In Sun Peaks, Christmas lasts almost an entire ski season. But instead of colorful packages, some of Canada’s most beautiful runs lie beneath the decorated branches. If you’re lucky, you might see a Canadian icon pass you by on the way.

„You feel a bit like you’re skiing through Santa’s front yard. Below the Morrissey lift, dozens of festively decorated fir trees line the slope. Unlike in the fairy tale, however, no mythical creatures provide the atmospheric ambiance in Sun Peaks. Some of the local families put the holiday decorations on the trees shortly after Thanksgiving and don’t remove them until the ski season is over.

But Sun Peaks has much more to offer than Christmas lights and baubles. It’s not for nothing that Canadian skiing icon Nancy Greene has declared the 2,152-meter Mount Tod her personal home mountain. The 1968 Olympic giant slalom champion and her husband Al Raine first helped lift the famous Whistler resort out of its cradle before moving further inland. With their know-how, the two developed a ski resort in Sun Peaks that leaves nothing to be desired.

Sun Peaks: expanded to become Canada’s second largest resort

Whether it’s leisurely descents for cruising or challenging steep slopes, tree skiing or open deep snow: Sun Peaks offers plenty of variety. This is all the more true since another two square kilometers of terrain were opened up for the 2014/2015 season. The runs are especially fun for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The expansion means that Sun Peaks is now the second largest resort in Canada.

Best of all, here you practically only have to unstrap to sleep. Ski in-ski out is the magic formula. On your boards, or your board, you glide from the slopes right to your front door or through the pedestrian mall. Sure, a shopping trip on skis can also have its charm. But of course it remains more appealing on the slopes with or without a Christmas tree ball above your heads.“