Ski New Mexico

Skiing and Snowboarding in the Land of Enchantment

Archives for December 2017

7 Fun Off-Mountain Activities

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A trip to a ski resort is fun for the entire family. Here are some activities sure to please everyone in the group.

Take the scenic route

The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway and the Ski Apache Gondola take visitors to the peak for a breathtaking view with protection from the cold. The tramway at Sandia Peak spans a distance of 2.7 miles and takes passengers to an observation deck more than 10,000 feet above sea level. The Gondola at Ski Apache heads straight to the Sierra Blanca Peak. Remember to stop for a drink at Yurt Café, surrounded by panoramic views.

Go tubing

Bring a tube of your own for a quick ride down a hill or head down the tubing lanes at Ruidoso Winter Park, Taos Ski Valley, and Angel Fire Resort. Each area offers a “magic carpet” so you can spend your time tubing instead of climbing! Be sure to check the websites for deals and height and age requirements.

Snowmobile

Heading out on a snowmobile gives you a chance to head off the beaten path and enjoy the mountains from a new perspective. There are opportunities for guided tours and snowmobile rentals at Taos, Angel Fire, Red River, and Ruidoso. This article is a great resource for planning a snowmobiling adventure in New Mexico.

Go Zip lining

The Ski Apache Wind Rider ZipTour gives riders a thrilling view of the slopes with an 8,890-feet course and speeds of up to 65 MPH. Visitors can opt to ride alone or with a partner and take a single leg of the zip tour or all three. Ski Apache offers a zip line adventure through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains lasting two to three hours. Visit each site to book in advance and check weight, age, and height requirements.

Have a Spa Day

Sunrise Springs Spa Resort offers a peaceful retreat from the cold in Santa Fe, and Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa in Ojo Caliente is the perfect place to relax after a long day. Both spas offer rejuvenating spa treatments and peaceful settings in nature.

Soak in the Culture

Each New Mexico town has its own unique culture and special attractions. A day spent downtown shopping could quickly turn into a historical and cultural excursion. If you’re in Santa Fe, hit the Plaza, a downtown area featuring Native American and Spanish markets, community gatherings, concerts, and more. For families visiting Sandia Mountain, Historic Old Town in Albuquerque is a great stop for shopping and authentic New Mexican cuisine. The Taos Plaza blends history and entertainment with shopping and monuments in the area. The Taos Pueblo, located about a mile north of Taos, features a pueblo built between 1000 and 1400.

Watch a torchlight parade

New Mexico ski areas work hard to create a good experience for visitors. Each area offers fun events, like Red River Ski and Summer Area’s Torchlight Parade and Fireworks. Every Saturday night of the season, skiers and snowboarders showcase their skills while riding down the mountain carrying torches while fireworks light the sky behind them. Taos Ski Valley and Angel Fire Resort also have torchlight parades and fireworks on holidays.

What are your favorite non-skiing activities during winter vacation? Comment below and let us some of the ways you stay #SkiNewMexicoTRUE!

2017-18 Holiday Events

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The holiday season is one of the best times to visit New Mexico to truly experience the state’s beauty, culture, and traditions.  Residents and tourists brave the cold weather to view and walk among the many light displays and celebrations.

These are some of the most spectacular family-friendly displays, worth a stop if you are in or traveling through New Mexico this holiday season!

IN SANTA FE

Christmas in the Plaza
Santa Fe’s historic plaza is aglow in lights and farolitos from Thanksgiving to New Years Day. Be sure to stop in Santa Fe on your way up to the ski areas to stroll around the plaza and through the surrounding streets of this historic city.

Christmas Eve Canyon Road Farolito Walk
December 24, 2017  @ 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Join the tens of thousands of people who turn out for this slow promenade in the heart of Santa Fe. Enjoy farolitos and carolers. Many of the galleries and restaurants are open; some serve hot drinks and offer a warm, welcome shelter from the cold.

IN ALBUQUERQUE

52st Annual Luminaria Tour
December 24, 2016
Take a self-guided tour through the Old Town plaza and several surrounding neighborhoods to view the city’s most impressive light and luminaria displays.(You can also stroll through Old Town any night of the month of December to see the picturesque white lights, but without the luminarias.)

River of Lights
Through December 30, 2016 @ 6:00 – 9:30 (Closed December 24 & 25)
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden hosts New Mexico’s largest walk-through light show featuring millions of twinkling lights.

If you are visiting NM to enjoy skiing or snowboarding for the holidays, there’s plenty of holiday cheer for the whole family at and around the ski areas as well. From Santa to fireworks, there’s something for everyone. Several ski areas host traditional torchlight parades. These breathtaking displays on the slopes of the mountains are celebrations put on by the host ski area and skiing community and are considered a gift to the visitors who attend.

SKI APACHE

Dummy Gelunde & Torchlight Parade with Fireworks
December 27 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Build your best snow-riding dummy, tie him to a pair of skis or a snowboard and watch him fly down the hill and off our giant ski launch! Then, hang out for our torchlight parade down the Capitan Trail followed by a spectacular fireworks show and more!

