Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort

Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort, Banff AB

VERTICAL: 1,070 metres (3,514 feet)
SKIABLE ACREAGE: 3,358 acres
ELEVATION:
* Top Elevation: 2,730 metres (8,954 feet)
* Bottom Elevation: 1,658 metres (5,440 feet)
* 12 Lifts
*Annual Snowfall: Up to 9m (30 feet)

Gondola to Goats Eye and Sunshine Village centre. It takes about 20mins from the carpark to the Village centre. Sean has raced the Gondola (Shannon) via the ski out and it is much faster to ski out.

Top of Wawa looking towards Goats Eye mountain.

View of the Rockies from the top of Continental Divide express quad.

Shannon on Strawberry Express quad with Mount Standish in the background.

Christmas Day!

Our first day of power at Sunshine, over the last 3 days we got 30cm. It was so nice and fluffy today, pity its a weekend and we had to share it.

White Christmas in Canada

We spend Christmas morning up at Sunshine snowboarding, then headed 'home' to the Blue Mountain Lodge for Christmas Dinner and (a few) beers.

Calgary

Our first stop was Calgary to buy a car for the next 4 months. We were lucky that Chris and Tash offered to put us up.

Downtown Calgary



We went to Tubby Dog for dinner one night before we headed to Banff, they had no Chili that night, so we both ordered an A-Bomb Hotdog. It had cheese, bacon, mustard, mayo, ketchup and potato chips (i.e crisps). Interesting combination. Dont think we will be frequenting Tubby Dog. Might try Peters' Drive-in next time.

The Chinese Cultural centre in Calgary's China Town.

Olympic Plaza

We also went to watch Chris' Hockey Team, The Hobos play, unfortunately, that night they didn't have a win. Chris however, scored twice.

Sean starts testing all the Canadian Beers, starts safely with a Thirst Aid Kit.



Chris took us to Cross Iron Mills Shopping Centre, which is home to Bass Outdoor Pro Shop, as the sign says, it is Canada's Great Outdoor Store.

Inside the store are soooooo many stuffed animals, from wolves to moose to polar bear, it is crazy!



Finally we got our car sorted, a 2002 Subaru Outback.

And then headed off into the sunset to Banff!

Road Tripping Play Lists - AB - Alberta

I have decided to make up play lists using my iTunes library for each Province/State we travel thru on our Road Trip.
The play lists comprise songs starting with the two initials for the state in which we are traveling.

The first one for Alberta is as follows:

1. Acapella - Kelis
2. Ain't No Surprise - Theory of a Dead Man
3. All I Need - Air
4. Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park
5. Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie
6. Baba O'Riley - The Who
7. The Backseat - The Gaslight Anthem
8. Bang Bang Bang - Mark Ronson & The Business Intl
9. Be Somebody - Kings of Leon
10. Been Caught Stealing - Jane's Addiction
11. Benny and the Jets - The Beastie Boys
12. Better Man - Pearl Jam
13. Big Me - Foo Fighters
14. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
15. Black Jesus - Everlast
16. Blood Sugar Sex Magik - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
17. Blue Monday - Orgy
18. The Bold and the Beautiful - The Drugs
19. Bombtrack - Rage Against the Machine
20. Bother - Stone Sour
21. Boys on the Radio - Hole
22. Break on Through - The Doors
23. Brimful of Asha - Cornershop
24. Brother Down - Sam Roberts
25. The Bucket - Kings of Leon
26. Buck Rogers - Feeder
27. Bubbles -Biffy Clyro
28. Bullet With Butterfly Wings - The Smashing Pumpkins
29. Buy Me A Pony - Spiderbait
30. Bye Bye Baby - Ok Go

Sunshine Powder Day 06/01/11

It wasn't expected but when we arrived up the mountain we were greeted with some lovely fresh powder. First 3 clips are of Sean and the final one is of Shannon.

Arriving in Calgary & Kicking Horse Mountain, Golden, BC

We arrived into Calgary Saturday evening and were picked up from the airport by our friend Chris. Since then we have been lucky enough to stay with Chris and Natasha in their fantastic condo in downtown Calgary. We really have to say a huge thank you for looking after us so well, from taking us to look at cars to taking me on a guys trip to Kicking Horse mountain catching some amazing fresh power. Their condo is a short walk into the city centre and has been great for us to check out the city and get all the little things we have needed to get organised before we head to Banff. Thanks very much Chris and Tash we really appreciate it!

Over the weekend Chris had been checking out the snow forecast and reports and Kicking Horse in BC came up the winner with approx 20cm of fresh snow on Sunday / Sunday night. So we headed off early Monday morning with 2 of Chris's mates for theirs and my first day of the season on the snow. The 3 locals told me that Kicking Horse is their favorite mountain, it didn't disappoint. I'd have to say it has the best terrain I've been on with some amazing runs, bowls and chutes. Best area of the day was definitely Feuz Bowl which opened up around midday after the ski patrol had set off charges to get rid of any avalanche risks.

A few facts about Kicking Horse before the pictures that speak for themselves.

Kicking Horse Mountain, Golden BC
The fourth highest vertical drop in North America.
VERTICAL: 1,260 metres (4,133 feet)
SKIABLE ACREAGE: 2,800+ acres
ELEVATION:
* Top of Kicking Horse: 2,450 metres (8,033 feet)
* Bottom of the lowest chair: 1,190 metres (3,900 feet)

Monday, 13 December 2010

The bottom of the resort was underneath the clouds but is so high you come through the clouds into the clear sky above. Very pretty.

Boarding down into the clouds.

Says it all.

Bottom of Feuz Bowl, just over my right shoulder was where we came down.

Tim, Chris and Jesse, thanks for a great 1st day of the season.

Snow sun shower.

Think Twice, a ridge we dropped off down into Crystal Bowl.

Top of the ridge before dropping into Feuz Bowl.

Rest stop on the way home, anyone for a picnic?

Mountain View from the rest area.

Same Again. Over all a great day, very tiring in so much soft snow, I'll definitely be back to Kicking Horse by the end of the trip.

Canada & US (sabbatical) - On our way

4 months - 2 countries

We are headed to Canada and the US on an extended holiday. Initially we are spending 2 months in Banff, Alberta Canada before going on a road trip through the US and parts of Canada.

We'll update you on the provinces / states and ski resorts once we are done.

Everywhere you go you always take the weather with you. First song on the new earphones. Thanks to all the guys and girls at work.

Upgrade, very impressed thanks BA, about time. Inflight entertainment still didn't work. Fifth BA flight in a row! A lot easier to deal with in an empty Premium Economy cabin though.

MMM Chocolate...Thanks Rads and Sam