Epic Pass sales for the 2025-26 ski season will end on Dec. 4, Vail Resorts announced on Monday.
Current prices for Epic products are $1,127 for the full Epic Pass and $833 for the Epic Local Pass which comes with restrictions. When passes went on sale at early-bird prices in March, they were $1,051 and $783, respectively.
Rival Alterra Mountain Company has not announced its deadline for purchasing Ikon Passes, but that is expected to come in mid-December, as usual. Current prices are $1,519 for the Ikon Pass and $1,009 for the Ikon Base pass.
Both companies also sell variable multi-day passes. Epic is charging $463 for four-day passes. Four-day Ikon passes are going for $569.
With Killington Resort officially open in Vermont, skiers and riders were excited to kick off their season on Thursday. Among them was Harley Ruffle, a 7-year-old who has gained thousands of followers on social media with his journey on a snowboard.Harley Ruffle is only 7 years old, but he has already completed five seasons of snowboarding for at least 100 days. His quick progress already has him riding with professionals. He first picked up a snowboard at only 2 years old. His family was at a ski shop for his older brother, but ended up leaving with another rider. Harley’s mom, Jill Ruffle, said she turned around and Harley had strapped himself into a mini snowboard. “We brought him into the store in a stroller and he’s on snow, balancing on a snowboard with absolutely zero problems,” she said. From then on, snowboarding was all he wanted to do. Harley is homeschooled and started going to the mountain as much as possible to practice. His mom said that while he began riding with the Killington Mountain School last season, he started with no formal training. She said right away she noticed Harley’s ability to quickly pick up new skills. He landed his first front flip at just 4 years old. “I just try it, and most of the time I get it,” Harley said. Since he began snowboarding, Harley has made it to the mountain a total of 678 days. One season, he was out for 172 days. Now, he is hoping for his sixth 100-day season this year. “That wasn’t something we set out to happen. It was just, again, his passion led to that,” said Jill Ruffle. Harley’s mom began posting videos of him riding several years ago to document his snowboarding journey. Since then, he’s gained over 26,000 followers and sponsors who have supported his progress, providing him with equipment and more. “He’s a goofy, happy little snowboarder,” she said. “I think they want to end up where — you know, see where he ends up on his journey.”Harley’s family has built a community through his snowboarding. He became family friends with professional snowboarders who enjoy riding with him. “Ever since I’ve known him, I swear it was before he could even talk, he was on a snowboard, you know, just smiling, doing his thing,” said professional rider Zeb Powell. Harley said he is happy to begin another season on the slopes. He said he has been waiting to get in his first runs for weeks, and with another year starting, he’s aiming for another 100 days on the mountain.
With Killington Resort officially open in Vermont, skiers and riders were excited to kick off their season on Thursday. Among them was Harley Ruffle, a 7-year-old who has gained thousands of followers on social media with his journey on a snowboard.
Harley Ruffle is only 7 years old, but he has already completed five seasons of snowboarding for at least 100 days. His quick progress already has him riding with professionals.
He first picked up a snowboard at only 2 years old. His family was at a ski shop for his older brother, but ended up leaving with another rider. Harley’s mom, Jill Ruffle, said she turned around and Harley had strapped himself into a mini snowboard.
“We brought him into the store in a stroller and he’s on snow, balancing on a snowboard with absolutely zero problems,” she said.
From then on, snowboarding was all he wanted to do. Harley is homeschooled and started going to the mountain as much as possible to practice. His mom said that while he began riding with the Killington Mountain School last season, he started with no formal training. She said right away she noticed Harley’s ability to quickly pick up new skills. He landed his first front flip at just 4 years old.
“I just try it, and most of the time I get it,” Harley said.
Since he began snowboarding, Harley has made it to the mountain a total of 678 days. One season, he was out for 172 days. Now, he is hoping for his sixth 100-day season this year.
“That wasn’t something we set out to happen. It was just, again, his passion led to that,” said Jill Ruffle.
Harley’s mom began posting videos of him riding several years ago to document his snowboarding journey. Since then, he’s gained over 26,000 followers and sponsors who have supported his progress, providing him with equipment and more.
“He’s a goofy, happy little snowboarder,” she said. “I think they want to end up where — you know, see where he ends up on his journey.”
Harley’s family has built a community through his snowboarding. He became family friends with professional snowboarders who enjoy riding with him.
“Ever since I’ve known him, I swear it was before he could even talk, he was on a snowboard, you know, just smiling, doing his thing,” said professional rider Zeb Powell.
Harley said he is happy to begin another season on the slopes. He said he has been waiting to get in his first runs for weeks, and with another year starting, he’s aiming for another 100 days on the mountain.
NEW YORK — The stakes for all these U.S. skiers, skaters, snowboarders and sliders over the next 100 days could not be more clear.
A chance for Olympic glory.
A chance to compete for a gold medal.
And this year, for the first time, a chance to make $100,000.
Thanks to a recent record $100 million donation to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, athletes who make the U.S. Olympic or Paralympic teams starting next year in Milan-Cortina will be eligible to receive a $100,000 award when they retire.
It’s a game-changing piece of news for Olympic athletes, most of whom toil in obscurity outside of the two weeks the lights go on at the Games, and many of whom live in or near poverty: According to the foundation, some 57% of U.S. athletes earn $50,000 or less a year.
“At the age of 25, 26, I definitely was like: ‘I can’t do this to (my family) anymore. I can’t continue living in my car. I have student loans. I have to get on with my life,’” said biathlete Deedra Irwin, who is now 33 and has made ends meet by everything from dog sitting to joining the Vermont National Guard.
