Sun Peaks Independent News - Volume 19 Issue 2

FEBRUARY 12 - MARCH 11, 2021 Volume 19 Issue 2

PHOTO SPIN IS SNOWBIKING THE NEW SNOWMOBILING?

Page 9

REVIVING PARAGLIDING ON THE MOUNTAIN

Page 6

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Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11 1

LOCAL News

Adaptive Sports Sun Peaks receives timely Local Sport Relief Fund from the province THE LOCAL SPORT RELIEF FUND WAS DEVELOPED TO HELP NON-PROFIT LOCAL SPORT ORGANIZATIONS, WHO SERVE UNDERREPRESENTED AND UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS, AND TO OFFSET COSTS DURING THE PANDEMIC

JARRETT HOFMANN

Adaptive Sport Sun Peaks (ASSP) will receive $7,500 from Viasport British Columbia after an application was submitted by ASSP before the start of the ski season.

Program manager Nic Riopel told SPIN in an email that the grant will be put toward paying for previously purchased PPE and cleaning supplies, as well as allow them to allocate more time to developing safe COVID-19 policies for students and instructors.

“Receiving support like this, in a year like this one, is really helping us to keep the program alive.”

Financial and organizational uncertainties along with everchanging provincial health orders gave ASSP a foggy idea as to what the season would be like for their students and staff.

“We already experienced a deficit last season as a result of the shortened season. We usually rely on out of town guests to offset the costs of lesson delivery to our local programming. [Now] we are anticipating that the pandemic effects will last another season, therefore putting our program at further risk of insolvency unless more creative fundraising can be done,” said Riopel.

ASSP is currently running at low capacity and Riopel said they understand they’re in a lucky position considering some indoor sports are not operating at this time.

“We are seeing more demand for our program as people are looking for new outdoor activities in a safe environment and, due to this grant relief, we have been able to accommodate over 20 of our students while working with a limited number of instructors,” Riopel explained.

He said even though numbers

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are currently down and they have even had to reallocate funds that were originally going to be used to find a suitable home for ASSP, they are hopeful they can return to a state of growth once the pandemic subsides and start thinking about finding a permanent place to call home once again.

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ASSP Instructors during a lesson. PHOTO SUPPLIED

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Each issue reaches thousands of readers and one copy is available FREE to residents and visitors. Anyone taking papers in bulk will be prosecuted.

ASSP Instructors guide a student down a run. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11

The opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, owners or writers. This publication may not be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from the publisher.

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Volume 19 Issue 1 January 15 - February 11 3

LOCAL News BC Parks wants to add 650 hectares to existing parks and protected areas BC PARKS HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ADD LAND TO PROVINCIAL PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS, INCLUDING AN EIGHT HECTARE PARCEL OF LAND TO THE LAC DU BOIS GRASSLANDS PROTECTED AREA NEAR KAMLOOPS JARRETT HOFMANN

BC Parks and the Ministry of Environment have acquired 650 hectares of land valued at over $9.7 million to add to an already extensive park and protected areas network in the province.

The 650 hectares of new land was acquired through land purchasing and the federal ecological gift program in memory of pioneer ranchers.

“The funding for the properties that were purchased, rather than donated, comes from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy’s budget, as approved annually by the Legislature,” the

ministry told SPIN in an email.

Eight hectares of land is expected to be added to the Lac du Bois Grasslands outside of Kamloops, worth $50,000, and was donated under the ecological gift program.

Other land will provide opportunities for recreation alongside a never-before-seen uptick of park visitors in places like the Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, where an added 65 hectares will provide park visitors with more hiking, rock climbing and wildlife viewing opportunities.

The land will also protect the ecological integrity of places such as the 24.5 hectares added to Tweedsmuir Park, which will prevent logging of the area and enhance grizzly bear and salmon habitat.

One hundred and one additional hectares were also added to Chasm Park, north of Cache Creek, which was

valued at $420,000 and will reduce the risk of incompatible uses in the park (such as logging), conserving ponderosa pine and will protect wildlife habitats.

Other areas that gained land are situated throughout the Southern Okanagan and Coastal areas of the province as well as the Kootenays and Northern B.C. Although the land hasn’t officially been added to the boundaries of the various parks and protected areas yet, the ministry said they are beginning consultation with Indigenous Nations, local government and others.

“Following those consultations, the ministry may seek approval to proceed with adding the acquired land to a park or protected area, which ultimately requires approval of the Legislature or Cabinet to make changes to the area’s boundaries.”

For everyone’s safety, please no gatherings.

Airline cutbacks could have major repercussions for Sun Peaks FLIGHTS LIKELY WON’T RETURN TO PRE-COVID FIGURES AT KAMLOOPS AIRPORT UNTIL 2024, SAID AIRPORT’S MANAGING DIRECTOR JOEL BARDE

Reductions in key flights to airports in Kelowna and Kamloops could have major repercussions on tourism destinations such as Sun Peaks, with the directors of both airports saying it will be years until flights return to pre-COVID numbers.

Few industries have been hit harder by the pandemic than aviation, and Air Canada recently announced the suspension of a suite of important flights. Among them, was a longtime daily flight between Vancouver and Kamloops—the only direct flight between the locations at the time of the suspension.

The major gap this left has since been filled by two carriers, Central Mountain Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines, which recently announced they would offer the flight.

WestJet is among airlines to scale down flights, and is now offering a

4

reduced schedule of about 10 flights a week connecting Kamloops and Calgary airports.

The changing landscape of flights has significant repercussions for Sun Peaks, explained Aidan Kelly, chief marketing officer for Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR).

Kelly said air access is critical to the resort’s success.

“We have no idea what these timelines look like for flights to be reintroduced,” he said of the Air Canada flights. “And when they do, what will that look like, is it at the same level?”

Ed Ratuski, managing director of the Kamloops Airport, said he thinks it’s going to be a long recovery. He doesn’t expect to see a return to preCovid figures for flights until 2024.

Both Kamloops’ and Kelowna’s airports have seen significant growth in flight arrivals over the past decade. Much of the growth at YKA (Kamloops) has to do with the popularity of Sun Peaks, explained Ratuski.

“The winter months are our busiest

Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11

months here, unlike other airports where they see a big influx in the summer,” said Ratuski.

Ratuski said the downward trend hit the airport hard, and they had to lay off about 40 per cent of their staff at the beginning of the pandemic.

Kelowna International Airport (YLW), now the tenth busiest in Canada, is also operating at a fraction of its pre-Covid numbers.

Sam Samaddar, general manager of YLW, said he fears the industry is in big trouble, and that despite assistance in the form of wage subsidies, there hasn’t been a coherent national strategy on how to restart the aviation system.

“We were expecting a very strong winter season,” said Samaddar.

Samaddar added that YLW worked closely with its partners to secure flights to the region this summer, but this all changed when travel restrictions were announced.

