Section Contents - Quick Links

• 1 - Sun Peak's Announces $10 Million in Resort Improvements

• 2 - Red Resort Reborn in Rossland, B.C.

• 3 - Big White and Silver Star Part of Western Canada's "Must Ski" Resorts

• 4 - Silver Mountainin Is Idaho's Rising Star

SUN PEAKS ANNOUNCES $10 MILLION of RESORT IMPROVEMENTS

SUN PEAKS, BC (Western Canada) – This past summer, Sun Peaks Resort announced $10 million of capital expenditures that will affect all areas of the resort’s summer and winter operations. The additional capital projects are part of the $285 million included in Phase 2 of Sun Peaks’ four-phase master development agreement.

“The resort’s success to date and the formula that drives Sun Peaks forward is a vision of quality and sustainable development,” explained Darcy Alexander, Vice President and General Manager of the Sun Peaks Resort Corporation. “Sun Peaks will continue to develop with the goal of adding facilities to our world-class resort destination. This year’s planned capital expenditures are consistent with our long term vision.”

The capital expansion planned for this year includes both recreational and real estate projects.

The recreational capital projects represent approximately 40 percent of the total $10 million in capital improvements planned with real estate capital projects making the balance.

As part of a separate development, Sun Peaks Resort will become the site of Western Canada’s first Ice Palace Hotel scheduled to open in December 2005.

Also, the resort’s popular Icewine Festival will be expanded to five days for next season and will take place from Jan. 18 – 22, 2006.

For more Ice Palace info, please visit www.icepalacehotel.com.

For more Sun Peak’s info log on to Sun Peak’s web site at www.sunpeaksresort.com or call 1-800-807-3257.

RED RESORT IS REBORN IN ROSSLAND, B.C.

ROSSLAND, BC (Western Canada) — Red Resort, Canada’s oldest ski resort, is located only three miles north of the town of Rossland, B.C. The town is known as Canada’s “Alpine City,” in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. Rossland was recently voted as Canada’s best ski town by Ski Canada Magazine and one of the continent’s top adventure towns by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

Classic Town

Rossland, whose local golf course has a rope tow to help golfers reach a green, is widely known for its rugged outdoor adventure with small-town warmth and hospitality. This extends seamlessly into Red’s reservations and visitors’ services staff who are ready to provide inside tips on Red’s secret stashes powder or the best place to enjoy a gourmet meal in Rossland. This unique combination of visitor assets has made Red and Rossland a “must visit” among North American travelers seeking to enjoy all that British Columbia’s natural surroundings have to offer.

Rossland, which claims only 3,500 year-round residents, has been considered for decades something of a “best kept secret” among skiers and riders who come to Red for its bountiful powder, varied terrain and uncrowded slopes. But recently, this area has begun a progressive, positive transformation that is already raising Red’s reputation, and that of Rossland, as one of the top wintertime and off-season destinations among recreational and casual travelers from around the world.

Ultimate Destination

In early 2005, Red started a 15-year resort development effort that will provide up to 1,400 ski-in/ski-out resort residences as well as a host of restaurants, retail shops, commercial services and on-mountain family-oriented activities at Red’s base area. Red has already expanded its on-mountain Paradise Lodge and installed a beginner lift for novice skies and riders. The resort is currently planning a new, 300-acre beginner ski area, which, starting next season will be the first expansion of future ski terrain at Red Resort. At that time, Red will also open a new luxury condominium project at the base of Red Mountain. Several other on-mountain lodging projects at Red are being planned for development soon.

A number of new visitor improvements have already been made in Rossland that visitors to Red will find attractive during the winter and summer months. These include the addition of the Prestige Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Rossland, formerly the Uplander Hotel. It opened this summer after renovating all existing guest rooms and other hotel facilities and is now able to host conferences for up to 300 participants. And Caldera, Rossland’s only day spa, is under renovation at its new location in Rossland’s downtown core. It offers a wide range of spa services for visitors to the area.

Red Alerts!

Big Red Cats this season will begin offering visitors to Red access to more than 18,000 acres of powder-filled backcountry terrain through its new guided cat-service located just 10 minutes from the resort’s base area. Led by ex-Australian Ski Team member Kieren Gaul, Big Red Cats is available to intermediate, advanced and expert skies and riders. Additional information and reservations are available at www.redresort.com or by calling toll-free 1-877-969-7669.

