BOW VALLEY – The ski and snowboard 2020 season in the valley is officially cancelled.
Sunshine Village Ski Resort announced Friday (April 17) in a news release that it would not reopen for the 2020 season due to COVID-19 coronavirus concerns, and as a result, would see its popular Slush Cup event cancelled, too.
“As Alberta remains in a state of emergency due to the worldwide health pandemic, we at Banff Sunshine have come to the hard realization that we will not be able to reopen for the remainder of our 2019/2020 ski and snowboard season,” the news release said.
The popular resort said the health of its community is top of mind, though it’s sad to see the season go.
The resort's brand and communications director, Kendra Scurfield, said she’s grateful for the time on the slopes prior to the outbreak of this pandemic.
“Although it’s disappointing to have had our 2019/2020 ski and snowboard season cut short, due to circumstances, we as a mountain and community are focused on promoting the health and wellness of our province,” Scurfield said.
“As an avid snowboarder, I am grateful for the memories made on the slopes and the incredible powder days we were spoiled with this winter.”
Along with the closure for the remainder of 2020, the resort has cancelled its popular Slush Cup event.
“We as a mountain are heartbroken to cancel our 2020 end of season festival, Slush Cup Long Weekend – the longest-running end of winter celebration in North America,” the statement said.
“Recognized by Travel Alberta as the 2019 Event of the Year, each year, Slush Cup attracts thousands of skiers, snowboarders, and winter enthusiasts to the town of Banff for winters final splash.”
Banff Sunshine Village Ski Resort announced the, initially temporary, closure of its slopes in a Facebook post on March 17 only two hours after Alberta’s Premier, Jason Kenney, announced a provincial state of public health emergency.
"It is with heavy hearts; we announce the temporary closure to allow Canada and the world to combat the pandemic of COVID-19. Banff Sunshine Village will temporarily suspend all operations effective the morning of Wednesday (March 18), until further notice," the post read.
However, its recent release said it intends to do its part to stop the spread at this time, but that it will continue to update its social media.
“Stay tuned in with our social media, as we are looking into ways to bring the thrill of the mountains into the homes of skiers and snowboarders around the globe while we’re all staying home and staying safe,” said Scrufield.
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