The Chief Marketing Officer for Sun Peaks Resort is hoping that the new provincial restrictions brought in yesterday won’t snowball out of control.
Aidan Kelly was on the NL Noon Report responding to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry asking people to stick to their local ski hill.
“It’s definitely a bit of a roller coaster ride for sure. We’re smart enough to know and read the tea leaves on what was probably going to happen but didn’t know for sure,” he said. “On one side that was a bit challenging but on the other hand we’re preparing to open for the season tomorrow.”
“We have had some of the best early season snow that we’ve had in years, and we’re opening all three mountains. We’re super excited because everything is going well operationally but then we’re also challenged by restrictions, rules, and changing circumstances.”
Sun Peaks was forced to close a month ahead of schedule this year after the province announced a ban on public gatherings larger than 50 people in size back in March.
Now eight months later, Kelly thinks the resort will get a good bump from Kamloops and area skiers and snowboarders looking to get outdoors. Season passes sold out two months ago and people are being reminded that they have to buy day tickets online before heading to the hill.
“There is definitely some pent up demand in terms of the local market for sure,” he said. “We’re expecting a number of people to come out and enjoy the slopes primarily our season pass holders.”
“If you see these orders and recommendations extended all out past this Dec. 7 window that we are looking at now, then the ski resort industry is into a whole different ball game.”
Unlike in years past, there will be no overnight or early morning camping for the first chair this year because of COVID-19, however, people will be allowed to start lining up at 7 a.m. ahead of the first chair which gets going at 8:30 a.m.
Doctors at the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre want residents and guests to notify the clinic if they test positive for COVID-19. Further, Mayor Al Raine is reminding people that all provincial health orders will be enforced in Sun Peaks this winter.
“If you don’t want to wear a mask that one thing but then don’t go outside because its disrespectful,” Raine said, noting another shutdown because of COVID-19 would be a disaster for Sun Peaks.
“Its not a big thing to ask people to wear a mask and make sure they’re paying attention and physically distancing.”
Raine expects weekends and holidays to be the busiest at Sun Peaks, noting things should be relatively calm from Monday thorough Thursday.
“There will be controls, and the controls are not when you’re skiing. The controls will be to make sure that we’re not all standing on top of one another,” he added. “If we behave in the lift lines and watch ourselves when we’re going for lunch or in the washroom areas, if we physically distance there, we can have a safe ski season.”
