Banff Sunshine Village is gearing up for a summer ski season thanks to an abundance of snowfall during the winter. The regular winter season is set to conclude on May 18, with plans to reopen for a 16-day summer ski season from June 20 to July 5.
Kendra Scurfield, a representative of Sunshine Village, expressed confidence in the resort’s decision to offer summer skiing due to the substantial snow accumulation on the mountain throughout the season. She described the winter as a “fairytale season” with continuous snowfall.
During the summer ski season, the resort intends to operate the Strawberry Express chairlift along with several ski runs. Scurfield mentioned that more specific details about the summer operations will be revealed in the upcoming weeks.
Highlighting the unique aspect of Sunshine Village, Scurfield emphasized the resort’s exceptional ability to provide skiing opportunities in the middle of summer, attributing this to the resort’s high elevation above the tree-line.
John Pomeroy, a University of Saskatchewan professor specializing in Rockies precipitation, supported the resort’s ability to retain snow, citing the higher elevation of Sunshine as a key factor for enhanced snow preservation.
He explained that areas like Sunshine receive nearly double the precipitation compared to lower valley communities such as Banff and Canmore.
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This upcoming summer ski season marks the second time in nearly 35 years that Sunshine Village is offering skiing during the summer. The decision was influenced by heavy snowfall in 2022, leading to a spontaneous opening for around six days over the Canada Day weekend.
Scurfield recalled the enthusiasm of visitors skiing on Canada Day, with some even hitting the slopes in shorts, describing the experience as “wild, unusual, and very Canadian.”
Following the successful 2022 season, Sunshine Village resolved to offer summer skiing whenever conditions permit.