When you ski past the Mt. Morrisey connector you can see a bunch of super nice properties out back. I’ve been wondering what these places must look like from the inside and how cozy they must be. After all, being able to ski straight to your back yard is a real privilege!

Last week I met with Peter Nixon, the Real Estate Manager for Sun Peaks Resort Corporation, and he gave me a private tour around some of the resorts’ properties, such as Bridge Gate. This is a group of large houses with stunning views of the top of Tod Mountain and inside they’re full of very wide rooms, with high ceilings, nice décor, comfy beds and so much space! If you purchase one you can choose to have the furniture package, which includes those comfy huge beds and nice ski decorations!

Peter explained to me what the construction plans are and about some expansion plans according to how well these units are sold. It was interesting to see how all the condos and lodges here are totally planned and that Sun Peaks is still growing. There are plans on opening new terrain and building another chair lift at the east village.

At the end of our tour, we visited the Delta Residences where I will be at the end of my stay here. Not bad!

These are large units, with up to two bedrooms, with high-end appliances and three TV sets. The bathrooms were really nice, with a big hot tub and shower. It is connected to the hotel, but a private residence, and you have ski-in ski-out access to the heart of the village street – really nice. Peter was very precise explaining to me just how it works to purchase one of these units, a quarter ownership share and how you rotate with three other owners over the year. This is not a time share deal, if I were to purchase a Delta Residences unit, I’d literally own part of it. Umm, I like the sound of that! And actually, the prices are well below what I was expecting!

Well, I was suspicious and now I’m certain, I found the perfect place to live when I retire from my tough Snow Bum career! Why not own a beautiful place in this four season resort, where I can enjoy the mountains and ski to my back yard during the winter?

Thiago,

the Snow Bum

Sun Peaks is widely known for its light, dry, ‘easy-to-ski’ powder. Even this being a relatively mild winter, we've been getting frequent medium sized dumps that made our alpine base reach almost 2 meters by the end of February.

On February 26th the snow gods blessed us with an epic snow storm.

It started snowing lightly Friday, early in the morning, and by the time the lifts closed about 10cm of fluffy snow had accumulated on the slopes. Then, in the evening it started dumping really hard and it didn't stop till Saturday at noon!

Saturday was such an epic day! At around 8:30am I was at the bottom of the bubble chair (the Sunburst Express) waiting for the lifts to open. Of course I was not alone, locals and tourists started arriving and everyone had a huge smile on their face. We knew that this was a day not to be missed!

So, I met some friends that know these mountains pretty well and we headed to the top of the Crystal Chairlift.

Visibility was poor at the bowls, but close to the trees it was just sweet! We got fresh tracks on Spillway, Kookamungas glades, Rice Bowl, Pink Flamingos... it was snowing so hard that there were virtually no groomed runs. By the time we got to the top of the chairlifts our tracks were almost covered again!

The storm brought us 35cm of powder in about 30 hours, but in some areas it looked like much more than that.

Thanks to Doug, Elisabeth, Stephanie, Christina and Mike for the sweet runs we shared that weekend, those were definitely some of the best runs of the season!

The Monday following was quite a bluebird day with perfect visibility and lots of fresh snow left on the higher elevations. And with the T-bar closed during the weekdays, a small hike around the West Bowl was well worth it!

Fresh tracks and blue skies, it can't get any better!

Well, after a snowy February everyone seems to be ready for the March storms...

Bring it on!

Thiago,

the Snow Bum

Last Sunday was a very special day for me, after all it's not everyday that we turn 30!

Since I was born in February, my birthdays usually fall on Brazilian Carnival, during our summer time. So this was the first time I celebrated my birthday in a winter wonderland.

And it was a memorable day. After having fresh tracks during the morning a bunch of friends and I went on a cross-country skiing tour to McGillivray Lake.

What a work-out! No wonder why they call it the ultimate exercise!

It is a totally different skiing and balance experience than alpine skiing, and since most of us were beginners, the first 30 minutes were full of funny crashes!

But then we got used to it and made our way to the frozen lake. The trail was in great shape, and on a beautiful day like that you can take your time and admire the nature around you.

