Paintball Opens at Silver Star Resort

silver star paintball

Test your skills in stealth and marksmanship at Silver Star's newest summer activity. The super-messy game of paintball is the ultimate team-bonding activity or just plain adrenaline-pumping to take part in on your own.

How to Play Paintball

A game of paintball usually involves two teams competing to take-out the opposite team's players, one-by-one. Depending on the chosen course, players will find cover behind trees, buildings or other objects. There's no cheating and no need for referees. Players who've been struck will display their wounds in the the form of big, bright, blobs.

Each player is equipped with a "hopper" hooked to a compressed air tank that shoots balls of paint. It's also mandatory to wear safety gear including goggles, a mask and often body armour to prevent injury when hit.

You're likely thinking that this sounds pretty violent or dangerous. Not the case. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, paintball reports the fewest injuries of 26 ranked sports (even running is more dangerous!).

Who Will Enjoy Paintball?

Does what you're reading excite you? If it does, you'd probably enjoy paintball. Due to the team component of the game, groups may get more out of it than a single person joining in. Think about it. It's fun to strike another player, but imagine blasting your boss. Or your big brother. Or your smack-talking friend. Or... well, you get the idea.

Anyone 12 years or older can play paintball at Silver Star.

Silver Star Paintball Courses

Choose between three challenging courses:

Wild Woods - Sneak around amoungst the shady cover of Silver Star's sub-alpine forest. Can you see your opponent through the trees? Then shoot him!

The Old West - Experience the thrill of a wild west shoot-out. This abandoned western town-themed course will have players playing sheriff and taking out the bad guys.

The Bone Yard - Ever wondered where chair lifts go to die? Find the Old Yellow Chair and Town Tee along with other resort relics scattered around this course.

When to Go, What you Need and How to Book

Silver Star paintball opens June 26 and runs Thursday to Sunday until September 1. The rest of September will see weekend-only openings. Hours of operation are noon to 8pm.

Bring your own gear or rent everything. Paintball is relatively inexpensive. For those with equipment, all-day play and 500 paint balls will cost $25 - 30 (with the option to add unlimited air for $10). Need gear? A two-hour battle with everything you need will run you $40 - 45.

Make sure to reserve early as space is limited. Reservations can be made by phone at (250) 558-6010 or you can try your luck at a drop-in booking by visiting the ticket office in Ski Dazzle.

Need a Big Place to Host Your Team?

Find great summer deals on Silver Star Ski Resort accommodation for your next vacation. Splitting the cost of a larger rental home or condo amoungst your group can save you a lot of money versus booking multiple hotel rooms. Spend the money you saved on accommodations on extra ammo. Just remember to leave the paint on the course!

Avoid the End-of-Ski-Season Blues - Discover Summer Ski Resort Activities

whistler white water rafting

Across Canada, skiers are shedding their outer layers and the snow has begun to return to its liquid form. For the snow bunny, its time to lapse into temporary hibernation. However, as you stuff your winter gear beside that dusty exercise equipment, just remember: summer is here! Snow may be seasonal, but many Canadian ski resorts are open year-round.

It's not too late to visit one of Canada's fabulous ski resorts for a plethora of summer activities!

Why Summers are Spectacular at Ski Resorts

Many ski resorts offer year-round activities and events to suit all summer adventurers, sightseers and sports enthusiasts.

Here's a taste of why vacationing at a ski resort in the summer is unbeatable:

Discounted Accommodation Rates: Find your own mountainside get-a-way in a number of luxurious properties for much lower rates than during ski season.

Develop a New Summertime Hobby: Most ski resorts offer summer activities for all fitness levels and interests. Try horseback riding, mountain biking, bungee jumping, white water rafting, canoeing, hiking, sightseeing, wilderness tours, and much, much more!

Avoid the Ski Season Crowds: Visit and explore Canada's ski resorts in the summer without the large winter crowds.

Admire the Views in the Sunshine: Canada's magnificent mountain ranges never go out of season. Journey to new heights to breathe in fresh mountain air and soak in the natural beauty of your surroundings.

Partake in a Special Summer Event: Most ski resorts never close their doors to visitors. This means year-round events to match every season. Special events for 2008 include the Pemberton Festival (Whistler), Kokanee Crankworx (Whistler), Tremblant International Blues Festival (Mont Tremblant), Canada Day Celebrations and wine festivals (Silver Star, Sun Peaks).
sun peaks golfing

Discover Summer Activities at These Resorts:

Find Summer Ski Resort Accommodation Deals

Search or browse through hundreds of summer accommodation options in Sun Peaks, Silverstar, Mont Tremblant, Whistler, Fernie, Panorama, or Kicking Horse. Book on-line with property owners, save time, and get back outside to enjoy the sunshine!

Winter In June? Silver Star Resort Hit With Weekend Flurries

snowboardOn par with the unseasonably low temperatures BC has experienced this spring, the weather decided to cough up a surprise this past weekend in the interior.

As Global TV reported:

[Vernon] was hit with flurries during the weekend with more than 15 cm measured in the surrounding mountains and 10 cm at nearby Silver Star Mountain Resort.

"We knew it was coming but we were waiting for rain, not the white stuff," resort spokeswoman Anne Haight said. "We've been skiing out here Monday. We've never experienced snow in June before. It's really odd."

The resort just opened Saturday in mid-20s temperatures, Haight said. On Monday, the overnight resort, popular for its summer dirt bike trails was forced to close when temperatures dropped below zero.

Haight said trees have been knocked down by the weight of the snow and that nearby roads are covered in wet slush.

Chalk the event up to a random act of Mother Nature? Or another reason to act on human-caused climate change?

Either way, you could book your Silver Star accommodation on the fly and hit the slopes before the week is out.