My main beef with Sunshine is the fact that it is laid out poorly. Most of the blue and black runs are short and some of them even have flat sections in them which makes parts of them look like greens. The reason is that the terrain is mainly rolling - many bowls too - makes you have to stop and take a look before skiing into terrain you can't see from the top of the run.

  Sunshine also does by far the worst job I have ever seen of grooming its runs - on or after snow days most runs are just heaps of carved up and shoved together snow mounds - terrible. A resort consists of lifts AND runs and they may want to pay some attention to that at Sunshine.

  On the positive, Sunshine does have a long season, gets lots of good snow and has something for everyone, even if it is geared towards the green/blue crowd.

• December 26, 2008
  Alberta Skier from CANADA
  

  Compared to most other ski hills in the Canadian Rockies, Sunshine (Sunshine Village) has rather unique terrain. The main problem with the place as a whole is that it's almost impossible to find a long, sustained fall-line. The terrain is so sprawling and laid out, with short little pitches of steep terrain, so on one run you can usually only catch one, maybe two short pitches, and the rest is mellow cruising, traversing, even skating or walking. Those short steep pitches that are there however, are quite excellent. Small cliffs, stashes of powder and some steep turns, even if you'll only link a few at a time. Delerium Dive is awesome. Sick, steep, big-mountain-style terrain, and a long fall-line descent. It is the only terrain in the Rockies that really comes close to the expert terrain in places like Whistler. But anyone comparing Sunshine to Whistler is crazy; it's two different leagues. Sunshine doesn't have NEARLY as much expert terrain as Whistler.

  Delerium is very often closed completely. You need avi gear to get to it. Runs & chutes are poorly marked so it's very hard to find your way around and it takes you forever to lap back there on three chairlifts and a bootpack.

  The snow that so many people rave about is indeed quite consistent and good if you compare it to other Banff/Bow Valley hills like Louise. But compared to British Columbia (Fernie, Nelson, Revelstoke, etc.), or the coast, (Whistler, Baker, etc.) it doesn't come close. Alberta is just too cold and dry to get the fat powder that BC gets.

  Much of the mountain is in the open alpine, and there is very limited gladed tree skiing at Sunshine. White-outs at Sunshine are infamous.

  Still, Sunshine (Sunshine Village) is a "full-size" Canadian ski hill, with some sick terrain to be found, and consistent snowfall. On a blue day, the scenery is stunning. I've had dozens of great, great days skiing there. :)

• December 20, 2008
  KR from CANADA
  

  Sunshine Village is by far the best ski resort in Alberta. Sure, Louise may have better terrain, and a few more steeps but it does not matter when you are skiing on ice. I've had some of my best ski days at Louise, but it has always been on powder days. Sunshine always has good snow on the hard runs. Many people say sunshine has no steeps, well they have plenty if you know where to look. The far side chutes off Goats Eye Express has some of the best fall line skiing in bounds anywhere. Not to mention Delirium Dive that has the most gnarly inbounds terrain anywhere.
  Sunshine Village has the most consistent snow anywhere in the rockies except maybe Whistler. One of the downfalls at Sunshine Village is the flats, but these can be easily avoided if you know where to go. Some of the best jumps are of the top of Wawa, where you can take the back-country exit and hit some huge jumps landing in pow or just skiing it. Goats Eye is by far the best part of the hill.

• December 14, 2008
  John Wilcox from CANADA
  

  For my money, you simply can't beat the snow at Sunshine Village; right from late November through to May. Show where else you can get consistent natural snow like that? Sure, Fernie has its powder days, and Revelstoke is awesome in its prime. But nobody is seven months gnarly like Sunshine Village.

• December 13, 2008
  skiguy from CANADA
  

  I think it takes some knowledge in where to go at Sunshine Village. Whistler is awesome for sure, easy to know the runs, even to get to the easy hikes and pretty obvious. Delerium is much more intimidating, and requires equipment. I haven't even learned the other hikes myself yet, hoping to figure it out.

  I agree with the flats that are pretty brutal at Sunshine Village, but I think they can be avoided if you figure it out.

  Overrated? Probably, just because it's been a legacy hill, doesn't take away from a decent hill though. Decent snow, though I remember many icy days. Whistler gets more snow probably, but usually heavy and wet. Sunshine's been pretty good so far this year, cold right now. Just trade-offs all around I guess.

  Banff is a great town. Sure, lots of visitors, but still has local hill feeling. Opposed to Whistler where's it feels purely Intrawest. People in Banff are among the friendliest for sure, and don't discriminate against families and beginners. They just enjoy the lifestyle and enjoy sharing it.