After about 4km we arrived at the lake, where there is a nice warm cabin to rest the legs and have a snack. We were able to walk on the frozen lake as well, but since that had been quite a warm week, we heard some cracks on the ice and found some water spots below the snow that made us a little apprehensive.

The way back to the village was actually quite faster, as we were more used to that new sport and it has much more downhill sections.

By the end of the journey, we were all sore from so much exercise and ready for a few beers so we ended the day with drinks and a delicious Mountain High pepperoni pizza as a birthday cake!

Thanks to everyone for this memorable day, definitely a birthday that I will never forget. Oh, and thanks to Cuilean, the Labrador Retriever, for the extra push in the tough sections!

Thiago,

the Snow Bum

It’s been over seven weeks that I have been living this tough Snow Bum life, spending my days up in the mountains and nights in very good, high quality accommodation.

I spent about two weeks at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort, one of Sun Peaks’ most prestigious hotels, and enjoyed the good life of a Signature Club guest! This meant I was on a floor with a HUGE bed, I had the view of the Sundance Chair and could see everyone starting and ending the day on the slopes. I could even check out the kids trying new tricks in the small terrain park from my window!

I had access to a comfy lounge for breakfast every morning and après ski every afternoon with appetizers! It was here I’d also catch up on the Olympic Games action after a hard day on the slopes.

Being at the Delta also meant I could share their complete exercise room with none else than the Austrian National Ski team, who were also staying there. Those guys are such athletes! They had to stand with one foot on a “half” ball and squat while catching a ball their trainer threw at them - without losing balance! To say the least, I was impressed.

At the Delta you have all these little perks that just make your stay a little more luxurious. The hors d’oeuvres at the après-ski, the ski valet to put your skis away every day, complimentary water bottles and chocolates every night. These were nice and made my stay there so comfortable!

Thank you to Eda, Ian, Rudy, and all the staff for making this a great stay and I have to say, Mantles Restaurant is a great choice for a fine dinner. How about a halibut with a crust of bee pollen, with a scallop appetizer and an assorted dessert? It was quite a treat!

Thiago,

the Snow Bum

Hockey not being a popular sport in Brazil, last Wednesday was an exciting day because it was my first experience watching a local hockey game!

I joined a large group outside the Adventure Centre and we took a bus down to Kamloops to watch the Kamloops Blazers.

At home, I’m used to going to soccer games and I’m familiar with hockey only through TV. Live and in person, the rink is smaller than I imagined and with the blink of an eye I thought I could miss a goal - everything happens so fast!

As soon as the game began – Kamloops Blazers vs. Spokane Chiefs – the crowd got really excited and I could feel I was just as engaged as they all were. Even during the period breaks we were entertained by the mascot, audience games, prizes and plenty of food. 

Hockey is definitely a dynamic sport, full of impact! The players are so skilled to be able to skate that fast and still focus on the puck, scoring beautiful goals and making really good plays. 

Alright, it wasn’t the best match for the home team, but I have to say, those guys were tough. When the crowd began to lose enthusiasm with the score 7 to 0 in favor for the visiting team we had two big fights, leaving the audience really excited, the children calling out “fight, fight” and some injuries on the players.

I had a great time and was definitely reminded of how much fun watching your local team play can be. I hope to watch them again, hopefully in a winning game!

Thiago,

the Snow Bum

With the world's attention on the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver and Whistler, here in Sun Peaks we are also busy with plenty of events, competitions and family fun.

This weekend I watched the The Garden presented by Oronge Board Shop. This was a day of jam sessions with contestants of all ages competing in the Sun Peaks intermediate terrain park.

With loud music and hot dogs on the bbq, this was a great chance to see skilled skiers and boarders showing their talent and competing for great prizes.

I was impressed with how good and dedicated the contestants were on those rails, and it was really fun to be able to hang out there and have a good time while they were pushing hard and battling in 30 minute jam sessions for the prizes.

Congratulations to all the entrants for their skills and abilities, I'm looking forward to watching the Shredidential Election ’10, also presented by Oronge Board Shop, on March 14.

