[UPDATED] Winter 2020/21: Frequently-Asked Questions.

Updated on December 14th, 2020.

 

At Banff Sunshine, the health and safety of you, your family, and all our team members is our top priority. Our number one goal for winter 2020/21, is to safely open our three mountains of terrain for you and your family to recreate in the great Canadian Rocky Mountains.

 

We know it’s been a tough and confusing year for all of us. 

 

Thank you for sending us your questions about the upcoming ski and snowboard season. Here are our answers.

 

 

1. Will you be limiting the number of passholders/tickets on the mountain?

At Banff Sunshine Village, our three mountains of terrain span across 3,358 acres. When out on the slopes, there is a lot of space for skiers and snowboarders to spread out.

 

For your safety, we are temporarily limiting the number of guests to the resort by restricting access to our slopes when our parking lot is full. Read more about our new policy here.

 

Additionally, we have constructed three new temporary lodge facilities and two temporary washroom buildings to allow indoor social distancing. This winter, we will be encouraging our guests to ski midweek, and on afternoons to help us spread out arrival times. Products are being offered to incentivize this such as midweek and afternoon day tickets and season passes.

 

 

2. How will you be loading the Sunshine Gondola?

As an organization, the health and safety of our guests, team members, and community is our top priority. With cases of the novel coronavirus continuing to climb in our province we at Banff Sunshine Village have made the decision, effective December 6^th, 2020, to load the gondola only with parties who travelled to the resort together until further notice. 

 

For most of the ski season to date, we have been offering a “no-mix” line for our gondola, which the vast majority of guests have opted for. Our decision to only load our gondola with parties who have travelled to Sunshine together merely formalizes what is already happing.  

 

The use of a mask remains mandatory for all guests and team members when waiting in line, riding the gondola and lifts, or entering a building. Food or beverage may not be consumed and smoking / vaping is prohibited while riding the gondola.

 

If you are looking to skip the gondola line, we recommend arriving after noon. Typically, our gondola line clears up by 11 am. Midweek skiing is always less busy.

 

Together, we believe we can bend the curve and reduce the spread of Covid 19.

 

 

3. How can I pick up my pass?

You can pick up your 2020/21 Sunshine Season Pass or Direct to Lift Pass pass at our Calgary Snow Central (open Monday – Friday from 8 AM – 6:00 PM & Saturday from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM), or at Ski Big 3's Adventure Hub in Banff. On the mountain, pick up your pass at Guest Services. 

 

For speedy pass pick up, be sure to sign your online waiver and upload your photo in advance here. If you have trouble with your online waiver, please email us at media@skibanff.com.

 

 

4. When can I purchase a new Sunshine Super Card?

The 2020/21 Sunshine Super Card is now available for purchase on our Sunshine Estore, Safeway, Sport Check, and other select retailers.  To reduce contact, we recommend that all Sunshine Super Cards be upgraded to a Direct-to-Lift pass. If you requested a Direct to Lift Pass, please take a moment to sign your waiver, and upload a photo for your pass here.

 

 

5. How can I guarantee I can ski?

To guarantee a great ski season, we recommend purchasing a 2020/21 Sunshine Season Pass, and to practice good hygiene and social distancing while at Sunshine. Be the reason we have a great ski and snowboard season and follow Dr. Hinshaw’s advice – stay home if you’re sick, wash your hands frequently, and practice social distancing.

 

 

6. Will face coverings be required outdoors?

Face coverings and social distancing are required where people congregate outdoors; for example, lifts, lift lines, bus stops, and outside ticket windows.

 

We strongly recommend wearing a non-medical mask with a ski buff or mask, two buffs or two neck gaiters.

 

 

7. May I bring my bags into the day lodges this season?

This year, we are prohibiting guests from bringing their bags into the lodges unless they are using our limited number of day lockers in the lower level of the Bourgeau Lodge or the lower level of the Old Sunshine Lodge. We encourage you to get ready at your vehicle and leave your bag in the car or stash your bag outside. We are providing new (unsecured) outdoor shelving on the decks at Goat’s Eye Lodge, the new sprung tents, the Old Gondola Sliver, and the Centennial Lodge in the Village. This year, the operating protocols required for everyone’s health and safety do not allow bags to be left randomly inside lodges. Plan to use your vehicle as your locker.

 

 

8. Will any runs be lost due to the temporary structures?

No runs have been harmed in the construction of our temporary Sprung Structures. For our village Sprung Structure, we were careful to leave enough space so that skiers and snowboarders can still ride to Wawa from other lifts in the village.  At Goat’s Eye, we were careful to make sure there is still plenty of room for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy the wild ride of Rollercoaster.

 

 

9. What if I didn’t use my 2019/2020 Sunshine Super Card?

We’re offering free exchanges on all unused 2019/2020 Sunshine Super Cards for a 2020/21 Sunshine Super Card. You’ll be able to exchange your Sunshine Super card at the mountain once we open at Guest Services and our ticket windows. Alternatively, you can trade-in your unused Sunshine Super Card at our Calgary Snow Central location. All you need to have is either your order number if you never picked up your card or we’ll need your unused Sunshine Super Card if you have it. 

