Sunshine Village ski area near Banff in Alberta has announced it will be opening for skiing and boarding more than a week early, tomorrow Thursday, November 3rd, 2016, its earliest opening in over 30 years.
The centre says it currently has a 'solid base' of over 69 cm (27 in) of all-natural snow.
Sunshine will be the first ski area in Canada and (after Arapahoe Basin Colorado and Killington in Vermont) the third in North America to open, beating fellow Banff resort Mt Norquay whih is scheduled to open at the weekend. The third Banff area resort, Lke Louise, should be opening in just over a week's time.
Sunshine will open with four Chairlifts including Wawa, Strawberry, Jackrabbit and Wolverine, one magic carpet and one 8-passenger gondola.
"A large amount of precipitation starting in early October means the champagne powder snow has piled up fast," says Dave Riley, Chief Operating Officer at Sunshine Village, "the Sunshine Village team has been working incredibly hard and we are thrilled to be the first resort in Canada to open its doors to our guests."
The resort will offer full ski school programs as well as Tiny Tiger and Kids Kampus programs starting Thursday, in addition to opening select on-mountain dining and retail venues.
Banff's only ski-in, ski-out hotel, the Sunshine Mountain Lodge, will open on Friday, November 11, 2016.
Skiers and riders are advised to use caution as early season conditions mean there may be unmarked natural hazards around the resort. Daily snow conditions are at www.skibanff.com/conditions.
