Skier Falls From Chairlift at Sunshine Village, Resort Confirms

An 18-year-old female skier was injured Sunday after slipping from a chairlift at Banff Sunshine Village, prompting an on-mountain medical response and an internal investigation by the resort.

Sunshine Village confirmed the incident occurred on the Wawa Chair on Sunday, December 21. According to the resort, the skier slipped from the chair during the ride and fell to the slope below. Online posts on Reddit later circulated photos and claims suggesting the fall was from a height of 40 feet, though Sunshine Village has not confirmed an estimated distance.

The skier was responded to on scene by Sunshine Village’s medical team, treated at the location of the incident, and transported down the mountain to the base area. Emergency medical services then transferred her to hospital. Sunshine said she left the mountain in stable condition.

“The patient was responded to on the scene by Sunshine’s medic team,” said Kendra Scurfield, Vice President of Brand and Communications at Banff Sunshine Village. “She was treated on site, transported down the mountain to the base where she was met by EMS, and then transported to hospital. She left the mountain in stable condition.”

Sunshine Village has not released additional details about the circumstances of the fall, including whether it was witnessed by lift operators or patrol staff. The resort confirmed it is conducting an internal review and investigation into the incident.

“Yes, Sunshine is conducting an internal review and investigation,” Scurfield said. “At Banff Sunshine, safety is our top priority. We are in the process of an investigation at this time.”

The resort has not indicated whether the fall was related to a mechanical issue, weather conditions, or rider behavior, and said it is still investigating the cause.

Chairlift falls are rare in modern ski resort operations, and Sunshine emphasized that such incidents are exceptionally uncommon. As the holiday period approaches, the resort said it is using the moment to remind guests about general mountain safety.

“Incidents like this are exceptionally uncommon,” Scurfield said. “At Sunshine it is our focus to provide a safe experience to all our guests. As we head into the holiday season, we do wish to remind guests to ski and ride with extra caution, including scouting runs, being aware of other guests, using proper safety precautions, and riding with proper safety equipment like helmets and goggles.”

The incident occurred during one of the strongest early seasons Sunshine Village has seen in recent years. The resort reports that December has delivered more than 200 centimetres of snowfall so far, with 96 centimetres falling in the past week alone. Total season-to-date snowfall now sits at 408 centimetres, with a settled base of 217 centimetres.

“All this snow is shaping the resort nicely and has allowed us to open all our lifts,” Scurfield said.

Sunshine Village currently has 109 runs open, including its Wild West extreme freeride zone. Access to the Wild West requires guests to carry avalanche safety equipment, including a transceiver, probe, shovel, and backpack, and to ride with a partner.

Looking ahead to the holiday period, Sunshine Village said it is also reminding guests about transportation options and seasonal programming. The resort continues to offer free daily shuttle service to and from Banff, which it says provides a safe option for guests planning to enjoy après-ski activities.

Sunshine Village said it will provide further updates if additional information becomes available following its investigation.