Though Wednesday marked the 100-days-out point on the Olympic calendar, only a small slice of the approximately 225 Olympic and 65 Paralympic spots on Team USA in Italy have been locked up.
The majority of those spots will be earned based on athletes’ finishes in upcoming World Cup events being held across the globe over the next few months.
So, while many of these athletes have heard the stories about how the Olympics can change their lives — usually through sponsorships, speaking engagements and talk-show appearances that spring from inspiring performances — never before has the promise of cold hard cash been dangled quite like this.
“As an athlete, you don’t put into a 401K,” Paralympian Oksana Masters said. “We don’t have those traditional jobs of paying into that kind of stuff. It’s about time that we’ve done this.”
There are a few catches, mostly that the money will be divided into four payments and won’t go into bank accounts until 20 years after the athletes retire, or when they reach 45 — whichever comes later. (The math is interesting for snowboarder Nick Baumgartner, who will be 44 next year and hopes to extend his career through Salt Lake City in 2034.)
The grant also funds a $100,000 life insurance policy for a beneficiary.
Both the award and the insurance are accrued each time an athlete makes the Olympics, meaning, for instance, someone who makes it three times would receive $600,000 in total benefits.
“We’ve received other transformational gifts, but this has reflected a shift in how we’re able to holistically care for our athletes,” USOPF president Christine Walshe said.
The $100 million came from Ross Stevens, the founder and CEO of Stone Ridge Holdings Group, a finance firm that focuses on “nontraditional” investment options such as crypto and fine art.
It was the biggest single donation to the USOPF, which started operation in 2013 — the brainchild of former Olympic leader Peter Ueberroth, who helped turn the Olympics into a moneymaker, in part out of necessity because the U.S. government does not fund its Olympic athletes.
With most of the next decade’s TV and sponsorship dollars accounted for, the foundation will need to bankroll improvements in athlete benefits for the foreseeable future. Walshe said the charitable arm is projecting to account for 27% of the USOPC’s revenue this Olympic cycle, compared to 12% from 2021-24.
The foundation’s contributions are directed toward athlete-centered programs that focus on performance and innovation, health and wellness, and career placement and economic mobility. Never before has the economic mobility part looked as simple as this: Make the Olympics, get $100,000.
“The $100,000 definitely motivates all of us to make that team,” cross-country skier Gus Schumacher said. “Cross-country isn’t generally huge money, and $100,000, especially for the people that maybe are on the edge of the team, is going to be a lot.”
Skateboarding faces new rivals — is it time for the culture to evolve and level up again?
Skateboarding has always thrived on rebellion — the sound of wheels on asphalt, a challenge to conformity, a statement of personal style. But as trends shift and new forms of recreation take hold, the question arises: does skateboarding need to level up?
Once the symbol of youth independence and counterculture, skateboarding now finds itself at a crossroads. The sport’s inclusion in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics brought legitimacy, sponsorships, and visibility — yet participation numbers tell a more nuanced story.
An estimated 11 million Americans skateboard, according to recent industry studies, and the global market for boards and gear is worth over $4 billion. Still, U.S. participation dipped slightly in 2023, suggesting that the sport’s “golden era” growth may have plateaued.
Meanwhile, the pandemic-era surge in board sales, fueled by outdoor social distancing trends, has cooled as many younger adults have shifted toward other activities — from electric scooters and longboards to the gym, pickleball, and snow sports.
If skateboarding’s asphalt sibling is searching for its next boost, its snow-covered cousin seems to have found one. Snowboarding, once thought to be in decline, has rebounded in recent years. The National Ski Areas Association reports winter sports participation surpassed 30 million in the 2023–24 season, with snowboarding showing one of the fastest growth rates — roughly 9%.
About 7.6 million Americans now snowboard, and resorts across Colorado, Utah, and the Pacific Northwest report that younger millennials and Gen Z riders are returning to the slopes. Snowboarding also benefits from its “destination sport” appeal — combining travel, social sharing, and an athletic challenge that fits neatly into the Instagram era.
Despite its challenges, skateboarding remains a cornerstone of urban youth culture. Its influence stretches beyond half-pipes and handrails — shaping streetwear, music videos, and even high fashion. Skateboarders were among the first to blend sport and identity, long before lifestyle branding became mainstream.
Still, the industry faces pressure to evolve. Skateparks remain unevenly distributed across cities, and many public spaces remain unfriendly to skaters. The sport’s professional scene also struggles for consistent media coverage and financial backing, especially compared to snowboarding’s polished resort circuits and televised events.
To “level up,” skateboarding may need to redefine what it stands for. The sport’s future could lie in expanding beyond tricks and competitions — embracing its role as a sustainable urban mobility option, a form of fitness, and a social connector for adults who grew up with a board and never really put it away.
In an era of electric everything, skateboarding’s analog soul may be its greatest strength — but only if it adapts. Snowboarding may currently own the momentum, but skateboarding owns the streets, the seasons, and the style.
For now, it’s not about whether the sport survives — but whether it dares to reinvent itself, again.
BANFF, Alberta, October 8, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– “Condé Nast Traveler” announced today the results of its Annual Readers’ Choice Awards with Banff Sunshine Village recognized as the #2 Ski Resort in Canada and the top-ranked ski resort in Alberta.
“Condé Nast Traveler” received more than 757,000 survey responses from readers across the United States, rating their travel experiences worldwide. The Reader’s Choice Awards, the travel industry’s longest-running and most prestigious accolades, remain a leading benchmark of excellence and recognition of global travel. The full list of winners can be found here.
“Being ranked among Canada’s top ski resorts is exciting for every member of our team,” shares Kendra Scurfield, VP of Communications at Banff Sunshine Village. “This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication that go into creating top-tier and memorable experiences for our guests and motivates us to keep raising the bar each season.”