“As the travel restrictions got announced, we saw the airlines pull up capacity in the market very, very quickly, and unfortunately, it’s

having a devastating impact on our industry as a whole.”

Sammadar said he would like to see the federal government adopt new, more innovative ways of facilitating air traffic, including improved contract tracing technology.

He added he’d also like to see the government set a roadmap for when flights will be able to return.

He said regional airports such as YKA and YLW, and those that are even smaller, are especially hard hit by the change in flying patterns and will take the longest to recover.

In the meantime, uncertainty looms around the industry, with Ratuski noting it won’t likely be until April until they know Air Canada’s plans to reintroduce flights.

Kelly added SPR and the tourism industry at large would benefit from more certainty with regards to what flights will be available in the future.

He said international travellers often book winter vacations in the preceding spring.

“If someone is going to book their

ski vacation to come from Australia to Sun Peaks and those flights don’t exist, they’re probably going to book a vacation somewhere else, even if flights are reintroduced [by the time of their planned vacation],” he said.

He added SPR is working closely with the government and other industry leaders to improve the situation.

Arlene Schieven, president and chief executive officer of Tourism Sun Peaks, said the organization has been in contact with concerned parties to ensure key flights come back online.

“We have been in conversations with the Kamloops Airport, Air Canada, other airline partners and our partners in Kamloops regarding air service to Kamloops,” she said.

“While air travel into Sun Peaks is minimal at the moment, we will continue these conversations over the coming months to ensure that air service returns as soon as possible [when travel restrictions ease].”

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LOCAL News Local businesses face challenges accessing province’s tourism dollars PROCESS IS ‘FULL OF RED TAPE’ AND HAS SHUT OUT MANY SMALL BUSINESSES, SAID LOCAL MLA

JOEL BARDE

Restrictive conditions on B.C. government recovery funding are leaving some local Sun Peaks businesses out in the cold when it comes to accessing grant funding, said some local businesses and local MLA Peter Milobar.

As part of its economic recovery plan, on Dec. 22 the province announced it would allocate a total of $105 million to a dedicated fund for B.C.’s tourism sector, doubling the $50 million that had previously been set aside.

Of this $100 million is being delivered through the existing Small and Medium Size Business Recovery grant. An additional $5 million will go directly to Indigenous Tourism BC to administer to Indigenous tourism businesses.

The Small and Medium-sized Business Recovery grants range between $10,000 to $30,000, with an additional top-up of $5,000 to $15,000 available to tourism-related businesses.

While there is likely to be relief for some struggling business owners, local businesses owners here in Sun Peaks appear to have had a challenging time accessing grant money administered via the province’s Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant Program.

Reiner Brecht of Bear Country Property Management said the company is unable to access the funding, despite having a need for it.

He said with 100 employees, it was deemed too large to qualify.

Brecht added the company is only seeing a fraction of its usual

business given the current travel recommendations in place across the province and internationally He said the business wouldn’t have been able to keep operating without private financial backing it received.

Bear Country was able to easily access the federal government’s wage subsidy program, which pays up to 75 per cent of an employee’s wage. Like others Sun Peaks Independent News (SPIN) spoke to, Brecht said this funding was vital for the viability of the business during this difficult period.

Over at Sun Peaks Stables, coowner Robert Taylor said that he and his business partner did not apply to the Small and MediumSized Business Recovery Grant Program due to the structure of their business.

Taylor said while he’s disappointed he didn’t qualify, he wasn’t “surprised given the current government and its basic attitudes towards small business.”

“These programs are designed by politicians that have no clue what it’s like to run a business,” he said.

However, Taylor credited the government’s Canada Emergency Business Account Loan (CEBA), with helping his business to continue to operate during this difficult period.

Sun Peaks Stables was effectively shuttered in March of 2020, and was only able to open last summer with significant restrictions that cut down on revenue. The company also lauched a GoFundMe campaign in the summer to support the business and adapt to COVID-19 restrictions.

Rob O’Toole, owner of Vertical Café, said while his business has been able to access federal programs such as the wage subsidy and CEBA program, he didn’t

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qualify for an earlier iteration of the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant Program because of a restriction that deemed businesses must have been in operation for at least three years.

O’Toole said this restriction has since been changed, and they have re-applied for the funding.

He added he’s hopeful the café will be successful in its application and didn’t fault the government’s handling of the program, saying that they’ve made necessary changes after receiving feedback.

“I would say if anything, that all levels of government...have done a pretty good job of adjusting on the fly and doing what’s necessary,” said O’Toole.

However, the province’s tourism assistance strategy has received forceful criticism from local MLA Peter Milobar, who represents the Kamloops-North Thompson riding.

Milobar said small businesses in the region have received precious little support from the province.

He said the programs set up by the province have been full of red tape and left far too many struggling business owners unable to access funding.

“They’re difficult to try to access, and the vast majority of people who apply end up getting rejected,” he said. “We’ve been doing this now for almost a year, and it seems that the government still hasn’t figured out how to properly support businesses in the way they need.”

In January, it was revealed that only $10 million of the $300 million that has been set aside for the Small and Medium-sized Business Recovery Grant has been distributed so far, and that the program had fewer than 1,000 applicants. In December, the province overhauled the process in a bid to make it more

accessible.

Milobar also criticized the province for convening the tourism task force in the first place, noting that a coalition representing the tourism organization originally called for a $680 million aid package for the sector back in September.

“I think the tourism industry came [to the province] months ago, and brought a proposal that was rejected by the province,” he said. “Instead, they got a task force, which was essentially made up of the same people.

“Government’s been slow to implement all the recommendations from that latest report, and, in the meantime, we have tourism businesses that are struggling to see their way forward.”

SPIN’s interview requests to the Tourism Minister Melanie Mark were declined by her communications team.

Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11 5

LOCAL News Paragliders identify gap in outdoor rec opportunities TIGHTKNIT SUN PEAKS PARAGLIDING COMMUNITY THINKS SUN PEAKS COULD BE A PERFECT VENUE FOR COMMERCIAL, RECREATIONAL AND COMPETITION LEVEL PARAGLIDING

JARRETT HOFMANN

Jim Reich and Brad Henry are two Sun Peaks residents with nearly 30 years of combined experience piloting paragliders.

The pair, along with Colleen Varcoe, Canada’s first female senior instructor/ tandem II pilot, recently received local attention after taking flight from what they’ve dubbed ‘The Crystal Launch’ which sits 200 metres below the Top of the World, in between the Crystal and Burfield chairlifts.

The trio picked the launch spot under Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) ski patrol’s supervision to ensure they could lay out their wings out of the way of oncoming skiers and gain 100 metres of altitude before flying above chairlifts.

They are approved by SPR management to land anywhere on the golf course and since each party owns

a condo at Stones Throw, they typically opt for hole 16.

