SUNSHINE VILLAGE SKI AND SNOWBOARD RESORT ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIRLIFT for the 2015/2016 SKI SEASON

“HOTTEST NEW CHAIRLIFT IN CANADA”

Banff,: Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort, famed for Canada’s Best Snow, is adding some heat to winter fun in the mountains. The resort has begun construction of the hottest chairlift to hit the Canadian Rockies.

After extensive environmental analysis and the development of thoughtful design and environmental impact mitigation measures, Sunshine Village received approval from Parks Canada in August, 2014 to construct a new high-speed quad chairlift at the popular Canadian Rockies ski and snowboard resort. The lift will replace the existing Tee Pee Town double chair that was built in 1979.

The lower terminal foundation and the foundations for towers 1 through 6 will be completed this summer before the winter snow arrives. The balance of the construction work will be completed in the spring of 2015, over the snow to protect fragile high-alpine vegetation.
The new chair will include heated seats, footrests, and orange bubbles for wind and weather protection, offering the most luxurious guest experience imaginable. Although popular in Europe, this will be the first chairlift in Canada to have heated seats and bubbles. The orange bubble cover is widely known in the Alps as the symbol for a chairlift that has heated seats.
“We are thrilled to announce that construction has started on the “hottest chairlift in Canada”, said Dave Riley, Chief Operating Officer for Sunshine Village. “Sunshine is committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences and this addition to the resort will clearly demonstrate our focus on providing comfort and value to our guests”.
Construction in Banff National Park requires the best methods available to protect the natural resources. Environmental mitigation techniques are extensive, including helicopter construction, use of a low-impact “Spyder walking excavator” which is designed to minimize vegetation disturbance, rare plant surveys and protections systems, temporary wildlife mitigation fences, removal and replacement of topsoil and vegetation where excavation for foundations is necessary. “Our environmental mitigation plan is very effective and we are on the leading-edge of how to build a lift in the most sensitive way possible”, said Riley. The footprint of the project area has been minimized and as a unique measure, all excavated soils are being placed in hundreds of tote bags to prevent soil from spilling onto surrounding vegetation. The bags of soil will be flown out with a helicopter. “Our first priority is the integrity of the natural environment and we are very confident in the systems and practices we have developed in connection with the project”, said Riley.

Sunshine Village Ski Resort
Sunshine Village, close to the town of Banff, provides skiers and boarders with 12-lifts including seven modern high speed quad chairs, the most in the Canadian Rockies, and one of the world’s fastest 8 passenger gondolas. Stay slope-side in the Rockies only “ski-in, ski-out” hotel and ski or ride 3,300 acres and three mountains in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia along the Continental Divide during Canada’s longest season from November to late May.
www.skibanff.com