What a season.

When the snow flies heavy in October and November, skiers and snowboarders get a jump on Canada's Best Snow.

That's just what happened this year, when 173 cm of pre-season powder allowed Sunshine Village to have its second-earliest start in 10 years, with a settled snow pack of 88 cm.

Mid-season conditions in November were just what the doctor ordered for enthusiasts, whose hearts were aching for some big mountain fun.

But the great news was just getting starting at Alberta's favourite ski and snowboard resort. On Dec. 3, the long-anticipated West Wing of the Sunshine Mountain Lodge debuted, instantly setting a new standard in luxury on-mountain accommodations -- with an environmental twist.

The spectacular Premiere and Loft Suites with their cozy in-floor heating and massive mountain views drew rave reviews from the lucky guests who were first to try them out.

January kept the excitement alive, which the arrival of some of Hollywood's most famous for the annual Celebrity Ski fundraising event for the Waterkeeper Alliance. Such notables as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Marcia Gay Harden, Alex Baldwin, Camryn Manheim, Justin and Margaret Trudeau and many other glitterati competed for prizes for a worthy environmental cause in the heart of Banff National Park on Sunshine's slopes.

Just as the celebs packed up, another star was on its way. The Olympic Flame, which had been traversing the country, made a special trip to Sunshine on the morning of Jan. 21, before continuing on its odyssey to Vancouver for the 2010 Games.

The Flame had special significance to Sunshine because the resort's owners and the Vancouver Olympic Committee had just announced they had received Parks Canada approval to relocate a new lift from the 2010 Games to Sunshine.

The new Strawberry 2010 high-speed quad will be the ninth super-lift at the resort when it begins operation this fall. It's the just the latest in more than $60 million in infrastructure investment at Sunshine in recent years. Installation has begun with the pouring of footings at the top of Strawberry, and will continue throughout the summer.

Sunshine is investing even more in services for their valued guests. This summer, the Bourgeau guest services building (with the clock tower) at the base is undergoing a massive renovation. It includes a handsome new exterior and complete reconfiguration of the interior space. Skiers and snowboarders will find improved takeout and sit-down restaurants, refurbished guests services area, and new retail space.

Mother Nature was once again kind to Sunshine fans in March, when massive spring snows helped our resort close out the season with a "pow". As other resorts closed their lifts, Sunshine was serving up prime conditions in our legendary "second season".

Sunshine once again thanks its faithful guests for another successful year, in which attendance far exceeded half-a-million visitors. We're investing that money in making our resort an even better experience next year.

Click here to view some photos from the '09/10 season