The Friday Race Series returns Feb. 6

The Friday Race Series is designed for skiers and snowboarders, kids and adults, locals and visitors — anyone comfortable skiing blue (intermediate) terrain. It is fundamentally a fun and friendly competition, with no race experience, or slinky racing suits required. Helmets, however, are mandatory.

The long-running race was well loved and attended by a mix of locals and guests director of brand & communications for Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) Christina Antoniak said. 

“Like many things, it was halted during Covid. We felt the time was right to bring it back this season,” she explained. “The Master’s Race Program has seen recent growth in participation, and we felt that interest in that particular program would also support the success of the Friday Race Series if it were to come back.”

The series will be run by Sun Peaks Resort, supported by Sun Host volunteers and staff from the Sports School and other areas.

Following a similar format to past seasons, the series will now also feature a Brower Timing System that the resort invested in specifically for racing. 

“Participants will be able to log into a website following the race to see their race times,” Antoniak said, adding that most of the marketing will be done electronically as well. The website, guest emails and social media will be utilized — along with “good ol’ word of mouth.”

As in previous seasons, the $20 per-person registration fee includes two runs on Sundance, an awards ceremony at The Annex and a beverage ticket. Medals will be awarded in key age and gender categories.

One local who is psyched about the return of the race is Sonya Trevisi, co-owner of Flight Deck Cannabis. Investing in high-performance skis, Trevisi is race-ready. 

“I’m very excited to see the race series return. Many years ago I participated when my schedule allowed me — I think in 2014 or 2015. I love a good friendly race of any sort. I love turning gates, and carving feels so good.”

She will be accompanied by her son, now in his first year with the Sun Peaks Racers Program. 

“It will be nice that he can see me participating in racing, too,” Trevisi said. 

Although she has not raced since starting a family, she is looking forward to the freedom of fast skiing. 

“When I did it many years ago, I was definitely one of the few ‘younger people’ — I would have been about 30,” she recalled. “I suspect I will still be in the younger category at 40 now, but hopefully it will be a good mix of skills and ages and the women show up.”

With no formal racing background or training, Trevisi is recommending the series to friends, customers and patients as a community-bonding activity. 

“I think it’s a great addition. It was already a successful event in prior years, and I remember tourists partaking in the past and loving it,” she said. “The after-awards was a fun way to mingle and share the love of the mountains with others.”

To help spread the word, she suggests distributing posters with QR codes to local businesses, directing customers straight to the registration page. 

“That way I could encourage many of my patients to challenge themselves and have fun with this new activity.”

Although racing purely for fun, Trevisi is getting race-fit with regular skiing, yoga and self-fascial release, and she is hoping her Rossignol Hero Carve skis will give her the edge.

Friday Race Days are Feb. 6, 13 and 27, March 6, 13 and 20 and finally, April 3. 

On each date, registration and bib collection will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. An open course inspection from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. will be followed by racing at 11 a.m. 

While the series is designed for participants, spectators are also welcome for both the on-hill action and the après-ski festivities. 

From 3 to 6 p.m. on race days, The Annex will host a Happy Hour with drink specials and its full regular menu. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m.

For more information, visit Sun Peaks Resort’s website. Registration is available at the Activities Desk in the Village Day Lodge breezeway, with a 10 a.m. deadline on Fridays.