“I’ve been calling it a ski out, fly in condo,” said Henry.

According to Reich, Sun Peaks’ terrain, lift access, skiing and paragliding go well together and the combination makes the resort a great destination for pilots.

“Ski lift access makes it a whole new sport, it makes access so easy. Europe is huge for it, they have lifts running yearround and probably have 100 times more pilots than in Canada. It’s really expanded the sport there,” said Reich.

Because of the accessibility, Henry said he believed paragliding pilots and SPR could both stand to benefit from a wider acceptance of the sport. “[SPR] will attract quite a rich group of international people and it could become a worldwide destination for paragliding,” said Henry. “The other thing is, I’ve been involved in competitions for a number of years and I think that this could be an ideal location for some Red Bull paragliding competitions.”

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The summer also boasts great flying and could provide added opportunity for pilots and SPR, according to Henry.

“I’ve flown cross-country from Sun Peaks to Clearwater and back, it’s great here,” said Henry.

Henry’s vision is to reintroduce paragliding competitions to Sun Peaks and host an Aerothlon event, a relay race consisting of trail running, paragliding and mountain biking, that can be done individually or as a team.

“I’ve got a proposal ready [for SPR], I just need to get it in the right hands,” said Henry.

He explained the crux of organizing such a complex event is finding a venue that has world class trail running, mountain biking and paragliding.

“Imagine runners take off from the village and race to the Top of the World, grab their paraglider, fly over Morrisey then Heffley Lake and land back in the village next to their mountain bikes, pedal up the hill and race downhill completing the event. This is just the perfect location,” Henry said.

Nearly 20 years ago there was a

small paragliding community in Sun Peaks, which Henry was a part of.

“It was absolutely spectacular, we’d hike into the meadows during the alpine flower season and 20 wings would launch. The air was very buoyant, we could hardly get down, you’d just bob around over to Morrisey then to Tod and behind Tod,” Henry remembered.

Another member, Ian McCarthur, was a competition pilot and owner of a bed and breakfast in Whitecroft.

He brought the Canadian Paragliding Nationals and the first internationally sanctioned hang gliding competitions to Sun Peaks.

Although paragliding has inherent risk, which can be exacerbated if conducted in poor weather conditions, Reich said it’s generally very safe.

“The gear we use is certified, safe and tested through an international body and the hangliding and paragliding association of Canada (HPCA) provides us with $5-million liability insurance which is an important part of flying here at Sun Peaks,” Reich said.

Henry said traumatic injuries are rare

“20 years of experience in the industry and counting.”

.

but accidents do happen.

“Sadly, there was a guy who took off from the [Stawamus] Chief in Squamish last year with a tangle [in the lines that connect the wing to the pilot’s harness], we’ve got a safety rescue parachute that we use, for some reason he didn’t use his,” Henry explained. “[SPR] is a safer venue though, the air works well here and the soft snow can be helpful in the event of a crash, you don’t even go as fast as skiers.”

Typically paragliders fly at approximately 30 kilometres per hour, which is much slower than what an intermediate skier may ski on a typical groomed run.

Although the local paragliders have received increasing demand for tandem flights and lessons in Sun Peaks, Reich who is the managing director of FlyBC and is one of two senior instructors for the organization, prefers to teach newbies in the rolling hills of Savona, west of Kamloops.

To learn more about paragliding in B.C., visit Reich’s website at www.flybc.ca.

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SPORTS Popular Friday Race Series cancelled this year EVENT IS EXPECTED TO MAKE ITS TRIUMPHANT RETURN NEXT SEASON JOEL BARDE

Like so many events, Sun Peaks’ popular Friday Race Series is not taking place this year, with organizers citing safety concerns related to the spread of COVID-19.

Ron Betts, ski training co-ordinator with the Sun Peaks Sports School, said the event would simply be too difficult to pull off right now.

Participants typically register with Guest Services, and there’s a sizable volunteer contingent needed to carry out the races. Moreover, the event typically attracts participants from outside of the region and includes an awards ceremony.

“Based on all of those concerns...a decision was made not to hold the event this year,” said Betts.

On a positive note, Betts said the Masters Gate Training Program is still

taking place on Mondays this season.

You can read more about the training session, which is open to skiers 18 years of age and older, on the Sun Peaks Resort website.

“That’s a four hour program that people either book for the season or as a one off,” said Betts.

“It’s a four hour window where we set up some gates and people can train a little bit and also receive some coaching.”

Betts added he expects the Friday Race Series to return next year.

“I don’t want to give the impression that this is something that’s gone forever,” he said.

“I think that as soon as we have a better grasp of COVID, we’re going to be back running the Friday Race Series.”

In the end, Betts said cancelling the event was a difficult but necessary decision.

“Cancelling Friday races wasn’t an easy decision, but I think it was the right one based on the climate right now.”

The Friday Race Series at Sun Peaks. PHOTO FACEBOOK

This TRU prof created a computer program to figure out the best ways to ski all of the Sun Peaks Nordic trails—in one day PROGRAM WAS NEEDED TO WHITTLE DOWN THE MANY (BILLIONS WORTH) OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE JOEL BARDE

The increasingly popular Sun Peaks Nordic trail system boasts 35 kilometres of groomed trails.

Looked at from above, they criss-cross in numerous ways, with a total of 29 different intersection points and 38 individual trail sections.

Like others before him, one day several years ago Richard Taylor put his mind to determining a route that would allow him to ski all the trails in a day.

“I sat down to try to actually like draw out a route, just using the trail map, and I just got overwhelmed with how hard it was,” he said.

“You inevitably have to kind of retrace your steps a little bit and do parts of the trail network twice, just to hit everything.”

While other people might have simply called it a day and moved on, Taylor took things to the next level.

Drawing on his robust education background—Taylor teaches math and physics at Thompson Rivers University—he developed a computer program to help determine some solutions (ie. the

best routes possible).

“I just kind of made it a fun weekend project, “ he said.

In the end, the program ended up running over the weekend, processing billions of options, and eventually coming up with several of the most efficient options.

Taylor said there is a certain amount of subjectivity when it comes to which is the most efficient, and that the shortest of the options clocks in at around 45 kilometres—a distance that is doable for strong cross country skiers.

Taylor added that the math involved in solving the problem

draws from graph theory, and that the specific problem is actually quite well known.

“I guess the classic version of [the problem] is that you imagine a travelling salesman who needs to travel to a bunch of different cities, and needs to find the kind of most efficient way of getting to all of them so that they all get visited at least once,” he explained.

Wikipedia has a good description of this “travelling salesman problem” if you’re interested.

After producing his work,Taylor shared his findings with the Sun Peaks Nordic Club, where they

received an enthusiastic reception.

Taylor said while he was thrilled that his work got a positive reception and that some people (including his wife) have completed one of the suggested routes, ultimately he decided doing so wasn’t for him.

