Sun Peaks Resort is hoping to win a $100,000 prize in a national competition that is looking to find the country’s most invested ski community.

Director of Communications, Christina Antoniak, says if chosen as the winner of the Mackenzie Top Peak competition, Sun Peaks will use its winnings to build a permanent ski cross course in its terrain park.

“Every year we have to rebuild it by snow,” Antoniak said on NL Mornings. “It takes millions of gallons of water and machine time and resources to get this course up and running. We can’t get it up and running until January.”

“We have been entered into [the competition] by a local group. It’s a freestyle club and alpine ski club and what it would mean for us is $100,000 towards building the course. It is enough funds to build that course permanently.”

The fourth annual Mackenzie Top Peak competition “encourages” teams across the country to showcase their dedication to their hills, while also giving Canadians a chance to vote for who they believe is Canada’s most invested ski community.

“With this year’s Mackenzie Top Peak competition, we’re celebrating the magic and wonder of the ski season while encouraging Canadians to think about a sustainable future for the sport they love,” Luke Gould, the President & CEO of Mackenzie Investments said, noting there may be bonus points for environmentally mindful projects.

“Top Peak is not just a competition, but also a rallying cry to encourage communities to think about skiing through a sustainability lens.  We want skiers coast-to-coast to champion environmentally conscious initiatives to help ensure they can be invested in their favourite winter sport for generations to come.”

While the winner takes home $100,000 to invest in their community, the second and third place finishers earn $20,000 and $10,000, respectively.

“So if people can check out that Mackenzie Top Peak and give us a vote, we would really love to see Sun Peaks move into the top ten round,” Antoniak said.

People can vote online until the end of this week, after which the top ten resorts will move on to a final round of voting where the top three finishers will be determined.

The winner of Mackenzie Top Peak competition will be announced on March 9.