Located in Banff National Park, Banff Sunshine Village is known for having one of North America’s longest ski seasons, offering ski-in/ski-out accommodations and world-class runs spanning three mountains of diverse terrain, featuring what’s often called Canada’s Best Snow. This marks the resort’s second consecutive year being voted one of the world’s top ski destinations. In 2024, Banff Sunshine Village ranked third in North America.
The 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on “Condé Nast Traveler’s” website at cntraveler.com/rca and featured in the November issue.
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About Banff Sunshine Village:
Perched at 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) above sea level, Banff Sunshine Village is nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park. Renowned for its all-natural snow, this world-class resort attracts skiers and snowboarders from around the globe during its impressive seven-month winter season, running from mid-November to late May. Come late June, the landscape transforms as summer arrives at Banff Sunshine Meadows, where Alberta’s native wildflowers blanket hundreds of pristine, protected alpine acres in a vibrant display of color. From carving turns on Canada’s Best Snow in the winter to hiking through breathtaking mountain meadows in the summer, Banff Sunshine offers an unparalleled year-round escape for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Shaun White and Nina Dobrev have called off their engagement and brought an end to their five-year relationship, a person close to the couple told The Associated Press.
The three-time Olympic champion snowboarder and the former star of “The Vampire Diaries” made a mutual decision to part, according to the person.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
People magazine first reported the breakup.
White, 39, and Dobrev, 36, went public about their relationship in 2020. One of their first Instagram posts, which came toward the start of the COVID lockdown, showed Dobrev giving a “quarantine haircut” to the Olympic halfpipe rider known in his younger days as “The Flying Tomato” for his long shocks of red hair.
They shared occasional posts about their travels over the next few years, and supported each other’s careers. Dobrev followed White on his frenetic road to qualifying for his fifth and final Olympics in 2022 and White was front and center in 2023 for the Los Angeles premier of Dobrev’s Netflix movie, “The Out-Laws.”
After finishing fourth at the Beijing Olympics, White credited Dobrev for pushing him to make a to-do list for retirement “so I’m not sitting around twiddling my thumbs.”
They announced their engagement in October 2024, posting a picture of White kneeling in front of Dobrev at a New York restaurant, the couple surrounded by white rose petals and candles. “She said YES,” White wrote in the post, adding an emoji of a diamond ring.
People reported the couple was seen together in public as recently as Aug. 31, but Dobrev was spotted walking a red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival last week without her engagement ring.
White has spent the last two years starting up The Snow League, a pro halfpipe circuit he hopes will lead to more opportunities for people in his sport. Dobrev has reportedly been cast to star in a rom-com “It Happened One Summer” based on a best-selling book by Tessa Bailey.
BANFF, Alberta, May 6, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Spring shines bright at Banff Sunshine, the iconic Canadian Rockies ski & snowboard resort. With a ski and snowboard season that stretches from early November to late May, Banff Sunshine Village is internationally renowned for being home to Canada’s Best Spring Skiing and Snowboarding. This year, skiers and snowboarders can carve up the wide open slopes of Sunshine Village until Slush Cup Monday, May 19th, 2025.
With two full weeks left to enjoy Canada’s Best Spring Skiing, the Banff based resort is turning up the heat on their spring events.
“Spring shines at Banff Sunshine,” says Kendra Scurfield, VP Brand and Communications at Banff Sunshine Village. “Spring at Sunshine Village is my personal favorite time of year. The snow is superb, the weather is warm, and the village is a vibe. Each year, our goal is to make our spring events a little more extra as we lean into the fun of spring skiing at Banff Sunshine. This spring we’re excited to introduce a couple new events, including the Sunshine Stampede, and the upcoming Leg Burner Banked Slalom.”
This upcoming Saturday, the Banff resort has teamed up with Snowboard Canada and double Beijing Paralympic snowboard medalist, Tyler Turner for the first ever ‘Leg Burner Banked Slalom.’ The all-ages charity event is open to snowboarders of all levels, with proceed raised going to support Canadian Paralympic Snowboard Athletes.
Starting Saturday May 17th, the resort celebrates it’s 95th Slush Cup Long Weekend. Over the years, the event has grown from a campy end-of-season celebration to a three-day festival that welcomes winter lovers from around the world as they say, “ski ya later winter.” The three-day Slush Cup festival kicks off on Saturday, May 17th, with the SlushShine Rail Jam, followed by Watergate Banked Slalom on Sunday, May 18th, and the marque event, Slush Cup, on May 19th, 2025.
Banff Sunshine’s Slush Cup is the longest running end-of-season pond-skimming event in North America. One hundred hopefuls will attempt to ski across the 110-foot pool of melt water, as they compete for the crown of Mr. and Ms. Slush Cup. Participants will be judged based on execution, completion, style, costume, and attitude. This year’s event will be judged by a panel of Canadian Winter Olympians including Mikaël Kingsbury, Rachael Karker, Tyler Turner and Brendan Mackay.
“Slush Cup is my favorite day of the year,” says Jenna Lee. “I’ve been skiing at Sunshine for over 20 years and have not missed a Slush Cup yet. It’s just so much fun. Whether you plan ski, watch the event, or compete, Slush Cup is the absolute most fun you can have in ski boots!”
A full list of events, including Banff Sunshine’s Untracked Concert Series and Mom’s Ski Free Mother’s Day can be found on skibanff.com. Access to all Sunshine events is free with a lift ticker or Sunshine Season Pass.