Having skate skied for the past six years, he would rather stick to his favourite trails, and enjoy the beautiful Noridc trail system on his own terms.

“In the end, I just kind of felt like it was boring,” he said. “I’d rather ski my favorite routes repeatedly, rather than trying to hit everything.”

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Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11 7

WELLNESS

Fitness focused businesses struggle amid COVID restrictions, changes JEAN STRONG

As the pandemic started to directly impact Sun Peaks in 2020, two brand new local businesses had just opened or were making plans to.

Sun Peaks Yoga and Sun Peaks Alpine Fitness are now offering a level of fitness and wellness options never before seen in Sun Peaks while also grappling with the impacts of COVID on their business.

Kayla Alfred, owner of Sun Peaks Yoga, had only opened her studio a few months before the pandemic shut most businesses in March 2020. Revenues in January 2021 are down 91 per cent from January 2020.

“That said we have had better months than January since the pandemic started,” she said. “But it does show the huge difference. It has been affected by local numbers dropping due to lack of feeling comfortable, lack of employment, and for some, lack of time due to loss of or changes in childcare. We have also lost some numbers from tourists no longer visiting from near or far.

“They never taught me in any of my businesses planning classes how to prepare for a global pandemic.”

Alfred shut the doors early as most of her staff were feeling unwell and she didn’t want them in the studio until they were completely recovered. This left her teaching every class herself for a few days until finally closing.

As they reopened later in 2020, they had to implement a wide variety of changes such as adding even more cleaning procedures, reducing capacity from 40 to eight and changing sign in and out procedures.

“We have also had some staffing changes as individual teachers’ and managers’ lives have changed and been affected by COVID.” While making changes to

8

A class at Sun Peaks Yoga prior to the pandemic. PHOTO SUPPLIED

support a safe reopening, Alfred and her team were also faced with pivoting much of their business to online.

They found software and hardware necessary to stream classes online and moved their retail offerings online as well.

“It was a challenging move... finding the pricing, technology and teaching styles that work best for our teachers and clients. When we are left with solely online classes we take a bit of a hit from our local members due to either lack of sufficient internet connections on the mountain and/or our inability to compete with those offering free online yoga out of their homes,” Alfred explained.

After a sudden announcement

Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11

in November, in person classes were suspended yet again. While restrictions have since loosened, Alfred kept the studio online only until February. “[It’s] a constant feeling of uncertainty and having a million backup plans ready to implement at a moment’s notice. We wanted to start offering retreats and more intensive workshops by this coming summer but we really can’t plan anything more than a month in advance.”

Even with reopening, Alfred said she feels they are in survival mode but hopeful next winter they will be able to plan more classes for their clients.

“Our main hurdle is to get people back into the studio. We

can’t really blame anyone for being uncomfortable with the idea of doing yoga in person...It’s something we will all hopefully figure out in time.”

At Sun Peaks Alpine Fitness, Petersen said he saw a decline of gym goers when the new restrictions were implemented, but that timing also aligned with the chairlifts opening.

Because the pandemic began while he was still in the planning stages, Petersen was able to adapt his business from the start.

Carefully spacing all equipment and creating enhanced sanitation protocols, he said he can see carrying on into a post-COVID world.

But he has had to adapt to some

changes since opening. His highly anticipated group classes had to be postponed and mask mandates have changed, ultimately settling on being mandatory everywhere except on a cardio machine at least six feet from another person.

Instead, he shifted his attention to securing kinesiologists and personal trainers to work with clients one on one.

“If anything I’ve kept it more in favour of being safe,” he said.

Petersen and Alfred pointed to the support of local community members as key to their operations.

“I couldn’t have stayed open without the support of members who have been willing to train with masks on and do that sort of stuff,” Petersen said.

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GET OUT There Part dirtbiking, part snowmobiling— snowbiking is taking off RAPIDLY PROGRESSING SPORT ALLOWS TRAVEL TO PREVIOUSLY UNRIDEABLE TERRAIN JOEL BARDE

A new sport is taking off in the mountains of British Columbia, and if you’ve never seen it, you’d be forgiven for having a double take when you do.

It’s called snowbiking, and it’s essentially a hybrid between snowmobiling and dirt biking.

In recent years, companies have been rapidly improving the technology that allows it. Kits are used to swap the front wheel of a dirt bike into a single ski; a track (kind of like what you’d find on a snowmobile) replaces the rear.

Timbersled, a snowbiking company owned by Polaris, now offers kits that are used to transform dirt bikes into snowbikes starting at around $5,500.

Longtime snowmobilers say a bit of a revolution is going on—but that snowbiking isn’t likely to displace snowmobiling entirely.

Brett Turcotte, a leading snowbiker and snowmobiler from Clearwater, B.C., began snowbiking in 2016.

“It was an avenue that I pursued because I saw an opening to get involved in a sport that was new and fresh and growing at a really fast rate,” he explained.

Turcotte added the sport has grown quickly in recent years. There are now about three snowbikers for every seven snowmobilers in the backcountry, he said.

“They’re definitely making their way into the winter world and into the backcountry.”

DRIVING THE CHANGE A number of factors seem to be driving snowbiking’s popularity.

For one thing (and this might seem counterintuitive to many people) snowbiking is thought to be much easier than snowmobiling.

Snowbikes are lighter and easier to navigate, particularly in tight, treed terrain.

“The access that they allow is

unreal,” explained Turcotte.

“We’re getting into spots with these bikes that would be a real struggle with a snowmobile.

Snowbiking has opened up a whole new way to look at terrain.”

Snowbikes can also come in handy on steep terrain, even though they have far less horsepower than sleds.

Sidelining, the process of zigzagging your way up a steep mountain, is challenging on a sled, as riders are forced to balance on one of the machine’s two front skis.

It is much more natural on a snowbike.

“It only has one ski, so you’re essentially kind of dirt biking across the snow,” said Turcotte. “And when the terrain gets very steep, you can lean the bike in against the hill and use your foot as a rudder to keep your balance.”

And then there’s the price point. The kits offer a (relatively) affordable way into the realm of winter backcountry travel for people who already own dirt bikes.

“If you already have a dirt bike, you could get into a brand new snowbike kit for $6,000,” he said.

This, he explained, compares to spending around $16,000 on a new snowmobile.

This said, you can still spend a lot of money on a snow bike. Turcotte built his bike up specifically for snow biking and estimated it would cost around $20,000.

NEW BLOOD Kamloops-based mountain bike pro Graham Agassiz has similarly developed a passion for snowbiking.

He got into the sport around the same time as Turcotte, and the two are riding buddies as well as Monster Energy Drink teammates.

Agassiz said snowbiking serves as great cross training for mountain biking and has helped him train for events like the Red Bull Rampage, a spectacular freeride event that takes place in Utah.