  If you're a beginner/intermediate/family, good spot at Sunshine Village. If you're advanced/expert, I think you need some local/guide advice/partners, then you're fine. Looking for better powder, go cat/heli somewhere I guess.

• December 09, 2008
  Fallline from CANADA
  

  It never ceases to amaze me how negative people are. Get a life people. Sunshine Village is an amazing facility in many respects. It's snowing so get out there and have some fun.

• December 05, 2008
  Local skier from CANADA
  

  Sunshine Village has perhaps the best PR plan but it is overrated and too expensive for what you get: way too much fooling around to even get to the slopes, way too much ski out at bottom of what are short runs (I don't know why snowboarders are content to drag their boards across the ever present flats when they could slide to the lifts at other resorts - maybe its because Sunshine Village has the "best" snow), not to mention the lack of support for family skiing (don't honour snowpass system like almost all other resorts in AB and BC.)

• December 01, 2008
  Bob from CANADA
  

  Very friendly staff, full of kids on snowboards jumping and doing their best to annoy the rest of the skiers. Some green runs are like stairs; very steep down and then you have to take your skis to climb!! Food is not too expensive; snow and views are great!

• November 29, 2008
  Dinglenuts from CANADA
  

  Sunshine Village is awesome if you are looking to go riding in the spring! Also anybody who is challenging the environmental impacts of Sunshine Village should really read all about the fact that they are the most environmentally friendly ski area in North America and by their own initiative and not federal legislation. Regardless, don't expect anything too gnarly unless you are looking at rocket pocket and also expect not to see much sunshine!

• November 28, 2008
  sam from CANADA
  

  So Sunshine Village is pretty much awesome. I have had the season pass for 3 years now, and I've only seen somewhat bad icy days there. It has consistent fresh snow which makes it even sicker. Open the longest in the rockies is another plus. Never rains unless you're there early Nov or late May, but really with a season that long you can't complain.
  On its downsides it does have some flats, but so does the lake. Sure, it gets cold, but you can suck it up. The majority of the chairs are short anyway so you're never too far from the top. When all lifts are open, I barely have to wait. 3-4 mins tops. If the high lifts close it does get busy though. Peeps have said it gets ridiculously busy in the holiday season...well that's expected anywhere.
  It also beats the lake. I've skied there 3 times now and everyday has been icy. The terrain may be a bit better, but when you're skiing on ice it's just not fun. Anyway Sunshine Village has some sick terrain if you know where to look. You can ski almost anywhere in the dive, and there's some scary lines in there. Some peeps say go to Mount Norquay; don't, it's wasting your time and money. Poor snow, short, short runs, not steep and it has this annoying thing of going up and down the lifts to get across the mountain. Then at the end of the day it's a pain to get back again.
  Sunshine Village all the way baby.
  pce

• November 26, 2008
  Smarty from CANADA
  

  Sunshine rocks! Loads of soft snow, open till late May. People that are on here complaining about Sunshine are clearly WAY better than the rest of us. They are so incredibly good at their sport that they really should just stay out of the resorts all together. If Delerium Dive and Silver City aren't challenging enough for you, go rent a helicopter and go backcountry. C-YA! Same goes for everyone complaining about the lines at Sunshine.. There really are no lines - maybe 5 minutes during spring break. Can't wait 5 minutes? Go heli-ski and get your negative vibes off my mountain!
  As for comparing with Louise... there is no comparison. Louise might be a bit warmer, but it gets very icy, not a great place to learn. Louise has no accommodations on the hill. NONE. This year Louise closed a full month before Sunshine did. I rode Sunshine mid May this year on a sick powder day. I stayed at the Inn in the village and woke up to a foot and a half of fresh. Louise was closed. Go Sunshine!

• November 16, 2008
  bling blong from CANADA
  

  Ski Revelstoke if you want real mountains.

• October 19, 2008
  Osama Bin Laden from AFGHANISTAN
  

  Delirium Dive, Wild West or the chutes on Goat's Eye - any steeper and you'd have to bring a parachute.
  LOL the Dive makes anything at Norquay look tame and short.

• September 04, 2008
  Bill Cuningham from CANADA
  

  Most overrated ski hill in Canada.

• March 29, 2008
  Banff_Skier from CANADA
  

  Regarding the bus service in Banff, as far as I understand, Banff / Lake Louise is the only ski resort in the world where the resorts pay 100% of the costs. At all other resorts: the town, province/state, government, hotels, municipality, tourism leveys, etc. pay for all or part of transportation. The Alberta government is making millions a year in hotel tax; why not use it to improve the guest experience?