ANGEL FIRE

Ski and Snowboard with Santa
December 24 & 25 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Come ski and snowboard with Santa and Mrs. Claus on the mountain. Don’t forget a camera; this is one photo op you don’t want to miss. You can get a picture with Mr. and Mrs. Claus following this event in the Lodge Lobby too!

Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks
December 24 @ 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Bundle up the family and join us at the base of the ski mountain for our annual Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks.

New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks
December 31 @ 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Dress warm and join us at the base of the ski mountain for our annual New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks.

TAOS SKI VALLEY

New Year’s Eve Fireworks and Torchlight Parade
December 31 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Ring in the 2017 New Year in style with our torchlight parade and fireworks display. The night will kick off at 5:30pm with a laser light show. Then watch as skiers make their way down the mountain in the dark with flares as their only means of light. Don’t miss the spectacular fireworks display by Gemini Fireworks.

IN RED RIVER

Christmas Eve Fireworks and Torchlight Parade
December 23 @ 7:00 pm
See Red River ski area’s instructors, patrol, and local residents ski and snowboard down the mountain carrying flares. This beautiful show is a 45-plus year tradition and is accompanied by fireworks. The event is kicked off with a Rail Jam, where skiers and snowboarders can show off tricks and stunts.

New Years Eve Fireworks and Torchlight Parade
December 30 @ 7:00
Kick off your New Years celebrations on the FACE and enjoy this special parade the day before New Years Eve to get even more fun in this weekend!

Old Fashioned New Year’s Eve Party
December 31 @ 7:30-10:00 pm
The kids can celebrate New Year’s too! They’ll enjoy pizza, music, games, and can ring in the New Year when the countdown ball drops… at midnight Eastern Time!

SIPAPU

Christmas Eve Party
December 24 @ 5:00-8:00 pm
This annual party held in the historic lodge includes holiday music, warm fires, twinkling lights, an art project for the kids, and food and drink that are full of good cheer!

Snowmaking in New Mexico

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Ski New Mexico webcams show the snow so you know before you go

There’s plenty of snow on New Mexico’s ski slopes thanks to advanced snowmaking and grooming techniques.  When Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate New Mexico Ski Areas have the ability to take matters into their own hands and make more snow than ever before.  A significant amount of capital investment has been made in recent years into expanding snowmaking at New Mexico Ski Areas and with cooler temperatures we’ve been able to capitalize on our ability to make more snow and open more terrain for Skiers and Snowboarders.

To prove it, Ski New Mexico has created a page on its website that links to ski area webcams all across the state.  “Check out the webcam page at skinewmexico.com to see what’s happening on the slopes across New Mexico in real time,” says Brooks Executive Director of Ski New Mexico.   “We’re seeing the payoff of our ski areas continued investment in snowmaking equipment which on years like this insure that there will be good snow on the slopes.”

Snowmaking and Grooming Facts

With just a little cold weather, New Mexico’s ski slopes can be blanketed in white.

Around 28˚ F. is the “Magic Number” for Snowmaking

Depending on humidity and wind.  It can be a little higher if it is dry out and lower if it is very humid.  When the magic number is reached, you can be sure New Mexico ski areas are making snow.

Grooming is the Key

With the use of grooming equipment, ski areas can keep the snow on their slopes and withstand warm temperatures for a surprisingly long time.  It is not uncommon for some ski areas to have patches of snow on the slopes well into June.

Man-made Snow is More Dense and Durable

Ten inches of natural snow, when packed, usually adds only one inch of snow to the ski slope’s base while 10 inches of man-made snow adds seven inches of base.

The Perfect Snowmaking Conditions

For every 10-degree temperature drop, snowmakers can double the output of machine-made snow. The lower the humidity, the better for making snow.  If you add the temperature plus the humidity, that sum should equal less than 100 for favorable snowmaking weather.

View Our Webcams

 

Ski Free with Gildan Bowl Ticket

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Ski New Mexico Offers Free Lift Ticket With Purchase of Gildan New Mexico Bowl Ticket

Offer valid at eight New Mexico ski resorts December 17-24, 2017

Ski New Mexico, in association with the New Mexico Tourism Department, has partnered with the Gildan New Mexico Bowl to provide ticketholders an extraordinary opportunity to enjoy two New Mexico True experiences. From December 17-24, 2017, one bowl game ticket can be redeemed for a free lift ticket.

“I am very excited to partner Ski New Mexico with the Land of Enchantment’s premier annual sports event. It makes so much sense. The opportunity for our fans to be able to enjoy a great bowl experience and take in the beauty of New Mexico is very special,” said Jeff Siembieda, Gildan New Mexico Bowl Executive Director.

Ski Free at 8 NM Ski Areas

This offer is valid at one of Ski New Mexico’s eight great ski areas: Ski Apache, Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito Mountain, Red River Ski & SummerArea, Angel Fire Resort, Sipapu, and Sandia Peak. The Gildan New Mexico Bowl ticket must be presented in person at the ski area ticket office for redemption and must be used the same day as redeemed. Limit is one per person and there is no cash value or refund. Offer valid from December 17-24, 2017 only.