It allows Agassiz to get that big air feeling in a relatively safe way,

he explained.

“Going 60 to70 feet on a mountain bike feels pretty aggressive, but on a [snowbike], every other air can be like that, depending on where you are.”

Agassiz added the terrain around Sun Peaks is particularly well suited to the sport, with treed sections that can remain relatively fresh days after snowfall.

He said he sees lots of room for growth for the sport, especially given that it’s much easier to learn than sledding—not to mention much less physically demanding.

“You don’t have to be super strong or fit,” he said, adding that snowbikes allow users to extend their days in the backcountry.

A TRAGIC EVENT While snowbiking maintains a relatively low profile among the general public, it recently became a bit of a focal point after a tragic accident in the Coast Mountains of B.C, when two young snowbikers were killed in an avalanche near Pemberton.

Both were passionate about the emerging sport and were reportedly well-versed in avalanche safety.

In a report by the CBC, Nicholas Bowker’s mother described her son as an adventurous young man who fell in love with motorized sports at an early age.

“He just had a sense of living on the edge, but still being safe about it,” said Suzanne Bowker “I did worry about him, but you know what? I prayed for him. And I know that God was watching over him. And God has a purpose in all this.”

Graham Haywood, the other man who passed away, worked as a senior project coordinator at the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.

Like all backcountry sports, sledding and snowbiking carries its own dangers.

A recent provincial report outlined the causes of winterrelated deaths between 2008 and 2018.

It found that over that period there

SUN PEAKS’ SOURCE FOR

were 114 snowmobile deaths, with about two thirds of them occurring in B.C.’s Interior. Of the snowmobile deaths, over half (57 per cent) were related to avalanches.

Speaking broadly about the snowbiking and snowmobiling community, Turcotte said in recent years he’s seen heightened awareness and preparedness when it comes to avalanche safety.

That said, he said that there is still room for improvement.

“I still don’t think that it’s perfect,” he said. “I still am seeing guys in the backcountry that are making mistakes. I’m seeing tracks where I’m like, ‘oh, my goodness.’”

Turcotte said ultimately, he would like to see a system brought in to require proper training when going into the backcountry.

“I feel like it should almost be like a driver’s license, where at a minimum you have your AST,” he said.

QUICKLY EVOLVING All sports go through periods where they rapidly progress, where the envelope of what’s possible is in a constant state of motion.

Think snowboarding in the 1990s, or mountain biking in the early 2000s.

Snowbiking appears to be in this phase. Riders are pushing their limits, performing new aerials and mastering the art of carving terrain and hitting cliffs with mind-bending grace.

Turcotte is on the leading edge of progressing the sport.

In 2016 (the same year he got into the sport), he became the first person to do a backflip on a snowbike, and last year he took home a gold in the X-Games best trick contest for the sport.

“It took me about six tries to get the flip to come around, and each one of those tries was a different type of fail,” he said, recalling that first backflip back in 2016.

Between jumps, Turcotte would study video and work to adjust the jump until it was just right.

“It was a huge process,” he said.

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“It definitely took a lot more effort than I had expected.”

Going forward, snowbiking isn’t likely to displace sledding altogether. But it will bring more people to motorized backcountry exploration.

Turcotte said that is where the sport shines. Riders can use their creativity to carve dreamy lines.

“When I’m out in the backcountry, I think of my snowbike as like a motorized snowboard,” he said. “If I can get to the top of the mountain, the most fun that I have is coming back down.”

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Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11 9

GET OUT There

TRU professor aims to mitigate sledder deaths in avalanche terrain IAIN STEWART-PATTERSON AND JEREMY HANKE HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING SLEDDER DEATHS IN CANADA

JARRETT HOFMANN

Iain Stewart-Patterson is no stranger to the mountains or researching risk mitigation factors within them. He’s a teaching professor at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in the adventure studies program, an International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) certified mountain guide and has conducted research on the role of intuition in Canadian ski guide decision making for his PhD thesis.

Stewart-Patterson, also an avid sledder, recognized a research gap surrounding sled’s impacts in avalanche terrain that could be connected to avalanche fatalities among sledders.

“In 2012 I started teaching Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) level one courses to sledders,” he explained. “Scott Thumlert published his thesis on stress measurements [by sleds onto the snowpack] in 2014 which I presented to my class.

The responses from the class were ‘ya...but there’s more.’ I also recognized there were very few people conducting research on snowmobile specific problems, [then] I found Jeremy Hanke’s research.”

Hanke, a sponsored professional sledder and CAA level two instructor, has also run many successful avalanche skills training (AST) courses tailored to the sledding community and was one of the first to engage in sledder research.

In 2016, Hanke and StewartPatterson teamed up and presented a paper at the International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW) where they

attempted to identify patterns from all sledder avalanche fatalities in Canada from 1973 to 2016.

“Some of the interesting things that came out of that paper were a high number of fatalities that were the result of triggering a deep persistent weak layer,” Stewart-Patterson said.

The fatal weak layers were typically found to be over a metre deep in the snowpack, deeper than what an average skier might be able to trigger.

The pair got to work to find out how deep and when sleds affect deep persistent layers in the snowpack.

Another set of questions led Stewart-Patterson and Hanke to wonder if the problem was also to do with the delivery and reception of AST courses to sledders.

Some of their questions focused around the AST curriculum. What part of the curriculum could be the issue? Was it the skier-focused content? Was it delivery methods?

Did the problem lie in the instructors who are mainly skiers or the sledders who are students?

A glaring difference was the demographic of students.

“We looked at the characteristics of each of those groups [sledders and skiers] and what we found was skiers were students used to sitting in lectures for hours and getting the content because of their [traditional] academic background. We then looked at the sled community and the majority of them are highly trained and successful in the trades, but the learning process was different,” explained StewartPatterson.

“So I met with Dr. Lindsay Langill, the dean of Trades and Technology at TRU, who’d done his PhD on how to deliver trades training in an adult population and he said that sitting in a classroom for 12 hours doesn’t work well. It’s more about short, intense, hands

on and direct feedback.”

It became clear to Hanke and Stewart-Patterson that the classic AST delivery model was not fitting the learning needs of a typical snowmobiler, which led to another presentation at the 2016 ISSW and a set of suggestions submitted to Avalanche Canada, who manage the AST curriculum.

With part of the sledder fatality issue answered, the pair focused their attention on what StewartPatterson called “the main event,” which is aimed at measuring the force sleds put on the deep and dangerous layers of the snowpack during specific maneuvers.

More recently, research has taken place in the field with a sensor array they acquired from Thumlert’s previous research.

The sensor measures the pressure bulb of a sled and the pair applied it to common dynamic sledding maneuvers.

“Previous research ran sleds across the pressure sensor in a fairly planar, sort of flat, nonaccelerating manner,” explained Stewart-Patterson.

