Face shots in May

Doc Pow

Brandon Boucher and Mike Moynihan experience a little calm before the storm that is the Delirium Dive. DOC POW/SnowSeekers

BANFF, AB – For me, scoring powder shots in May is better than any other time of the season. When all your classmates or colleagues have long since hung up their skis or boards for the season, you're walking back on campus or into the office sportin’ a perma grin and goggle tan.

Such adventures are awaiting you all May courtesy of Banff's Sunshine Village. If you're up for it, get into the Delirium Dive. No scuba gear required. However, you may want to pack your snorkel.  

The Shine, as it’s locally known, is home to a wealth of killer terrain. Knowing that this might be our last trip of the season, Director of Photography Brandon Boucher and I stepped it up and made a trip into the famous Dive.

The home for the hardcore

When the Delirium Dive is mentioned, more than a few hairs will stand up on the back of people's necks. It plays home to a wealth of diamond and double diamond terrain. Found up top of the Continental Divide Chair, the Dive is a special place that can satisfy the hardcore powder and vertical seekers. 

Who knew that, in May, one could still get in some unbelievable skiing and riding? I checked the calendar twice just to make sure that it was in fact May, and not the middle of January. Parts of Western North America are still getting hammered with snow and Sunshine Village is one of them. Sunshine was blessed with 7 cms of white gold the night before Mike Moynihan joined Brandon and I for our Delirium Sunday.

Brandon Boucher, on one of the best days of his boarding life, came away with from Sunshine with stories to tell. DOC POW/SnowSeekers

“I have been skiing in the Dive for years and years, and still come through here and find new lines or snow adventures,” explained Moynihan, a Banff local. “The lines and the opportunities through here are incredible.” 

Cheating the system

We put to the Moynihan's testament to the test by allowing Moynihan to take us for a spin. After dropping in off Bre-X, which allows for novices to get into the Dive easily, we rocked out onto $$Bucks which is this wicked steep and home to some blower pow.

Scoring face shots in May feels like you are cheating the system a bit, squeaking out just a whole bunch of glory when it seems like it should be over.

And for those who may think it’s just a bit too much for them, they need to get up there on a Sunday for Delirium Sunday’s. Rally with a great group of people led by an instructor from the ski or board school who will introduce the group to a whole new world.  

Be that person with the goggle tan, sportin' the perma grin. Everyone will be jealous of you.

For more information on Sunshine Village and the Delirium Dive, visit www.skibanff.com. 

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