About Banff Sunshine:
Banff Sunshine Village is home of Canada’s Best Snow, Canada’s Hottest Lifts, Banff’s only ski-in, ski-out hotel Sunshine Mountain Lodge, and Canada’s Best Spring Skiing. The resort is famous for its extra-long ski and snowboard season which spans from early November until late May. Located just 90 minutes west of Calgary’s International Airport, and 15 minutes west of the town of Banff, Banff Sunshine Village is wide-open for skiing and snowboarding until May 19th, 2025.
For more information about Spring at Sunshine Village, contact Kendra Scurfield at media@skibanff.com.
Contact Information
Kendra Scurfield Director of Brand and Communications kscurfield@skibanff.com +1-403-830-7946
BANFF, ALBERTA, April 5, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Are you ready to ROCK out in the Canadian Rockies? April 5 th & 6 th mark the return of Banff Sunshine Village ‘s highly anticipated Untracked Concert Series presented by Coors Light. Banff Sunshine’s Untracked Concert Series runs weekly, from now until May 19 th , Slush Cup Long Weekend.
“Spring is when we truly shine,” says Kendra Scurfield, VP Brand & Communications at the iconic Banff resort. “As other resorts close up for the season, we at Banff Sunshine carve into our fun and sunny season, the Spring Ski Season. Thanks to our location high on the Continental Divide, guests from around the world flock to Banff Sunshine to enjoy Canada’s Best Spring Skiing and Snowboarding.”
Starting the weekend of April 5 th , 2025, skiers, snowboarders, and people who just want to come up to enjoy live music in the mountains can head to Banff Sunshine Village for their free (with lift ticket) spring concert series. This year’s lineup features exclusively Canadian talent.
To kick-start the concert series, Edmonton’s Scenic Route to Alaska will take to the stage set up in the Trapper’s Snow Garden. Performance times for the Untracked Concert Series are 1:00 PM & 2:15 PM every Saturday and Sunday, now until Banff Sunshine’s closing weekend. Each concert will be paired with a theme, encouraging guests to get into character. April 5 th & 6 th kick off seven weekends of spring concerts, themes and events. Discounts on lift tickets will be offered to spring skiers and snowboarders dressed up in the weekend theme.
Spring skiing at Sunshine Village offers the best of both worlds, from carving up Canada’s Best Snow on the pristine slopes of Canada’s highest ski and snowboard resort, to lively après ski family-friendly festivities in the luxurious Canadian Rockies. Click here for a full list of spring events & weekend themes!
“At Banff Sunshine, we’re wide-open for skiing and snowboarding until May 19 th , 2025. There’s lots of time left to hit the slopes and make incredible spring skiing memories,” says Scurfield.
About Banff Sunshine: Banff Sunshine Village is home of Canada’s Best Snow, Canada’s Hottest Lifts, Banff’s only ski-in, ski-out hotel Sunshine Mountain Lodge, and Canada’s Best Spring Skiing. The resort is celebrated for its extra-long ski and snowboard season which spans from early November until late May. Located just 90 minutes west of Calgary International Airport, and 15 minutes west of the town of Banff, Banff Sunshine Village is wide-open for skiing and snowboarding until May 19 th , 2025.
For more information about Spring at Sunshine Village, contact Kendra Scurfield at kscurfield@skibanff.com or call 403-830-7946.
Contact Information
Kendra Scurfield Director of Brand and Communications kscurfield@skibanff.com +1-403-830-7946
BANFF, Alberta, March 21, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Viva la Sushine! Ski Season is still going strong at Canada’s highest ski and snowboard resort, Banff Sunshine Village. With a ski and snowboard season that stretches from early November to late May, Banff Sunshine is renowned for Canada’s Best Spring Skiing and Riding. With the arrival of spring, Banff Sunshine Village extends its chairlift times to 4:30 pm and 5:00 pm for Jackrabbit to allow guests to enjoy an extra couple of spring time runs.
“Spring is the best time to ski Sunshine,” exclaims Kendra Scurfield, VP brand and communications at Banff Sunshine Village. “Our resort really comes to life in the spring. Spring at Sunshine is about fun in the snow and sun. Traditionally, March and April are our snowiest months. To help our guest make the most of their spring ski day, we have extended our lift times to allow skiers and snowboarders to enjoy the longer hours of sunshine at Sunshine.”
In true March fashion, the month has been Banff Sunshine’s snowiest of the season so far, with 91cm (over 2 feet) of Canada’s Best Snow accumulating in the first half of the month. This year, the iconic Canadian Rocky Mountain resort, located just 90 minutes west of Calgary’s International Airport is wide open daily for skiing and snowboarding until May 19th, 2025. Skiers and snowboarders of Banff Sunshine Village save with a Sunshine Spring Pass. An Adult Spring Pass skis off in just 4 visits, offering pass holders access to the resorts entire spring events line.
Canada’s Best Spring Skiing and Riding at Banff Sunshine is all about fun in the Sunshine and family-friendly weekend events. Starting in April, the Untracked Concert Series presented by Coors Light takes over the Mad Trappers Beer Garden every Saturday & Sunday with live music from local DJs and artists for ultimate spring après vibes in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
“I’ll say it again, spring at Banff Sunshine is the BEST time to enjoy our mountain resort! As the days get longer and warmer, we welcome skiers and snowboarders of all levels to our Rocky Mountain resort. For those new to snow sports, spring is a great time to sign up for a lesson with the Sunshine Ski and Snowboard School,” said Scurfield.
With longer ski days and a longer ski season, it’s easy to ski why Spring Shines at Banff Sunshine. The resort urges riders to make the most of the spring ski and snowboard season with a Banff Sunshine Village 2025 Spring Season Pass. Adult Spring Passes are $660 + GST.