Another exciting event taking place in Sun Peaks over the next two weeks is the Sun Peaks 2010 Games, including activities like skeleton races down the Tube Park, the 3 Peaks Biathlon, Children's Fun Race, Hockey Skill Challenges and more.

I had an awesome time participating in the biathlon, where I was challenged to ski with only one ski, crabwalk and toy shooting.

It was all very fun and family-oriented, overall the Sun Peaks Games are a good opportunity for people of all ages to try something new with the energy of the Olympics. The best part is all the events are complimentary, so check out the calendar and have a great time on the mountains!

Thiago,
The Snow Bum

Whether you like powder skiing or groomed corduroy the snow is always better when you hit the slopes early in the morning and have the opportunity to ski fresh tracks.

Last Thursday I skied with some guys whose job includes enjoying fresh tracks every morning. I met Seth at about 8:15am at the bottom of Sundance Chairlift and we rode the first chair of the day, while he explained to me the typical day of a Sun Peaks ski Patroller.

During our ride he told me that the ski runs here in Sun Peaks start to be prepared during the summer months.  They carefully remove rocks, branches and other natural hazards from the slopes making them ready to be skied as soon as the first snow begins to fall.

When we hit the top, Seth decided that we should ski Three Bears, since it hadn’t been groomed and he wanted to see its conditions.

Even having received 5cm of fresh snow in the previous night, he found some parts of the run a little bumpy, so he put Three Bears on the grooming list for the following morning.

Then we headed to Tod Mountain and did first tracks on Runaway Lane and Sting, while Seth kept an eye out for possible hazards and spots that usually are beat up by intense traffic of skiers and boarders.

It was really cool to ski with these guys whose job is to ensure that we have a great ski experience every day.

Later that morning I was invited by Aussies friends Cat, Brett and Dave to try Snowblades. And we had a blast!

It’s amazing the way those tiny skis are easy to maneuver. After a few runs on the groomers we got used to the new balance and were able to ski trees and bumps making short turns easier than if we were with traditional skis or boards!

Snowblades definitely make you feel very free and confident in tight spaces, any bump is an excuse to try a jump. Totally recommended!

And this week held another surprise for me, my first dogsled ride!

Being a dog lover I knew I would enjoy the experience. Phil and Leandra from Alaskan Husky Adventures take care of about 40 Alaskan Huskies. Every dog gets a chance to go out sledding at least once a day, and they get more excited about it than any guest could be. After all, this is their daily exercise and they pull hard and anxiously.

What is so special about this tour is that you get the chance to both sit inside the sled and enjoy the ride AND mush your own team!

So, after detailed instructions especially on how to use the brakes to control the dogs and how to make sure they were safe in our hands, my girlfriend and I set off for a ride into a mainly closed forest.

Besides being really fun, this was a great chance to discover new terrain here in Sun Peaks and experience this means of transportation that has been used for several centuries.

Thanks Phil, Leandra and the guys from Tourism Sun Peaks for the great opportunity!

Thiago,
The Snow Bum

Skiing is an amazing sport. It's not very difficult to learn, but it definitely takes a lot of time and effort to keep improving and master it.

Since my seasons are usually short, I always try to make the most of them and whenever possible I have some ski lessons in order to refresh and get new techniques to keep improving myself.

I’ve already skied more than 30 days here at Sun Peaks Resort so far, and I do feel my legs are stronger but even pushing hard every day there are lots of areas of my skiing that I want to improve.

After hearing lots of great things about the Sun Peaks Sports School and its dedicated instructors, I decided to check it out.

They have programs for all ages and ability levels, from first time skiers and snowboarders to experts looking forward to refining their skills. 

So last Thursday I met George Terwiel at the bottom of the Sunburst Chairlift at 2:30pm and he invited me to ski with him until the lifts closed. 

During our first chairlift ride I found out that George is not just a ski instructor, he's also a ski racer totally passionate about the sport.