“When we analyzed it, we thought about the movements sledders make when they’re really getting after it. So we measured a range of different sledding maneuvers and measured how deep the spinning track of the sled was running into the snowpack.”

The two sled maneuvers identified that deeply affect the snowpack and may be more likely to trigger deep persistent weak layers were found to be the uphill climb at full-throttle and the downhill carve, where most of the sled’s force is concentrated on the inside ski during a carve. “[The question we’re asking is] what is the force 20, 30, 40 centimetres down below the track? And that’s coming up at 10 times the load of a skier.

Now, we’ve expanded that even further,” Stewart-Patterson said.

The next step in their research

Measuring a sled’s force on the snowpack in a downhill turn with a pressure sensor array. PHOTO IAIN STEWART-PATTERSON.

is to connect the results of different snow stability tests to the triggering of adjacent slopes by sleds, similar to what has been done in skier avalanche skills training with the compression test, a test used by backcountry travellers where they isolate a column of snow and use a shovel to tap on it which tests the strength of layers in the snow.

“The compression test has been really well studied by Bruce Jameson in terms of [results] correlated with skier’s triggering adjacent slopes. Those previous studies are why we’ve looked at compression tests for sledders,” said Stewart-Patterson.

Considering the weight of sleds and the deep track penetration into the snowpack, Stewart-Patterson and Hanke are researching the relevance of modified extended column tests, where they measure the track penetration depth of the

sled, and remove that amount of snow from the isolated column they are testing. They then use their shovels to test the strength of deep layers in the snowpack that sledders have been likely to trigger and then they want to correlate those to adjacent slope triggering.

Unfortunately though, much of the research has been paused due to COVID-19 and a lack of available funding, said StewartPatterson.

Stewart-Patterson is hoping that his and Hanke’s research will reduce sledder avalanche fatalities. He said his vision is that the avalanche sledding community will become a larger part of the avalanche forecasting, avalanche information exchange processes, mechanized guiding industry and the CAA, where Stewart-Patterson sits as the chair of the education committee.

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Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11

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GET OUT There SPIN’s Winter Safety Tips: Driving & Home Safety KEEP UP WITH THIS MINI-SERIES OF THREE WINTER SAFETY ARTICLES THAT HIGHLIGHT HAZARDS FOR SUN PEAKS RESIDENTS AND HOW TO MITIGATE THEM. JARRETT HOFMANN

Household fires are a possibility no matter the time of year and winter driving can be especially dangerous on high mountain roads like the one that leads to Sun Peaks.

SPIN spoke with fire prevention officer Martin McQuade of Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (SPFR) to get the details on how to keep yourself and your family safe whether you’re behind the wheel while winter driving, or keeping your house warm and cozy during the changing conditions of winter.

WINTER HOME FIRE SAFETY According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one in every five home fire deaths are due to heating equipment such as microwaves, space heaters, electric fireplaces or coffee makers. Peak months for electrical fire deaths occur November through March and half of all home fires occur between December and February.

McQuade advised against plugging in heating equipment to extension cords or power bars, giving them a berth of one metre and only plugging a maximum of one heat producing device into each wall outlet to prevent the chance of a surge protector failing and causing a fire.

“There have been [electrical] fire reports already within the province.

I know in Sun Peaks we like to use extension cords to run heaters into our garages or ski wax rooms, but those extension cords or power bars with surge protectors can fail or catch fire,” McQuade explained.

Another hazardous heat source commonly used during the winter or power outages, or simply for ambience, are candles which sparked one cautionary tale.

“Last year a tea light candle underneath a TV melted the bottom of the TV’s frame. Someone

smelt burning plastic before it caught fire but it was pretty close to, if it had caught fire the whole unit and the wall attached to the TV and everything around it could have gone up. Luckily it was not the case, but it was a close call,” said McQuade.

McQuade also warned against leaving portable heaters and even electric fireplaces on overnight, and said it’s possible for people to fall asleep with them on, waking up to a fire in the middle of the night.

Another hazard in the home referred to as the silent killer is carbon monoxide poisoning which is becoming increasingly more common, and is a real possibility to residents of Sun Peaks because of the use of propane and natural gas to fuel appliances.

“If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector, you should get one if you are serviced by propane.

If you do have one, you should test it monthly and don’t forget the smoke alarm too.” said McQuade.

McQuade added for those with wood burning fireplaces, have the chimneys professionally cleaned annually and to only burn firewood, as other items can cause unwanted dangerous build-up.

Another hot topic for SPFR and emergency services is the difficulty to see residential addresses from the street. In the event of an emergency, response should not be delayed due to being unable to find the correct address.

“Addresses should be clearly posted, in contrast to the surface they’re on, so not white numbers on white siding, and illuminated.

We want to see your address from the road 24 hours a day and 365 days a year,” added McQuade.

For more information on emergency preparedness, McQuade compiled a useful list including the federal government’s preparedness guide and instructions on emergency preparedness kits by the Red Cross and PreparedBC.

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WINTER DRIVING The Heffley Louis Creek road is somewhat unique as it doesn’t change elevation in a linear fashion, causing inconsistencies in the weather and freezing levels along it.

The elevation of Whitecroft is actually lower than the elevation of Heffley Lake; initially you descend from Sun Peaks, but then gain elevation again as you drive to Heffley Lake.

“Elevation in mountain road driving does play a key factor in where the freezing level is, you might have warmer weather in Whitecroft than in Heffley because elevation of the road going past Heffley lake is [approximately 200 metres] higher,” said McQuade. “People think once they’re past Whitecroft they’re out of the trouble, but the road is in and out of the shade, the sun melts the black top but then it freezes when it goes back on the shade, leaving a clear ice on it like a skating rink.”

A number of factors play into whether or not drivers make it to their destination safely, but McQuade warned against people becoming complacent behind the wheel just because they have good winter tires, studs and/or all wheel drive or four by four capabilities.

“You have to take all of the variables into consideration including the vehicle you drive, and drive to the changing conditions,” warned McQade.

If drivers do come across an accident, McQuade advised drivers to first call 911, which will dispatch SPFR and only get out to help if it’s safe to do so.

Pertinent information that the fire department wants to know includes if anybody is in the vehicle and if the vehicle is upside down, on its side, or on its wheels.

“That information is super important but if they get out of their car and the roads have

that thin layer of clear ice, the last thing we want to do is get somebody to get out to try and help then become involved in an incident themselves, further stressing emergency services resources,” said McQuade.

He also suggested if the conditions are bad staying home might be the best option.

He added if there are emergency vehicles on the roads with lights and sirens on, drivers need to pull over and stop.

“If we’re out there in the event of an emergency, chances are we

are also driving in poor conditions, the last thing we want is to make a bad situation worse.”