About Banff Sunshine Village: Located 7,200 feet above sea level (2,133 meters), high on the continental divide in the Canadian Rockies, you’ll find Banff Sunshine Village. The world-class mountain resort offers skiers and snowboarders over 3,580 acres of skiable terrain across three mountains. The resort is home to Banff National Park’s only ski-in, ski-out hotel, Sunshine Mountain Lodge. Voted Ski Magazine’s Best Canadian Resort for 2024, Banff Sunshine Village is famous for being home to Canada’s Best Snow, Canada’s hottest lifts, and Canada’s longest non-glacial ski and snowboard season. Guests of the resort marvel at the immersive mountain scenery and family-friendly atmosphere. The Banff resort is now open daily until May 19, 2025, for the 2024/25 ski and snowboard season.
For more information about Spring at Sunshine Village, contact Kendra Scurfield at kscurfield@skibanff.com or call 403-830-7946.
Contact Information
Kendra Scurfield Director of Brand and Communications kscurfield@skibanff.com +1-403-830-7946
BANFF, Alberta, November 16, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– Saturday, November 16th, will go down in ski history as the start of a new Super Era at popular Canadian Rocky Mountain ski and snowboard resort Banff Sunshine Village, thanks to the grand opening of Super Angel LX, the first Leitner-Poma EVO technology, high speed, six-passenger, heated bubble lift to be built in North America.
The new six-passenger, Super Angel Luxury Express replaces a four-passenger highspeed quad chair that was initially built in 1988. At the time, Angel Express made history as the first high-speed quad built in the Canadian Rockies. Like its predecessor, the new Super Angel six-passenger, high-speed chair will change how skiers and snowboarders enjoy winter in the Canadian Rockies with features like heated bucket seats, individual footrests, and a spacious yellow bubble. Built by Leitner-Poma of America, Super Angel was designed for comfort. The lift features proprietary EVO technology. This technology promises a smoother, quieter, and more comfortable ride.
The new Super Angel LX is the resort’s second heated lift. The new Super Angel will fly skiers and snowboarders up a vertical gain of 1,244 ft (roughly the height of the Empire State Building) in just over five minutes. Passengers aboard the new Super Angel LX fly at 5.08 meters per second comfortably in heated, cushioned seats, all under a bright yellow protective cover. Soaring 2,400 passengers per hour, Super Angel LX’s 74 bubble chairs significantly reduce lift line wait times, providing guests with more time to carve up the 3,358 skiable acres on the slopes of Sunshine Village.
“At Banff Sunshine, everything we do, we do to improve the guest experience. It is our goal to operate a resort worthy of our location in Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park. The decision to replace Angel Express with Super Angel Luxury Express was a decision to improve the guest experience for skiers and snowboarders at Banff Sunshine. Super Angel is our marquee lift, with terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities.” – Ralph Scurfield, CEO/President Banff Sunshine Village.
Proudly independent, Banff Sunshine Village has been Canadian family owned and operated since 1981. The resort operates under the axiom of safety, service, fun, and continuous improvement. Popular for its natural snow, diverse terrain, and fleet of modern lifts, Banff Sunshine Village offers an equitable split of ski and snowboard runs ranging from beginner to expert.
Super Angel Luxury Express is Sunshine Village’s second heated chairlift in its fleet of nine lifts, spanning 3,358 acres across three mountains – Lookout Mountain, Goat’s Eye Mountain, and Mount Standish. The resort is part of the Ikon Pass, Mountain Collective Pass, and SkiBig3 Pass.
About Banff Sunshine Village: Located 7,000 feet above sea level (2,133 meters) lives Banff Sunshine Village, nestled between the peaks of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park. The world-class resort is known for its all-natural snow, complete with breathtaking alpine scenery and family-friendly atmosphere during its seven-month-long winter season, spanning from mid-November to late May. The fully serviced Canadian Rockies resort opened its 2024/25 winter season on November 8th, 2024.
For more information about the 2024/25 Sunshine Super Card and winter at Banff Sunshine Village, contact Kendra Scurfield at kscurfield@skibanff.com, or call 403-830-7946.
Former skateboarder and Olympic snowboarder Shaun White and actor Nina Dobrev are getting married.
White’s publicist Jennifer Peros confirmed the engagement Wednesday.
White popped the question last weekend at The Golden Swan, a New York restaurant and presented Dobrev with a five-carat diamond ring.
Peros created a fake invite for a small dinner with Anna Wintour that she sent to Dobrev as a ruse to get her to the location. When Dobrev arrived, White was waiting with a photographer. After the proposal, the pair were joined by friends to celebrate.
White turned pro at skateboarding as a teen. He has competed in and won at the X Games in both skateboarding and snowboarding and is a three-time Olympic gold medalist in half-pipe snowboarding. He retired from snowboarding after the 2022 Olympics and remains the record-holder for most gold medals won by a snowboarder.
Dobrev is best-known for her role as Elena Gilbert on “The Vampire Diaries.”
The couple met at a Tony Robbins event in 2019 and dated for five years. This will be the first marriage for both.
Wolf Creek ski area will claim Colorado first-tracks honors Tuesday when it becomes the first Colorado ski area to open for the 2024-25 season.
The 85-year-old ski mountain, located at Wolf Creek pass, 250 miles from Denver in southern Colorado, received 26 inches of snow in recent days and will open 11 trails at 9 a.m. with an 18-inch settled base. Those trails represent 30% of Wolf Creek’s skiable terrain. Lift tickets are $68.
Tuesday’s opening will mark the earliest Colorado opening since 2021 when Wolf Creek opened for weekends-only skiing on Oct. 16. Arapahoe Basin opened a day later that season.
