Jan 22, 2008
Author: Katie Bailey
The desert-like plains of Kamloops, BC, rest in stark contrast to
the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Coast Mountains to the west.
Unlike the dazzling peaks of its siblings, the mountains of the
Southern Interior are a little older and a little wiser.
Luckily, this in no way reflects the populace. Since the Europeans
portaged their way over the Rockies and into modern-day British
Columbia, Kamloops has been a bona fide Wild West kinda town. The first
Europeans settlers were a typically gnarly bunch of rough-and-tumble
fur traders who brought the do-or-die attitude of the fur trade with
them.
Yep, people have been trying to strike it rich in Kamloops since the
day the modern city was founded in the early 1800s. Gold-rush fever
struck first, only to be followed by
holy-crap-let’s-build-a-railroad-and-get-rich-doing-it fever. If Jesse
James had been looking for gold instead of armed train robberies, he
probably would have dug Kamloops.
Like its rugged past, the snowboard scene here is based on taking
advantage of the area’s stacked natural resources—famously dry and
light Interior powder, untracked lines that last all day, and a bevy of
urban rails for the local outlaws to capitalize on.
Longtime pro Chris Dufficy hails from this region and still gets
stoked on coming back whenever he can. “There’s a very strong snowboard
scene in Kamloops,” he says. “A lot of people and stores—including
Oronge Boardshop, B&B, and No1—are dedicated to the sport and, more
important, the longevity of it. Kamloops produces riders of all
calibres, but most of all a well-rounded type of rider.”
Oronge Boardshop co-owner Kent Thiessen has been running his shop
with business partner Dave Kwan for 13 years. They, along with
snowboard shop B&B down the street, feed the habit of most riders
in the area. The snowboard scene is progressing, he says, thanks to the
growth of urban riding and influences such as the beefed-up park at
local mountain Sun Peaks Resort. It’s all tied together by the local
riders and the town’s good vibe.
“I have never met more energetic, active and friendly people,” says
Thiessen. “Kamloops only has a population of around 80,000, so it’s
more of a small-town scene. Everyone knows everyone, so there’s a lot
of high fives thrown around.”
The main attraction for riders here is Sun Peaks Resort, located 45
minutes north of the city. Featuring three distinct peaks and central
village, it’s a resort that is often off the radar for scene-seeking
hipsters. This is fine by the local riders, who value Sun Peaks’
super-relaxed, no-bull vibe and the miles of untracked powder that
lasts for days instead of hours.
“The scene and general vibe of Sun Peaks is so chill and relaxed.
Everyone is there for the same reason, to have a good time and go
shred. I love it,” says local Marlie Marchewka, one of the newest
riders on the Oronge shop team.
“Attitude is checked at the door,” says Corey Wiwchar, new media
coordinator for Sun Peaks Resort and local rider for 13 years. “Here,
stoking your friends out when they’re throwing down is just as
important as having a solid day.”
The scene’s relaxed atmosphere is helped by the fact that Sun Peaks
is the kind of mountain where, if you know the spots and know where to
find the snow, it’s pretty much yours for the day. This means powder
days aren’t synonymous with panic and riders can rest easy knowing
their spot will stay relatively fresh.
“One of the best things about Sun Peaks is that I can always find a
secret stash somewhere,” says Blair Harper, another Oronge team rider.
“We’re also really close to some wicked sledding.”
“Sun Peaks may not be the gnarliest place to ride in BC, but it
definitely has a lot of assets,” says Thiessen. “I ride Sun Peaks two
to three days a week and am super stoked on the hill. It rides super
fast with high-speed rollers, jibs all over the mountain and gladed
tree lines that rip. You don’t get the super gnar here, but the park
has grown to a sweet amount of features, and there are jump lines for
all skill levels. My go-to at the hill is the tree lines off the
Burfield chair and Back in Time. It’s sick.”
The other mountain the locals ride is Harper, just outside the city
of Kamloops. It’s small, but it’s super close to the city and is the
place many people start out as kids. Kamloops is centrally located in
BC, so road trips to other resorts or backcountry access aren’t far
away. Big White, Whistler and Kootenays are all close.
But it’s the ease of the Kamloops–Sun Peaks lifestyle that keeps people like Wiwchar and Thiessen stoked on the scene.
“What keeps me here in Kamloops is the fact that I can do what I
want here,” Thiessen says. “I don’t have to drive for two hours to get
to the mountain, and I don’t have to shell out $1,400 for a season’s
pass. Getting to the mountain to ride all the time, anytime, is my
reality.”
In the off-season, Kamloops’s famous dry, undulating terrain makes
it a major mountain biking zone. The downhill mountain bike scene is
big here, and besides all the smooth terrain to freeride around the
town, Sun Peaks hosts one of the province’s best bike parks as well.
The skateboard scene here also got a major boost a few years ago with
the opening of the Kamloops Skatepark, a 2,000-square-foot plaza-style
park Chris Dufficy calls “amazing.”
Kamloops and Sun Peaks may not have the fame and glory of a certain
resort farther south, but no one here is worried about fame or glory;
it’s about enjoying the mountain for all its secret stashes, relaxing
in the low-key atmosphere and hitting up Bottoms after an epic day. As
local rider Mac Lefebvre says, “It’s just about everyone out having a
good time.”
DOs:
“Make sure you hit Bottoms at Sun Peaks for après." —Kent Thiessen
“Come golf and skateboard in the summertime.” —Chris Dufficy
“Come during spring. You get the best shred and golf in BC on the same day.” —Mac Lefebvre
DON’Ts:
“Bring a big-city attitude, because you won’t feel the local friendliness that Kamloops offers.” —Kent Thiessen
“Come thinking you’re going to drop some big bombs, because you
won’t find them here. But do bring your A game because there some
definite no-namers that will kick your ass.” —Blair Harper
“Be surprised by the fact that lift lines are relatively nonexistent
and you’re going to be riding powder well into the afternoon.” —Corey
Wiwchar
Population: 84,000
Resorts in area: Sun Peaks Resort, Harper Mountain
Season’s pass: Sun Peaks $899, Harper $420
Average Rent: $400-$700 for a one-bedroom, $700-plus for a two-bedroom
Pro legacy: Chris Dufficy, Victoria Jealouse
Local rippers: Liam Ellicot, Marlie Marchewka
Don’t miss: Sun Peaks Film Premiere (November), Garden Park Jam,
Saturday Rail Jams, You Look Good Riders Cup, locals’ night at Bottoms
Bar & Grill
Secret stash: Local urban rails and ledges, hiking out of bounds at Sun Peaks
Extracurricular: Kamloops Skatepark, tons of mountain biking,
even more golf, university-town bar scene, fishing and water sports on
local lakes and Shuswap River
Online:
tourismkamloops.com
kamloopsthisweek.com
sunpeaksresort.com
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