It is also suggested drivers be prepared with an emergency kit that contains a blanket, road flares, first aid supplies, food and water. Make sure to customize your kit for the region you live in. McQuade suggested carrying a small shovel and kitty litter in case you need to get your vehicle unstuck in slippery and snowy road conditions Visit DriveBC to get the latest road conditions and reports.

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Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11 11

EVENTS

Art Zone ScavengArt hunt offers chance to win VIMFF pass JEAN STRONG

Looking for a cute date idea or even a solo activity in the lead up to Valentine’s Day? Art Zone Sun Peaks is hosting a Valentine’s ScavengArt Hunt around the village this month.

All you have to do to take part is visit exhibitions throughout the village, specifically at Guest Services, Tourism Sun Peaks, Vertical Café and the Sotheby’s International Realty office.

Fill out an online form with your observations and submit it to be entered to win an all-events pass to the online Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival valued at $105.

The draw will take place Feb. 16 at noon.

If you purchase a piece of art from an exhibition you can submit 10 more entries into the grand prize draw.

For more information visit their website or Facebook page.

Keep an eye out for art exhibitions around the village. PHOTO ART ZONE SUN PEAKS

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Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11

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ARTS Local-made bath products a result of years of learning GLOBAL GODDESS AROMATHERAPY RUN BY SUN PEAKS NORDIC INSTRUCTOR JEAN STRONG

A Sun Peaks Nordic skiing instructor is helping tired skiers and riders soothe their aches and pains with her homemade bath salts and other products.

Ellen Huggett first became interested in essential oils 40 years ago when she was travelling through the U.S. and found a shelf of oils in a trinket shop.

She purchased her first bottle of neroli, kicking off a passion.

“For twenty years I had a shoebox with essential oils, and I didn’t really know what to do with them,” she said. “In ‘98 or ‘99 I took the aromatherapy course through the BC Institute of Holistic Studies and the rest is history.”

Huggett started with a focus on massage until she developed arthritis in her hands in 2007 and switched to making products with her essential oils. She made her first batch of bath salts and approached Nature’s Fare Markets who agreed to take a dozen bags of each kind.

“That’s what started it, jumping through the hoops, getting barcodes, getting them professionally printed,” she said.

“I started in Kamloops...I got my codes and the other stores started ordering.”

Now her products, sold under the name Global Goddess Aromatherapy, are sold in B.C. and Alberta, including Bluebird Market in Sun Peaks.

More than just bath salts, Huggett also creates oil blends, massage oils and even natural bug repellent.

“The big one that does sell [a lot] is Bug Out. And that one is named after that run between Peekaboo and Rambler, I heard the story about the guys who were clear cutting in there and I guess it was really bad for the bugs and they called it Bug Out. I thought, my heart is in Sun Peaks,

I’m going to call it Bug Out.” An oil blend, Buggly Itch, is also sold as an anti-itch product.

Last year, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she created a spray hand sanitizer that is sold in local stores.

Huggett said she’s grateful to have found support for her work in Sun Peaks, especially among guests from other places who stock up when they visit (in nonpandemic times).

Aside from being a good business on the side of her longtime instructing and guiding career, Huggett said learning about the oils has improved her life.

“If something comes up, like I have a pimple or something, I can just run down stairs and make something up for it.”

She said she’s also enjoyed learning about how the oils are collected around the world and sourcing what she needs for her products.

Having been involved in the Sun Peaks community for 10 years now, she has no plans to leave. And she’s open to suggestions or requests for new creations.

“I have about 20 [products] now,” she said. “I just adapt to what’s currently happening.”

A Global Goddess display in Bluebird Market. PHOTO SUPPLIED

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@sunpeaksnews Ellen Huggett at work at Sun Peaks. PHOTO SUPPLIED

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Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11 13

PUZZLES and Services Are You Coming?

ARE YOU COMING?

by Barbara Olson © ClassiCanadian Crosswords

Across

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1 Lowdown lout

4 Apply deep massage 8 Eases off the bottle

13 Blue-bonneted baby, often 14 Letter-shaped support 15 Jughead's wooer

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18 Like Tums takers' tummies

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42 Handyman's type of job, for short

3 Indigenous people of the north

2 Ex-Blue Jays champ Roberto

41 "Am ___ the list?"

43 Lyric from McLean's "American Pie"

4 Drummer's "ba-da-bing!", after a joke

38 Seasoned rice dish: Var.

6 Body of "agua"

42 Gives a hand in Vegas

8 Fray, as one's nerves

45 "Capeesh?"

52 Word often ending in "ly": Abbr.

7 Frivolous frills and fluff

44 Brand that "gets the red out"

9 "Yada, yada..."

46 Bureaucratic red tape, e.g.

51 Remote battery, maybe

60 Prefix meaning "sleep" 61 Elliott or Greene

62 Trademarked tangelo 63 Not "faux"

64 Beat to a pulp in the kitchen 65 Round hammer head 66 Pen pals' add-ons

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11 Homer's "neighbourino"

47 Fumes, to our southern neighbours

13 Brightly feathered squawker

49 "Duh! ___ knew that!"

21 Keep ___ on (stay mum)

55 Invitation letters, as suggested by circled parts of this puzzle

26 "Now!!"

57 ___-Turn (intersection sign)

10 Pacific yellowfin tuna

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34 [Not my typo] notations

S

E

49

1 Crop name derived from "Canada" and "oil"

4

L

N

30 Write grade one-style, likely

B A

31

29 Mounties, informally

3

T

28

55 60

Down

A

42

59

34 One who's often before the bar?

2

A

17

33 Lowbrow newspaper

37 "Ally McBeal" costar Lucy

P

14

33 38

45

58

26

1

41

57

11

NameTAGS Tags NAME 25

37

53 56

10

LAST ISSUE

24

29

44

9

21

36

24 Jetsam's partner

31 Spr. setting in Flin Flon

8

17

50

28 TV's sword-wielding Xena, for one

7

16

43

23 Ship's pronoun

6

15

40

22 ___ maison (at home, in Québec)

5

14

34

19 Type of impromptu party

4

13

28

16 Soon, to Shakespeare

3

SOLUTION

12 Devious

48 Plant swellings

20 Actor's line for the audience only

54 All the ___ (trendy)

25 Drought-ravaged

56 Swiss high rise?

27 Texts, voicemails, e.g.: Abbr.

58 Trudeau landing datum: Abbr.

Donate Retired Gear Nordic | Alpine | Skis| Boards | Boots

Pick up / Drop off Email: ASSPdonation@gmail.com Call : 250-572-0616

COAST SUNDANCE LODGE Excavating Ltd. •

Excavating & Snow Clearing

•

Landscape Rock/Granite

•

Your one stop excavating contracter providing professional work

Greg: 250 371 7800 • gzieb@telus.net www.ziebartexcavating.com

You can’t get closer to the lifts than the Coast Sundance Lodge! We offer the best ski-in, ski-out accommodation in all of Sun Peaks, featuring a range of spacious suites and lofts, all of which come with kitchens or kitchenettes, so you can stock up with all the provisions you’ll need. Most of our rooms have beautiful, unobstructed views of the mountain and village. And should you find time to stay connected, you’ll have access to complimentary Wi-Fi.