BANFF, Alberta, October 21, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– The 2024/25 Banff Sunshine Super Card is officially here for only $129+GST, offering skiers and snowboarders a cost-effective way to carve up Canada’s Best Snow in the Canadian Rockies. All winter long, skiers and riders flock to the slopes of Banff Sunshine Village using their Sunshine Super Card.
The unbeatable Sunshine Super Card gives skiers and riders access to three free skiable days during their first, fourth and seventh visit to the Rockies’ top resorts: Banff Sunshine Village, Jasper’s Marmot Basin, or Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
Cardholders get an exclusive bonus free day at WinSport (Calgary,) Rabbit Hill, or Snow Valley (Edmonton,) totaling to four free days of skiing or riding.
Receive $50 off a regular price, full-day midweek lift ticket (Monday-Thursday) and daily in November and May. Take $30 off on weekends and holidays with a Sunshine Super Card.
Outdoor enthusiasts can purchase their Super Card for only $129+GST on shop.skibanff.com or at select stores for a physical card. Choose between the Classic Super Card or the Mobile/Direct-To-Lift Super Card. Exclusive at Banff Sunshine, the Mobile/Direct-To-Lift Super Card automatically charges your credit card on your first scan of the day at our Gondola, allowing guests to bypass the ticket window.
“Download the Sunshine Village App and upload your Mobile/Direct-to-Lift Super Card code right to your phone. Scan your phone at the Sunshine Village Gondola for more time on the mountain!” shares Kendra Scurfield, VP of Brand, Marketing and Communications. “It really is the best deal to carve up our island in the sky this winter!”
New for the 2024/25 season, the Sunshine Super Card includes access to Banff Sunshine’s newest chairlift — Super Angel Luxury Express. Super Angel LX will be Banff Sunshine’s second heated chairlift, featuring six-passenger, heated bucket seats and a yellow protective cover.
Enjoy incredible savings on lift tickets all season long with the 2024/25 Sunshine Super Card. The Sunshine Super Card is on sale starting October 16, 2024, and prices are set to increase after December 25, 2024.
About Banff Sunshine Village: Located 7,000 feet above sea level (2,133 meters) lives Banff Sunshine Village, nestled between the peaks of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park. The world-class resort is known for its all-natural snow, complete with breathtaking alpine scenery and family-friendly atmosphere during its seven-month-long winter season, spanning from mid-November to late May. The fully serviced Canadian Rockies resort is predicted to open its 2024/25 winter season on November 8, 2024 (Mother Nature dependent).
For more information about the 2024/25 Sunshine Super Card and winter at Banff Sunshine Village, contact Kendra Scurfield at kscurfield@skibanff.com, or call 403-830-7946.
BANFF, Alberta, July 29, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– This winter, take flight on Banff Sunshine Village’s new chairlift, Super Angel. Built by Leitner-Poma, Super Angel will be North America’s first EVO six-passenger, heated, luxury chairlift!
The new Super Angel chairlift replaces the 35-year-old quad chair, Angel Express. Super Angel will be ready for skiers and snowboarders come November 2025.
“At Banff Sunshine, it’s our wish to be worthy of our location in Canada’s first National Park. As such, we believe in reinvesting into our guest experience. The new Super Angel will enhance the experience for all who visit our mountain resort. The lift itself is a state-of-the-art, luxury experience equipped with direct drive technology, featuring a six-passenger, high-speed chair with heated bucket seats, footrests, and a yellow bubble cover,” says Kendra Scurfield, VP Brand & Communications at Banff Sunshine.
The new lift will service terrain on Look Out Mountain. For the past 60+ years, guests have enjoyed the iconic terrain offered by Look Out Mountain (Delirium Dive, Angel Flight, & Piste Noir).
Super Angel will be the third incarnation of the popular lift. The original chair, built in the 1960s, was a two-passenger, fixed-grip lift. The lift was upgraded in 1988 to Angel Express, the first high-speed quad chair in Banff National Park. The high-speed quad transformed how the mountain skied.
The EVO technology, developed by Leitner-Poma, is a direct drive system that eliminates the need for a traditional gearbox, which results in a smoother, quieter ride.
Construction on the Super Angel lift began on May 13th, 2024. The new Super Angel’s larger size requires a wider lift line and new towers. Resort guests can watch the construction of Super Angel live while exploring the Sunshine Meadows this summer 2024.
For those who loved old Angel, you’ll be able to visit her at Castle Mountain Resort in the future. Angel Express was dismantled and transported to the southern Alberta resort.
“All of us at Banff Sunshine are looking forward to staying warm as we fly up the slopes in luxury,” continues Scurfield.
Super Angel Express will be the resort’s, (and Banff National Park’s), second heated luxury lift.
About Banff Sunshine Village: Located 7,000 feet above sea level (2,133 meters) lives Banff Sunshine Village, nestled between the peaks of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park. The world-class resort is known for its all-natural snow, as skiers and riders visit the premier alpine resort during its seven-month-long winter ski season, spanning from mid-November to late May. Starting late June, summer blooms up at the Banff Sunshine Meadows, as Alberta’s natural wildflowers paint hundreds of untouched and preserved acres with a vibrant and colorful landscape. From skiing and riding on Canada’s best snow in the winter to hiking the Sunshine Meadows during the summer, Banff Sunshine is the ultimate year-round destination for nature enthusiasts. The fully serviced Canadian Rockies resort is open until Sept. 22, 2024, for summer operations.
For more information about Super Angel, please visit skibanff.com or email Kendra Scurfield, VP of Marketing, Brand and Communications at kscurfield@skibanff.com. For more information about summer at Sunshine, please visit banffsunshinemeadows.com.