  And don't you think the hotels will sell more rooms, if you can get to a resort from Banff for a couple of bucks?

  Hey, when I was in Salt Lake, I took a public bus for a couple of bucks to Alta/Snowbird. Whistler has public transportation too. Hey, in Europe it is part of the town too. It sucks that Banff is at a competitive disadvantage to other resorts. Besides, ski resorts should be in the ski business, not the transportation business; and they should not have to bear 100% of the cost that benefits the entire community. We are all in it together, hey?

  I live in Banff, and know tons of locals who would benefit from having public transport to the ski resorts. Pay a couple of bucks, and make it to the mountain and back in time for work. If you are working a minimum wage job, having cheap public transport makes a huge difference. It also would be good in the end for the destination -- happy staff who can afford to ski or ride more, better customer service -- and better staff attracted to the destination.

  And to those of you who says Sunshine lacks tough terrain, look into the Z entrance from Galaxy Ridge in Delirium Dive, or hike up into South Side Chutes, or huck madetory air through the choke in Englers through Wild West, or do the pillow drops though Hayes Hill in Delirium, or just look at the map to the entrance to Silver City (99.9% of skiers/snowboarders would never even think to even attempt; every line in Silver City has no fall zones),etc., etc., then tell me Sunshine doesn't have the toughest terrain "inbounds" in North America.

  Louise is awesome, but the tough terrain is right in front of you. Sunshine: it is also there, but takes some knowledge and work to get to. I have skied everywhere from Jackson Hole, Whistler, Alta, Park City, Aspen, Vail, Fernie, Jasper, Kicking Horse, Blackcomb, Deer Valley, Steamboat, Revelstoke, Snowbird, and so many more, and in my mind there are only two resorts that have terrain that can match what is in all of Banff/Lake Louise. And Jackson Hole isn't one of them.

  I've lived in Banff/Lake Louise the last 13 years, and the least I have skied during that time is 53 days in a season. Most is 153.

• March 15, 2008
  Ryan from CANADA
  

  Obviously this Joe character doesn't know much about Sunshine Village. Snow that fell 2 weeks ago DOES matter at Sunshine, but probably not at most other hills. The reasons being... 1) best snow quality in Canada, dry & light, does not settle down fast or much 2) 90% of the people at SV ride 20% of the terrain so you can ALWAYS find fresh pow lines and get away from the punters.
  Remember, their vertical drop numbers include the gondola/ski-out so expect more like 800-1600 ft descents. Great terrain though. You can make each mountain your own snow-park and really get away from the crowds. 150+ days ridden at SV and I still find new stuff every week.
  They get more snow than Lake Louise, but not as much as their BC counterparts. At least it NEVER rains at SV... okay... maybe 1 day out of their whole season which is Nov.10-May.20.
  For a visitor, or beginner, Sunshine can be a very frustrating day due to the layout of the terrain (spread over a few mountains) with lots of hidden flat spots. If you know where everything is it may be one of the best resorts in Western Canada... if you don't, you might have the worst day of your life.
  On weekends you are guaranteed to see massive crowds (Whistler style) but on the plus side, the other 4-5 days of the week are COMPLETELY dead with 0 people in the lift lines. Can be flat light or white out sometimes, but is often snowing lightly above treeline making the name SV a little bit of a fib. That's ok though, many choices for lifts here to get into different weather systems. Snow over here, sun over there, pow here, crowds not here.
  The people that reviewed that Sunshine is flat obviously don't ride the challenging terrain. It's hilarious these "reviewers" even bother. Go check out The Garbage Chutes of a variety (about 100) mid-sized pow drops. Delirium Dive may be the most challenging inbounds lift accessed terrain in North America. Flat? Maybe between certain areas, but you can go hang out there while I rip the fresh pow all day long!
  Closer, super easy to get a ride, and consistent conditions. That bus pass is a joke that someone mentioned... they expect locals to pay $700 per season JUST FOR THE BUS on top of our $1000 pass. What a joke.

• February 25, 2008
  joe from CANADA
  

  I love sunshines snow report. Past 24hrs 0cm. Past 15 days 73cm.
  Because snow that fell two weeks ago matters.

• February 20, 2008
  Markark from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just returned from a great weekend at Sunshine. This was supposed to be a busy weekend but I didn't wait more than 2 mins in line. Goats Eye has great snow, fantastic and challenging skiing amongst the trees was a new experience and not one that you get in European resorts. The staff were so friendly and the food was great value (compared with France!). The runs into Sunshine village were a bit tame but provide something for everyone.
  In short - a great place to ski.

