Snowsure: 4.4
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Sunshine Village is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Sunshine Village Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
November 28, 2008
sam
sam
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
Smarty
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!
October 19, 2008
Osama Bin Laden from
Pakistan
Osama Bin Laden from
Pakistan
March 29, 2008
Banff_Skier
Banff_Skier
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
Ryan
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
joe
February 20, 2008
Markark from
United Kingdom
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
Bill Turgott
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.
Nearest