 

If you have used your Sunshine Super Card 3 or 6 times, you can redeem your 4th or 7th day free up until December 24^th, 2020 at Banff Sunshine Village. 

 

 

10. Will Sunshine Mountain Lodge be open to ski guests?

Sunshine Mountain Lodge will remain open for hotel guests only. Our on-mountain hotel will remain open for overnight accommodations. Access to the Chimney Corner and the Eagle’s Nest is exclusive to Sunshine Mountain Lodge hotel guests with overnight bookings. In-room dining will be available for all hotel guests. Guests may also order grab and go meals from the Chimney Corner. 

 

No table service will be provided in any facilities at the resort. Our outdoor hot pool, sauna, spa, fitness center and meeting rooms will remain closed until further notice. 

 

Within the hotel, a non-medical mask will be mandated in all common areas, including the lobby, hallways, and the locker rooms.

 

 

11. Will face masks be required in the restrooms?

At Banff Sunshine Village, a non-medical mask will be required to enter all Sunshine buildings, including restrooms. If you arrive at Sunshine without a face mask, our team members will be handing out face masks at the gondola and in our venues.

 

 

12. Will there be places to eat outside?

We will have outdoor picnic areas available in our village area, at Goat’s Eye, and at our base area for guests to eat outdoors.

This winter, we are also encouraging guests to use their private “carlodges” when they can.

 

 

13. When will you open for the 2020/21 Ski and Snowboard Season?

We're now open daily for the 2020/21 winter season!

 

 

14. What lifts are open this season?

As of December 14th, all lifts are open at Banff Sunshine Village. We also have Delirium Dive, 4 terrain parks and the ski-out open to ski and ride.

 

 

15. Will there be a terrain park?

Yes! For riders eager to get their park flow back, Strawberry Park, Kids Play Park, Great Divide Park and Spring Hill Park are now open.

 

 

16. Will it be possible to rent skis or snowboards this winter?

For winter 2020/21 both our base area rental shop and our Salomon Demo Tent located in our village will be open and renting equipment. This year, we will be renting skis, boards, boots, poles, and helmets. Equipment will be thoroughly cleaned between guests.

 

 

17. If I want to avoid other skiers/snowboarders when should I ski?

For skiers and snowboarders looking to maximize social distancing on the slopes, we recommend skiing midweek or in the afternoons. We have a midweek season pass on sale, that will grant you access to the slopes Monday to Thursday at a discount.

 

 

18. Where can I eat my bagged lunch?

On December 11, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Alberta issued new measures to address COVID-19. Starting December 13th, we will have designated warming shelters available for guests to warm up in and to eat lunch while skiing or riding at Banff Sunshine. The designated warming shelters are: 

·      Our Village Sprung Structure, 

·      Our Goat’s Eye Sprung Structure,

·      The Old Gondola Sliver

 

There will be no food and beverage service provided within the designated warming shelters.

We will have designated hosts at each of our warming shelters, our hosts will be on duty to manage capacity, to keep the shelter clean and to disinfect tables and other high touch surfaces. 

 

You may bring your bags and packs inside the warming shelters, they will only be allowed inside when you are occupying the space. Storage shelves for your bags and backs can be found outside. 

 

When inside any Sunshine building, a non-medical face mask will be required - except when seated at a table and eating. We will only be seating households at any of our locations. If you arrive at Sunshine without a face mask, our team members will be handing out face masks in our venues.

 

 

19. Do ski masks with mouth or nose holes count as a face covering?

No, as per Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines, a face mask or covering must cover your mouth and nose. To ride any of our lifts, we require that your mouth and nose be covered. If you arrive at Sunshine without an AHS recommended face covering, please ask any of our team members for a disposable face mask. Neck gaiters without face holes may be purchased in our retail stores.

 

 

20. Will you offer Grab & Go options?

Starting December 13th, Grab and Go food and beverages will be available for purchase in these locations:

In the Village:

o  Centennial Day Lodge

o  Trappers and Brunos

o  Trappers Outdoor Snow Garden

o  Tenn Roof Co. Taco Truck 

o  Java Lift (Sunshine Mountain Lodge)

 

At Goat’s Eye Station:

o  Goat’s Eye Lodge

 

In our base area:

o  Java Station 

o  Creekside Bar and Grill

 

At the above food and beverage locations pre-prepared and packaged items will be available for purchase at a service counter. Table service will not be provided. We will have hosts available to regulate capacity, to clean, and to disinfect tables and high touch surfaces. 

 

Bags and backpacks are not permitted inside the Grab and Go locations. Storage shelves for bags and packs can be found outside. 

 

 

Would you like to ask something different? Send us your questions about the upcoming season to media@skibanff.com, and we will do our best to answer them here. We recommend bookmarking this page, as we will be adding more Q&As as the season nears.

 

 

To learn more about our 2020/21 Operational Guidelines, click on the link below.

 

2020/21 Operational Guidelines.