250 578 0200 | coasthotels.com

@sunpeaksnews

@sunpeaksnews

Alpine Images Photography Let us capture your Sun Peaks Memories with a photoshoot in our magical winter wonderland. for more information and to book please contact us at

www.alpineimages.ca | info@alpineimages.ca | 250-851-1905

14

Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM @SunPeaksNews

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM @SunPeaksNews

Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 12 15

Serving Sun Peaks and area since 1995

ALPINE RESORT REALTY

OPEN DAILY - LOCATED IN THE KOOKABURRA LODGE T: 250 578 8222 TF: 1 800 663 2838 E: info@sunpeaksrealty.com

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED

COMMERCIAL SPACE

SOLD #201 KOOKABURRA LODGE | $639,000 This well planned 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo was meticulously planned for easy, carefree enjoyment and unrestricted owner use. Luxurious living in magical Sun Peaks Village features an open design with plenty of windows, gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, private sundeck with relaxing hot tub and sunset views. Great ski-in, ski-out location with ski and snowboard storage available on the main level as well as a high clearance heated underground parking garage. Zoning allows short term rentals when not using it yourself.

#102 KOOKABURRA LODGE | $239,000 Convenience and accessibility! This 327 square foot space has high traffic exposure and good storefront visibility with direct outside access. The Kookaburra Lodge is a ski-in, skiout, four storey concrete building with residential condos above and commercial/retail on the ground floor including restaurant, spa and Municipal offices. Great location in the heart of Sun Peaks with year-round community and school. Monthly strata fee is $274.86.

SOLD #329 CAHILTY HOTEL & SUITES | $269,900 This fully furnished one bedroom apartment features some of the best view in the Resort, a great window package gives you expansive up mountain and down valley vistas. Great living area with full kitchen, ample dining area, and great family living space. This property has been recently renovated as to furnishings, counter tops and kitchen cabinetry, flooring and art. Comfortably sleeps six. The property is professionally managed by Bear Country providing a 24 hours desk service and ease of rental.

40 ACRES

NEW LISTING

5064 HEFFLEY-LOUIS CREEK RD | $790,000 Gorgeous country setting with 4 bdrm. log home overlooking the beautiful Louis Creek valley.

Peace & tranquillity with breathtaking wraparound views! A walk in the back-yard leads to a private wooded forest and year-round Cahilty Creek, backing onto crown land. The main level living area is the heart of the home, which is flooded with great light passing through massive windows that bring the outdoors inside. The open floor plan with vaulted ceiling & rustic rock fireplace is perfect for family gatherings. Only 20 min to Sun Peaks/50 min to Kamloops.

SOLD #27 SNOW CREEK VILLAGE | $385,000 Ski-in, ski-out from this great 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo located in Snow Creek Village.

This slopeside development is considered one of the best locations in Sun Peaks adjacent to the Gentle Giant ski run connecting you to the mountain and Village. Features full kitchen with pine cabinetry and trim, heated tile floors, a cozy gas fireplace, heated garage parking and good storage space. Park your car and walk everywhere!

HOTEL CONDOS • • • • • •

| STARTING AT $49,900

Enjoy the warm hospitality and peace of mind with professional in house management!

Located in the heart of Sun Peaks Village Hassle free ski in ski out access Underground parking Variety of room configurations & owner use arrangements.

Call one of our Real Estate Professionals today!

NEW LISTING

SOLD #3 STONE’S THROW |

$599,900

Enjoy the peacefulness of the East Village with quick access to the ski slopes and the 16th hole of BC’s highest Golf Course, from Stone’s Throw. This conveniently situated 2 bedroom / 2 bath quaint mountain home features warm wood and rock accents, large open kitchen, dining room, spacious living room, master bedroom with ensuite. Relax in your private hot tub apres ski and watch the skiers under the Orient chair lift. Offered fully furnished; GST applicable.

#29 CRYSTAL FOREST|

$630,000

This updated 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouse is the ultimate retreat for All Seasons. Updates include new carpets and tile flooring, new bathroom vanities, paint, brand new modern kitchen & countertops, new appliances, replaced all sinks and faucets and some updated lighting. With expansive views of the ski hill and valley, this home is cozy and comfortable while accommodating a group. The main floor plan is open and perfect for family gatherings with outdoor patio off of the kitchen that is ideal for summer BBQs and relaxed outdoor living with private hot tub. Offered fully furnished.

SOLD #28 MCGILLIVRAY CREEK | $929,000 This extremely desirable ski-in, ski-out townhome boasts 3 bedrooms plus large family room/bunk room and 3 baths, nestled in the McGillivray Creek Townhomes complex! Warm and inviting, with soaring windows, rich wood cabinetry and finishing throughout, new heated slate floors throughout the main level, beautiful kitchen with gas stove & granite counter tops, a cozy gas fireplace with custom built in cabinetry, and large sundeck.

COMMERCIAL SPACE

242/244 CAHILTY HOTEL & SUITES | $187,900 Convenient floor plan with the ability to use both apartments as an open one bedroom to sleep six or using the lock-off doorway to separate and have two separate suites. This property has unlimited owner use and a professional rental management agreement in place. This apartment has great ski-in, ski-out access and is offered fully furnished and completely turn-key ready for your personal use and enjoyment. Hotel amenities include indoor and outdoor hot tubs, exercise room, restaurant, ski & bike storage rooms, 24 hour desk and secure underground parking. GST not applicable.

#108 FIRESIDE LODGE |

$319,000

One bedroom, one-bathroom condo that sleeps 5 comfortably and is conveniently located in the Fireside Lodge. Great ski-in, ski-out access and is close to all resort amenities. This ground floor condo features higher ceilings, a full kitchen, private owner storage, cozy gas fireplace and private patio with mountain view. Unlimited owner use and zoning allows for short term rentals and the ability to self-manage, providing excellent rental potential. New fridge, paint, lighting and countertops in kitchen and bathroom. GST is applicable.

#107 KOOKABURRA LODGE | $559,000 High traffic corner exposure and great storefront visibility and patio area that offers the opportunity for significant growth, as Sun Peaks continues to improve and expand its development. Concrete structure for strength, acoustic and fire qualities with sprinkler system in place. Great location adjacent to the village with year round community and school. Existing lease in place. 1076 sq.ft. Monthly strata fee $690.63.

SUNPEAKSREALTY.COM 16

Volume 19 Issue 2 February 12 - March 11

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM @SunPeaksNews