In this resort review, I’ll discuss the five aspects of a resort that distinguish good and great resorts. These include conditions, terrain, resort quality, and location. I have a comprehensive list linked here if you are wondering what you should wear: snowboarding or skiing. I consider myself an amateur snowboarder, so remember that during this review. I explored all of these resorts with my best friend Malachi, who is a skier; any feedback we have given on the resort is what we have collectively decided.
Conditions
After hearing very good things from a friend regarding the conditions that regularly occur at this resort, we weren’t disappointed. Going during early season conditions, we had low expectations but were pleasantly surprised with the snow coverage. The groomed runs were nicely covered, but the off-piste was quite dodgy. This resort gets comparable snow to other Canadian resorts, such as Sun Peaks or Lake Louis. In our experience, the conditions are usually cold, crisp, and sunny, resulting in very dry and fluffy snow.
Terrain
Due to the early season conditions, we couldn’t fully indulge in Sunshine’s terrain. We mainly stuck to the groomed runs, but we learned that there are a lot of very challenging off-piste, such as the run “Delirium Dive.” We will return later in the season to truly experience more challenging runs. A select few groomed runs have rolling hills that add excitement when gaining speed. What impressed me was their full park setup, beautifully crafted by a massive team of park builders. I would say that this terrain is best suited for intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Resort Quality
This is one of Sunshine’s best qualities; the resort quality is the best we could find in Canada. Friendly staff (mainly Australians) makes this resort feel personable yet high-end. Some lifts have HEATED SEAT, and the gondola is one of the nicest around. The whole atmosphere feels bougie. They also had this colossal bear to take pictures with, which was very amusing. There are two lodges, one at the bottom of the hill and one at the top. A long and gorgeous gondola ride connects both of the lodges. Both lodges have lots of modern amenities and are very nicely decorated. Of all the resorts I have ever been to, this is the most over-the-top fancy one.
Location
Another huge selling point to Banff Sunshine is it’s close proximity to the actual town of Banff. The town of Banff has a great nightlife with lots of bars to look at after skiing. The coolest one we saw was The Dancing Sasquatch. The resort was only twenty minutes from Banff which made it really convenient to stop by. We stayed in Canmore which is a little bit more affordable but made it a slightly longer commute by about 15 minutes. The views on every single drive you will do in or out of the resort are stunning.
Final Take
Due to it’s stunning views and amazing resort quality Banff Sunshine is one of the top resorts in Canada. I would recommend going on a day with clear skies so you can really soak up the beauty of the mountains you are constantly surrounded with. This ski resort is going to be fun for you no matter what conditions you have to expect to have a blast. As always, if you have any questions about trip logistics feel free to shoot me an email.