Red’s Terrain Park, opened last winter, has been improved to include several new features for skiers and riders of various skill levels. The six-acre, 1,739-footlong park, the only of its kind in the West Kootenay region, boasts 15 rails, and a wide assortment of funboxes, tabletop jumps, and others fun, cool park elements. The park is a product of Jeff Patterson, one of North America’s top terrain-park designers.

Red’s Special-Event Schedule has also been fortified with several exciting new spectator and social activities, including the BC Winter Games (Feb. 23-26), the Trans Global Winter Adventure Race (Mar. 17-19) and the Slush Cup and Dummy Downhill (Apr. 2), to name a few. More information is available at www.redresort.com. The Red Express Shuttle, which last season began offering complementary round-trip ground transportation between Red Resort and Spokane International Airport, will be available this winter for visitors flying into several southeastern British Columbia airports, including those in nearby Kelowna, Castlegar and Trail. And, through Red’s new airline partner, Northern Hawk Aviation Ltd. (www.northernhawk.com), the resort will begin offering this winter round-trip service between Trail Regional Airport and the Vancouver International and Vernon Regional Airports. More information is also available at www.redresort.com.

Seeing Red Resort at-a-Glance

Red Resort, in southeastern British Columbia, is 10 minutes north of the Canada/US. border within the community of Rossland and five minutes from the downtown core.

For more info about Red Resort, please call 1-877-969-7669 or log on to www.redresort.com or e-mail at info@redresort.com.

You can also log on to Red’s web site from an easily found link on the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

BIG WHITE and SILVER STAR

PART of CANADA'S "MUST SKI" RESORTS

KELOWNA, BC (Western Canada) — Big White Ski Resort and Silver Star Mountain Resort are conveniently located in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley with easy access via the Kelowna International Airport, the gateway to the Okanagan and have been rated North America’s #1 family resorts.

With more than 23 feet of light, dry, Okanagan powder falling from the heavens every year, Big White and Silver Star can truly say they have some of the best skiing and snowboarding that you will ever experience. Every night the perfect groomed corduroy carpet is rolled out on the long, rolling, cruiser runs. You can weave your way through acres of tree skiing, challenge yourself on the newly lift serviced steep terrain of the Cliff area at Big White or spend the day exploring the new $5.5-million area of Silver Woods at Silver Star.

Imagine a place where snow is piled high on the roof tops, service means being greeted with a smile, and your room at the end of the day is as comfortable as you have envisioned. For true convenience, you can choose from a wide variety of ski-in/ski-out hotels, condominiums and luxury vacation chalets. After skiing right to your door, follow the lit pathways to the restaurants and pubs, or stay home and relax first, in your own private hot tub and then by the fire.

For this season at Big White, 14 trails in Gem Lake have received over 300,000 cubic meters of organic fill, which adds up to many rock-truck loads. All was part of a significant summer slope maintenance program. This will allow these trails to open earlier in the season.

The revamped Big White Kids Centre offers new day-care services and there is a brand-new kids indoor climbing wall. The accommodations at Big White continue to grow with 1,000 more beds opening this season, and Carvers Restaurant, serving quality food in a great atmosphere, will open at the Inn at Big White.

At Silver Star, make certain to visit the new Silver Woods area, which increases the Vance Creek terrain by 54 percent. There are 10 new trails that have perfect fall-lines, deep, powder snow and you can ski through the five new glade ski areas, past the big pine trees, in the silent forests. A new express quad lift will get you to the top in less than five minutes.

The focus is always on the family at Big White and Silver Star and there are many great activities after a day on the slopes. Bring everyone together for sliding downhill at the snow tubing parks or for skating, or hockey, on the frozen outdoor pond. There are fireworks extravaganzas, kids carnival nights, family bingo and many other events every night of the week. If you want to relax, you can try one of the two on-mountain day spas, or enjoy an evening at one of the many restaurants, bars and pubs.

Get away, take a break, relax and enjoy the freedom. It is always Big White Ski Resort and Silver Star Mountain Resort for the best ski and snowboard vacation with your family and friends.

For more information on these two great western Canadian resorts, for Big White please call 1-800-663-2772, or log on to www.bigwhite.com; for Silver Star please call 1-800-663-4431, or log on to www.skisilverstar.com.