• February 18, 2008
  Bill Turgott from CANADA
  

  Sunshine Village is proposing blasting more of Banff National Park, one of UNESCO's world heritage sites, to make room for more parking.

  Sunshine Village is also trying to discontinue their bus service, wanting local hotels and government to foot the bill, stating that the ski hill brings guests to town so the town and hotels should pay for this. Sunshine Village has forgotten to mention the millions the government of Canada gives them to advertise all over the world.

  This is disgusting, Sunshine Village should be encouraging more guests to use the bus to alleviate the parking congestion, keeping the National Park in it's current condition.

• February 15, 2008
  Glen from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I don't think I've ever read so much rubbish in my life! Sunshine is excellently varied, with something for everyone, just seems some people are very hard to please! Sure, there are some flatter sections, but you find me a mountain that hasn't got that! The general bowl shape of the place collects a huge amount of snow, and even a relatively small snowfall makes it a superb place to ride. There are nice gentle warm-up runs, to the truly heart-stopping Delirium Dive! I didn't queue for a single lift at Sunshine for the 5 days I rode there, and I personally find Banff Avenue (the ski-out run for those who don't know) an excellent way to end the day. I'm a snowboarder, and didn't have to stop once on the way down. Anyone that heads to Banff MUST make sure they visit Sunshine.

• February 14, 2008
  Joe from CANADA
  

  Sunshine should be renamed. I propose Sunshine Cross Country Ski Area. The good hard runs are short and the "huge vertical" is not big at all. I have never seen a ski hill warp the truth and down right lie so much. The real vert is no more then 588 meters off of goats eye. They include the ski out in their stats which is certainly not a run. A bill-board on the way from Calgary proclaims " Closer, only 8km west of Banff" The turn off is 8km west of Banff, then another 6km down a twisty, poorly maintained road. Ya! your at the ski hill! O wait, five or ten minute walk to "the worlds fastest gondola" wait in line, then twenty more minutes stuffed in the gondola cabin with 7 other people till you're finally at the ski lifts.
  Sure, the snow is often better then other hills, but is it really worth it for tiny vertical, awful fall lines and huge line ups? I think not. Check out Louise or Norquay.

• January 18, 2008
  Janet Evans from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  My family (2 adults, one 16 year old and one 14 year old) went skiing from 22nd December to 2nd January 2007/8 and just had the best time. There are runs for all abilities. Yes, the lifts were busy at weekends and during the New Year holidays - but where isn't! As we are all good intermediates it was possible to ski away from the crowds. We got off at Goats Eye at Sunshine and that area was really quiet until about 11am and then it was not overly busy. We prefered Sunshine to Lake Louise - more options at Sunshine. All lift attendants very friendly and helpful. We all had a fantastic holiday. Stayed at the Banff Park Lodge - again brilliant. Canadian people are so polite and helpful - nothing ever too much trouble. Will be back one day.

• January 04, 2008
  GibbersSUCK! from CANADA
  

  Sunshine really, really sucks if you're a snowboarder. Snowboarders should go ride at the Lake or anywhere else - in fact PLEASE go somewhere (anywhere) else ya freaks!

• December 21, 2007
  Thiago from BRAZIL
  

  Very Good Resort, one of the best snow in the world, soft, abundant and dry!!!
  It's not as beautiful as Lake Louise, but it gets twice the snow.
  Its really interesting, Banff, Lake Louise and Sunshine are quite close each other,
  but Sunshine ALWAYS GET MUCH MORE SNOW then the other two...
  There is something for everyone, steeps, beginners...
  And Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the world, it's certainly worth the experience!!!!

• December 07, 2007
  John from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Yes, Sunshine does have some flat spots but after a couple of runs you should have figured out how to avoid them. If you are riding any of the challenging terrain you shouldn't have to worry about the flats anyway.

  As for the lift lines, on the weekdays you will never have to wait and on the weekends you might have to wait 5 or 10 minutes. If you don't want to wait at all on the weekends just go in the singles line or go to Goat's Eye.

• December 02, 2007
  Rider from CANADA
  

  Ya. The place sucks. Go somewhere else, especially on weekends. On powder days it's so flat that you get stuck, even boarding at 20km/hr, right Lee. As for it going back to the drawing-board... Yes National Parks are still on a no bulldozer policy as far as I know. I hear there's some sick lines at COP.