KAMLOOPS — For a few die-hard skiers, the countdown to Sun Peaks Resort Opening Day began several hours before the first chair went up the mountain
“We’ve only been here for 10 hours,” Patrick explained.
His buddy Dayon continued the thought.
“10 hours now… We set up the tent and camped out overnight to get the first chair,” Dayon said.
The third of their party, Gavin nodded along in agreement. The trio was first in line for the Sunburst Express’s first trip up the mountain, as Saturday marked the first day of operation for the mountain resort for the 2018/2019 season. For these three buddies, being first mastered.
“Why does anyone do anything? Who do people climb mountains?” Patrick (obviously the deep thinker of the trio) philosophized. “Because they’re there!”
“We caught the first chair last year and thought let’s go bigger this year,” Dayon said. “Let’s do something a little more ridiculous and bring that spirit back!”
Gavin, obviously the strong, silent member of the group nodded along in agreement.
Aidan Kelly, chief marketing officer for the resort says Saturday certainly wasn’t the best opening day Sun Peaks has seen in recent years.
“Last year, we had an All-Time Opening. This year is… pretty good,” Kelly told CFJC Today. “Skiing in the alpine is pretty good. We’ve got a few really nice runs up there. Some happy faces coming down the mountain already. Anytime you can be on snow, sliding with a smile on your face in the middle of November, it’s pretty good.”
Even with 21 runs open to the public, operations staff was working tirelessly to make enough snow to allow skiers to ski all the way down to the village.
“We’ve got a whole crew that works 24/7, we never shut down,” Kelly said. “Whenever the temperatures are right we make some snow.
While crews are working hard to get the mountain ready for the ski and snowboard season ahead, Kelly says the resort would appreciate a little help from Mother Nature.
“We need some more natural snow obviously, in order to get the whole mountain opened up, and some cooler temperatures to help with our snowmaking, as well,” Kelly said. “If Mother Nature cooperates, and things go our way, we could be on track for another record-setting year.”