You can log on to either web site from an easily found link on the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

SILVER MOUNTAIN IS NORTHERN IDAHO'S RISING STAR

KELLOGG, ID — When most skiers think of Idaho they think of Sun Valley, the classic ski resort located in the southern part of the state. Silver Mountain is now developing the base of their great terrain into a great four-season destination resort, giving skiers another Idaho resort to consider. With convenient access off Interstate 90, getting there is easier than any other resort in the northern part of the state.

It began as Jackass Ski Bowl in 1968 and now Silver enjoys its colorful past as it sets the backdrop for today’s ski vacation experience. The search for gold, silver and lead in the Silver Valley began in the 1880’s shortly after Noah Kellogg’s jackass kicked a rock that turned out to be a large chunk of silver. That discovery became the Bunker Hill Lode, which eventually became Idaho’s largest mining operation. Today it is home to some of the finest skiing in the beautiful Northwest.

Where miners once dug for gold and silver, you can mine you own powder or relax on a beautifully groomed trail. Once a rough and tumble mining community, Kellogg now caters to the outdoor enthusiast.

The ski resort features 67 named trails, plus glades on nearly 1,600 acres. The network of lifts, a quad, two triples, two doubles and the world’s longest Gondola, access terrain that is 20 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent advanced and 10 percent expert. Combine that mix with their “Grooming Guarantee,” and it makes for an unbeatable day on what is genuinely one of skiing best-kept secrets.

This mountain stood awaiting the amenities that would match the on-hill experience. That day has come. Silver Mountain is expanding with plans to become a premier fourseason destination community. Developing now at the base of the gondola are new shops, residences and restaurants in a pedestrian village. Morning Star Lodge, “The Heart of It All,” was their first offering and it sold out in four days. On the mountain, they will add new high-speed lifts and more terrain.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, Silver Mountain celebrated the start of construction on their new indoor water park at the resort’s Gondola Village. The approximately 55,000-squarefoot facility will feature several water slides, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a FlowRider surf wave and other major aquatic attractions. The water park is projected to open in December 2006.

“This will be a recreational amenity unlike anything at any resort in the United States,” said Jerry Andres, president and CEO of Eagle Crest and Silver Mountain Resort. “This project will not only put Kellogg on the map, but also allow Silver Mountain to operate 365 days a year and compete as a national destination.” Andres added that the company is looking for construction help in all phases of the resort’s projects, which will add to the local economy.

As the future unfolds, Silver Mountain’s comprehensive master plan for the next five years includes the highly-anticipated real estate release and construction of new phases of the Morning Star Lodge, an expanded Village Plaza, master planning and likely real estate release within the new golf course community, and a complete remodel of the Gondola Base Lodge.

The Gondola Village will feature new shops, meeting facilities, restaurants and an entertainment plaza. Beyond extensive expansion and construction at the base area, the resort also has many on-mountain improvements planned. These include new high-speed chairlifts, new trails and a state-of-the-art snowmaking system.

“This is the new Silver Mountain,” said Marketing Director, Stephen Lane. “The planning and vision will take this resort to levels beyond what could have been imagined.”

About Silver Mountain Resort

Rated by Ski Magazine as one of “Skiing’s Biggest Secrets,” Silver Mountain Resort is taking the next step in an exciting evolution to a multi-season destination resort. Two of the most respected companies in the Pacific Northwest are leading Silver Mountain’s historic transformation. Eagle Crest® and JELD-WEN® enjoy a proven track record of creating successful resort communities and are committed to the vision of the new Silver Mountain Resort.

Located right off northern Idaho’s I-90, Silver Mountain Resort is easily one of the nation’s most accessible four-season destinations. The resort’s Gondola Base Lodge is only minutes off the interstate, and an hour’s drive east from downtown Spokane, WA.

Offering 1,500 acres and 67 trails of varying terrain, over 300 inches of snow annually, and over 2,000 vertical feet of the region’s finest skiing and snowboarding, Silver Mountain Resort also serves as a popular summer destination for world-class mountain biking, scenic rides on the world’s longest gondola, concerts, and cool alpine escapes to a high-mountain playground.

For more details on how you can enjoy the present day or be part of Silver’s future, please call, 1-800-204-6428 on log on at www.silvermt.com.

You can also log on to Silver Mountain’s web site from an easily found link on the right side of the homepage of ww.skiernews.com.