Buy Gildan NM Bowl Tickets

Gildan New Mexico Bowl tickets are on sale now at the UNM Ticket office, located in the Northeast corner of Dreamstyle Arena, online at www.unmtickets.com or www.gildannewmexicobowl.com or by phone at the UNM ticket office (925-5626) or the Gildan New Mexico Bowl office (925-5999). Discount codes ($5 off $25 North End Zone general admission or $10 off $40 premium bowl tickets) are also currently available on New Mexico Lottery Powerball®, Mega Millions® and Mega Millions® Just the Jackpot™ tickets through Friday, December 8.

The Gildan New Mexico Bowl is once again igniting the collegiate bowl postseason, playing on opening day as it has since 2008. For more details on the game visit Gildan New Mexico Bowl website.

Kickoff in Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M., is slated for Saturday, Dec. 16. It will air on ESPN and ESPN Radio at 2:30 p.m. MST (4:30 p.m. EST).

2017 Gildan New Mexico Bowl

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The field is set for the 12th annual Gildan New Mexico Bowl with the Colorado State Rams and the Marshall Thundering Herd accepting invitations. The game is slated for Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m. MT/4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Radio. The matchup pits the Mountain West member against the Conference USA member on the first day of the FBS bowl season.

Colorado State (7-5, 5-3 MW), is bowl-eligible for the fifth straight season after winning its first four league games earlier this season. It is the Rams third appearance in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, having won in both 2008 and 2013. CSU is led by four All-Mountain West First Team honorees including quarterback Nick Stevens, who ranks 11th in the country in passing yards, and wide receiver Michael Gallup, who is fourth in the nation in reception yards. Mike Bobo is at the helm of the Rams and has led them to a bowl game in each of his three seasons. 

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome CSU and their fans back to the Gildan New Mexico Bowl,” said Jeff Siembieda, Gildan New Mexico Bowl executive director. “The Rams have provided some unforgettable moments in our game in the past, their fans have been terrific and New Mexicans have loved having them here.”

Marshall (7-5, 4-4 C-USA), is bowl-eligible after a red-hot 6-1 start to the season. The Thundering Herd have the top rushing defense in Conference USA and second best scoring defense, allowing just 19.2 points per game. The Herd, who boast a five-game bowl win streak, is making their first appearance in the Albuquerque-based Bowl game. They are guided by Doc Holliday, who is a perfect 4-0 in bowl games as a head coach for The Herd. Marshall is 10-2 overall in bowl games and have won 10 of their last 11 dating back to 1998.

 “We have watched the Marshall football program with admiration from afar for years,” Siembieda said. “We are happy to welcome the Thundering Herd and their fans to New Mexico and we look forward to a great bowl week.  They are an exciting team with a fantastic fan base and we are thrilled to have Marshall in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.”

Tickets, which are on sale now, range from $25-40 and can be purchased at the University of New Mexico ticket office, located in The Pit, online at www.unmtickets.com, or by calling 505-925-LOBO.

Early Season Discounts

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The early bird gets the worm, the early booker gets great discounts at New Mexico ski resorts. For those of you looking for great deals or eager to hit the slopes, planning ahead can save time and money.

Red River Ski and Summer Area

Visiting Red River Ski and Summer Area during Deal Daze is a great way to save on a trip to the southern Rocky Mountains. Deal Daze are Dec. 1-3 and 8-10, 2017, and during those days, full-day lift tickets start at $38, and half-day tickets start at $28. Purchase tickets online.

Angel Fire Resort

Angel Fire Resort is offering the 25/25 Deal until Dec. 8. When you stay three nights and ski two days or more, you save 25 percent on lift tickets and lodging. The discount can be used between Jan. 7 and March 25. To learn more about the offer, visit the website. Book online or call 800-633-7463.

Taos

Snowsports weeks at Taos are one of a kind, literally. It is the only full-week program in North America where students meet for 2 hours six days in a row to improve their skills, learn more about skiing and snowboarding, and meet new friends. These become available December 10 and occur weekly throughout the season. There are different packages available depending on your interests and level. For example, beginners can learn quickly with the First Experience Snowsports Week. Click here to learn more about Snowsports Weeks at Taos.

Ski Santa Fe

A Snow Sports Passport at Ski Santa Fe is your ticket to savings all season long. Starting this season, every person who completes a lesson package at the Ski Santa Fe Snow Sports School will receive $25 off of an all-day lift ticket, $25 off of any lesson or package, and $15 off any ski and snowboard rental package. The sooner you go, the sooner you can save. For more information view their website.

 

So what will it be? A road trip to Red River for some Deal Daze fun? A stay in Angel Fire with family? A week-long excursion at Taos? Or improving your skills at Ski Santa Fe? Any option you choose, you’ll be saving money while enjoying winter sports. What could be better?