BANFF, Alberta, May 8, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– An iconic Canadian Rockies tradition continues with the 94th final splash of the 23/24 Winter Ski and Snowboard Season. Banff Sunshine’s Slush Cup is the longest-running end-of-ski-season pond skimming event in North America. Skiers and snowboarders flock together at the shine on Slush Cup Monday, May 20, 2024.
To celebrate Canada’s longest non-glacial ski season, Banff Sunshine Village hosts the biggest farewell winter party they can, the 94th Slush Cup. This year, 100 competitors from around the world will attempt to skim across Canadian Rocky Mountain Slush for the honoring title of, “Mrs. SLUSH CUP,” and, “Mr. SLUSH CUP.” The title comes with a cash prize of $1,000 and a 24/25 Banff Sunshine season pass.
The origins of Slush Cup trace back nearly a century, to a dare between friends on a particularly slushy day in the spring of 1928. As the legend goes, two buddies skiing the slopes of Sunshine encountered a patch of slush that beckoned them to attempt a daring feat: skiing across the slush.
“What once was a friendly dare is now the coolest party in the Canadian Rockies,” explains Kendra Scurfield, VP of Brand and Communications at Banff Sunshine Village.
“Over the years, Slush Cup has grown from a campy staff party to a can’t miss, most fun you can have with your ski boots on party,” shares Scurfield. On May 20, buckle up your boots and snap on your snorkels for Banff Sunshine’s 94th Slush Cup. Cheer on riders as they skim (or swim) across the slushy pool in costumes designed to impress a panel of celebrity judges.
Save the date for the award-winning spring event, Slush Cup! The final splash of winter is a weekend-long, water-themed festival. Starting off is the biggest party weekend in the Canadian Rockies, with Slushshine Rail Jam on May 18th, 2024. This is followed by Watergate Banked Slalom on May 19th, 2024. And the season finishes off with the legendary Slush Cup on Monday, May 20th, 2024, with an amazing après party to send the season off in typical ski fashion.
For more information about Slush Cup at Banff Sunshine Village, contact Kendra Scurfield at kscurfield@skibanff.com, or call 403-830-7946.
About Banff Sunshine Village: Located 7,000 feet above sea level (2,133 meters,) lives Banff Sunshine Village, nestled between the peaks of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park. The world-class resort is known for its all-natural snow, as skiers and riders visit the premier alpine resort during its seven-month-long winter ski season, spanning from mid-November to late May.
Kyle’s been obsessing over Denver since he moved here from Chicago in 2005: What is this place? Who thrives here? Who’s pushed out? Who has room to create and fulfill their dreams? Whose dreams are squashed? And why? He’s the former culture editor at Westword, where he covered the city’s arts and music scene. Before that, he covered city and state politics as the managing editor at the Colorado Independent. He’s raced triathlons (slowly), grown food (well…with others), and toured the country in a folk-punk trio (apologetically). Now, he’s reporting about Denver’s growth and couldn’t be happier about it.
The old go to for a strain or injury is ice or cold compress. Pulling a bag of frozen peas from the fridge is a go to and provides some relief. It’s usually most effective shortly after the injury This involves an ice pack or ice compress placed on the affected area, designed to reduce inflammation and numb out any pain while reducing swelling. Exposure to the cold has been known to decrease circulation and constrict the blood vessels.
But maybe you should open your mindset. Should you use cannabis instead of ice for injuries? Or maybe additionally? Cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive component of marijuana, may be more effective (and practical) for treating sprains and injuries. CBD is can be convenient since you can carry topicals for spot treatment as well as oral CBD products for when you have an accident. It also has the added benefit of being free from THC, which is an advantage for athletes.
Photo by peterschreiber.media/Getty Images
Sports injuries can also happen when running or jumping on hard surfaces, wearing improper shoes, doing the wrong exercise techniques, poor flexibility, old injuries, or doing the same sport all year round among others. Add in activities like running, skiing, snowboarding and more, you have a recipes for at least one muscle issue.
A sprain or injury is a major inconvenience every time it happens. Whether you are an athlete or not, recovery and healing as soon as possible is critical, not to mention painful. Using topical CBD for pain relief and for fighting inflammation is a better option because it activates the endocannabinoid receptors in the affected area to help control stiffness and pain. In addition, CBD interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors that can reduce the inflammation and pain caused by irritations and sports injuries.
“Sports injuries most often involve either significant inflammation response or mild micro-traumas,” Dr. Andrew Kerklaan of Dr. Kerklaan Therapeutics shared. “Because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory potential, it may be useful in a myriad of symptoms — from mild everyday aches and pains to minor injuries.” He also explains that CBD can help individuals recover from common injuries caused by exercise. “These will all trigger inflammatory responses and therefore CBD may have potential to help in the recovery process,” he says.
There are dozens of studies too, which tout the analgesic benefits of cananbis and CBD. One study revealed CBD is beneficial for chronic pain while improving inflammation and sleep. In a another published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, researchers discovered that CBD was effective in treating inflammation, reducing pain, and improving mobility in individuals with multiple sclerosis. “It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiemetic, antipsychotic, and neuroprotective,” wrote the study authors.
Topical products act faster than edibles. However, for those in serious pain, tinctures and sublingual drops are recommended since they are the quickest of all consumption methods.
A few years ago, an Instagram video of a 4-year-old boy snowboarding like an expert at Palisades Tahoe aired on news outlets nationwide.
That boy, now seven years old, continues to impress. He’s entering and winning snowboard competitions in his age group and shows no sign of stopping.
His name is Leland Vogt. As a snowboarder, he goes by the nickname “Leland the Falcon,” and he has a growing following on an Instagram account managed by his dad, Chuck.