He's been teaching here for the last 17 years and is also the owner of two local shops, Lone Wolf Gallery/Willow Tree Gifts and Tree Line Studios, the beautiful art gallery at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort that offers a varied mix of art depicting the beauty of the area.

We made several runs together in different types of terrain and he gave me great tips and information on how to keep a good balance and an athletic position regardless of conditions.

After practicing lots of small radius turn exercises, George video recorded one of my runs. We then watched the video on TV, freezing the image in different parts of the turn. By doing this he was able to show me how all joints must work together to make the lower body lead the turn and the upper body remain quiet.

Of course when I was watching him explaining and demoing, things always looked much easier than they are!

But I'll keep skiing and engraining these new movements into my muscle memory. After all, it's still early February and the ski season goes until mid-April!

Thiago,

the Snow Bum

Besides not having a pre-programmed routine here in Sun Peaks, I also don't have a fixed residence.

Part of the deal of being the lucky Snow Bum is to experience several different kinds of accommodation, and trust me, they are worth the move.

So every week or so I pack all my stuff and head to a new home.

During the last two weeks I stayed in three totally different places. All of them managed by Bear Country Lodging, the oldest and most committed rental management company in Sun Peaks, managing more than 1500 beds!

First I tried Fireside Lodge, a well situated lodge in the heart of the village. Besides having all the amenities found in a ski-in ski-out accommodation, it has a full kitchen, a balcony with great mountain views and from the ground floor you can access 5 Forty Café & Deli, one of my favourite places for a huge sandwich or bagel.

Although I was totally feeling at home at the Fireside Lodge it was time to move again, this time to the Kookaburra Lodge, what a beautiful place!

Everything at the Kookaburra Lodge looks brand new (partly because it brand new!) and has a modern design. And if having two bedrooms and a massive living room wasn't enough, I also had a private hot tub on my balcony!

After experiencing this lodge and having jumped around to five different accommodations at Sun Peaks I thought nothing else would impress me. I was wrong.

Last Tuesday I moved to Trapper’s Landing, a three floor townhouse with three bedrooms, private hot tub and ski-in access from Mt. Morrisey Connector to my door step. The place was big enough for a real party, although I only invited a few people for a potluck.

Thanks to Reiner and all the staff from Bear Country Lodging for the great stay and for helping me with moving my luggage around.

All I’m thinking now is what’s next…?
 
Thiago

the Snow Bum

Following the passion everyone here has for winter sports, another pretty neat event took place in Sun Peaks last week.

From Thursday to Sunday all the attention was on the Sun Peaks Adaptive Snow Sports Festival and the activities there were diverse: CADS Instructor Certification Courses, Race Development Programs, Western Canadian and BC Para-Alpine Championships and much more. It was also a great opportunity for the public, both able-bodied and those with disabilities, to come and try adaptive skiing. (Click here to find out more about the Disabled Skiers Association of BC)

Ski races have always held my attention, it's beautiful to watch really skilled skiers or boarders carving every turn trying to beat the clock. So Friday I stopped at the bottom of OSV run to watch the guys from BC Para-Alpine Ski Team train.

They were racing on a Slalom course, so the gates were set close together, forcing them to ski tight lines. And yet they were extremely fast!

I met Rob and Caleb, two of the racers, at the bottom of the Sunburst Chairlift and joined them for a few runs. Of course I was not able to keep up with their speed, actually they were always waiting for me at the bottom of the chairs... but we had great fun!

After watching all those races I felt like trying one of the sit-skis.

Although most racers use the mono-ski, as a first timer I tried a bi-ski, the one in which you have two skis supporting you on the snow.

It's a totally different balance. Unlike standing skiing, I was told to move my head, shoulders and hand-held outriggers to turn the sit-skis.

The feeling of sliding that close to snow was intense; you definitely face speed in a different perspective.

I also tried the Nordic sit-ski and I must confess that after 8 minutes my upper body was totally exhausted, what a work out!

Thanks to everyone from Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks and the Disabled Skiers Association of BC for the great opportunity and all the information you gave me. And of course, congratulations to all the racers and volunteers that participated in the Festival!

Thiago,

The Snow Bum