Banff Sunshine Village is gearing up for a summer ski season thanks to an extraordinarily snowy winter. The regular winter ski 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 pursue summer skiing due to the abundant snowfall on the mountain throughout the season.
Scurfield described the winter as a “fairytale season” with continuous snowfall. The resort intends to operate the Strawberry Express chairlift and multiple ski runs during the summer season, with further details to be announced soon. Sunshine Village’s unique advantage lies in its high elevation above the tree line, allowing snow to linger longer compared to other resorts, as stated by Scurfield.
John Pomeroy, a University of Saskatchewan professor specializing in Rockies precipitation, emphasized the impact of Sunshine’s elevated location on snow accumulation. Areas like Sunshine receive nearly double the precipitation of valley communities like Banff and Canmore due to their high elevation.
This upcoming summer ski season marks only the second time in nearly 35 years that Sunshine Village has been able to offer skiing during the summer. Following a successful impromptu opening in 2022, the resort committed to providing summer skiing whenever conditions permit. Pomeroy noted that the area surrounding Sunshine currently boasts well above-average snow levels for this time of year, with the snowpack remaining substantial due to cooler spring temperatures.
Despite the positive outlook, Pomeroy cautioned that warmer-than-average temperatures forecasted for May could pose challenges for Sunshine in maintaining sufficient snow for its summer skiing plans. The resort remains optimistic about the upcoming season, building on the success of previous summer ski offerings.