Banff open for skiing, snowboarding over Canada Day long weekend

Have you ever wanted to go skiing or snowboarding during the summer, but couldn’t because the heat melted all the snow?

In a surprising announcement, Banff Sunshine Village says it’ll be open over the Canada Day long weekend — as long as the weather permits — for people to shred on its Rocky Mountain slopes.

The resort says it was left with an abundance of powder after 900 centimetres of snow fell over the past ski and snowboard season, the resort’s snowiest season on record since 1956/57, a time when snowboarding didn’t exist yet. Banff Sunshine says cooler spring temperatures prevented much of the snow from melting.

The resort adds it was already planning to open up for summer sightseeing, and decided to let people get a few more runs in while conditions allowed.

“We’re excited to open for some summer skiing and snowboarding once again. We’ll open Strawberry Express on Tuesday to skiers and snowboarders. Our goal is to open on June 28 and stay open (weather and conditions depending) until July 3. While we’re open for summer Strawberry Express will run daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and yes, we will have a small terrain park open,” Kendra Scurfield, director of Brand and Communications, Banff Sunshine Village, said.

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The resort says anyone with a lift ticket will be given access to skiing or snowboarding on its Strawberry Express trail as well as sightseeing on Standish Express.

Scurfield adds that skiers and snowboarders should stay safe on the slopes by keeping to the “dedicated trails.”

“Opening for summer requires a magnanimous snow base, which we were fortunate enough to have this past winter,” Scurfield said.

“As summer skiing is a novelty, we are reminding all guests that the environmental integrity of our resort is paramount. We will actively patrol to ensure all guests stay on the groomed runs.”

As absurd as skiing on Canada Day seems, this isn’t the first time Banff Sunshine Village has opened its slopes in the summer months.

Scurfield says there were a few years back in the early 90s that the resort opened for skiing and snowboarding in July.

Scurfield adds the resort received several responses from regular skiers, ranging from people asking if the announcement was a joke or a prank, to people calling in expressing their gratitude.

“I’m expecting to see people dressed in bikinis and board shorts skiing with big Canada Day flags,” Scurfield said.