FOX40.com recently spent a day with the father and son on the slopes of Palisades Tahoe.
“I drove into this Valley with a beat-up Subaru, a stack of snowboards and a box of power bars, and I had five hundred bucks in my wallet,” Chuck said of his early days at Lake Tahoe. “And I was the happiest guy ever. And the same with my wife. She was born and raised here.”
Chuck and his wife, Bella, are both longtime snowboarders. Chuck is the founder of a local skateboard company, Tahoe Longboards.
So it was only natural the couple would want to share their love of boarding with their boy, but they never imagined how early and naturally he would follow in their boot steps.
Before he even turned two, Leland was riding a skateboard in the summer, then happily and confidently snowboarding with his mom and dad in the winter.
“He was completely balanced and just went straight down the hill,” Chuck recalled. “I was like, ‘No way!’ Literally, we were so excited.”
Leland keeps up with his studies through home school, but his passion is on the powder.
“I want to be a pro snowboarder when I grow up,” he told FOX40.com.
For this energetic seven-year-old, any night of the winter is like the night before a trip to Disneyland.
“Like, I couldn’t go to sleep because I just wanted to snowboard,” Leland explained.
Leland already has several big-name sponsors that supply his equipment: Akova Gear, Bern Helmets, Pit Viper Sunglasses, and Wigwam Socks. Truckee Boardhouse covers the cost of his season pass to Palisades. Kon Tiki Chips is also a sponsor.
But nobody is pressuring Leland to compete. The decision is his.
“Being a dad in any sport, and a coach, you don’t want to push your kid so hard that they hate the sport,” Chuck said. “I’ve seen it happen with other parents. Any competition he doesn’t want to do, I’m going to be proud of him either way. But once he commits, then I’m the coach. I’m like, ‘Alright, you want to do this, this is what you got to do.’”
For safety on the slopes, Leland wears a helmet and a bright orange outfit. You can easily see him, but good luck keeping up with Leland the Falcon. This reporter followed Leland and Chuck down the mountain on a snowboard. Despite my best efforts, I lagged behind.
“How can I get better?” I asked Leland at the end of the day.
“By maybe just having confidence,” the boy advised. He is observant and wise beyond his years.
Experts on the mountain are taking notice of Leland’s talent. Those include Chris “Uncle E” Ernst who has experience as a professional skier and a snow sports announcer for the X Games and Olympics.
“I’ve seen it in Shaun White,” Ernst told FOX40.com. “I saw it in the way that Chloe Kim was brought up.”
Ernst described Leland’s level of talent and focus at such a young age as something rare.
“I’ve watched hundreds if not thousands of people come up through the ranks,” Ernst said. “And I have announced a lot of them, and this is something special that we’re seeing.”
There’s something else very special going on here. This is not just the story of a talented kid. This is also about the connection between a father and son, and their priceless time together on the mountain. You see it in the natural and loving way they interact.
“Life is so short,” Chuck reflected. “If you can just share a few years with your child and be in that same rhythm with them, it’s so awesome. I’m going to try to keep snowboarding into my 70s, hopefully. And if he keeps at it, maybe he’ll be on the podium on something bigger and give me a shoutout and give Mom a shoutout. That would be cool.”
The teen snowboarder dangled from the chair lift for several minutes as Mammoth Mountain employees brought in a net to cushion her fall.
KABC
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, Calif. (KABC) — In a frightening moment caught on video, a teen snowboarder fell out of a chair lift at Mammoth Mountain.
The incident happened the morning of Jan. 27. The 16-year-old girl is seen at first dangling down from the chair lift, being held by the other lift riders who were apparently unable to pull her back up.
She dangled there for several minutes as ski lift employees responded with a net to help cushion her fall. Eventually she is seen falling down.
“Five Mammoth Mountain employees and eight guests immediately responded and positioned the deceleration net under the guest,” the mountain operators said in a written statement.
“When the guest slipped from the grasp of her chair mates, the net decelerated her fall, but did not stop it. The guest was transported to Mammoth Hospital for evaluation. Our thoughts are with the guest and her family.”
An update on the teen’s condition was not immediately available.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A snowboarder spent 15 hours trapped overnight inside a ski lift gondola amid freezing temperatures at a Lake Tahoe resort, according to officials and media reports.
Monica Laso boarded the gondola around 5 p.m. Thursday at Heavenly Ski Resort to ride down the mountain because she was too tired to snowboard. But it stopped just minutes later while she was still in the sky, she told KCRA, which first reported the news.
Laso yelled for help, but no one on the ground heard her, the TV station reported. She didn’t have her cellphone, so she couldn’t call for help either.
“I screamed desperately until I lost my voice,” Laso told KCRA in an interview in Spanish.
She spent the night rubbing her hands and feet together to fight off the cold. The overnight low temperature was 23 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Laso’s friends reported her missing to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, but she wasn’t found until Friday morning when the gondola started up again for the day and crews realized she’d been there overnight, the TV station reported.
The ski resort, located on the southeastern side of the lake near the California-Nevada border, is investigating “with the utmost seriousness” how Laso got trapped.
“The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our top priority at Heavenly Mountain Resort,” said Tom Fortune, the resort’s vice president and chief operating officer, in a statement.
The sheriff’s office did not respond to a request for comment Saturday.
Kim George, a battalion chief and spokesperson for South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, told The Associated Press that sheriff’s deputies requested their paramedics around 8:30 a.m. Friday after Laso was discovered.
She was responsive and alert and declined to be transported to the hospital, George said.
In her 23 years with the fire department, “we’ve never responded to anything like that,” George said. “I’m very curious to hear the story.”
