Ski New Mexico

Skiing and Snowboarding in the Land of Enchantment

Archives for February 2020

Make the Most of Spring on the Slopes in New Mexico

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As the ski season nears an end, be sure you are making the most of this time of year. Check out these events scheduled in February and March at New Mexico Ski Areas. From adults only outings to family friendly competitions there is sure to be an event just right for you!

Angel Fire

Feb. 29, 2020
Friday Night Rail Jam USASA
Check out competitors performing amazing feats or test out your skills at the Friday Night Rail Jam!
Learn more here.

March 1, 2020
USASA Slopestyle Liberation Emancipation
Learn more here.

March 13, 2020
Friday Night Rail Jam
If you missed the Rail Jam in February, now is your time to see what it’s all about!
Learn more here.

March 15-19, 2020
Spring Break Music Fest
Whether you’re local or looking for a fun time during spring break, Angel Fire’s Spring Break Music Fest is the place for you!
Learn more here.

March 17, 2020
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Join us to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Remember to wear your green as you take in multiple festivities in the area!
Learn more here.

March 21, 2020
Chilly Bike Challenge
Compete in the first downhill bike race of the season at Angel Fire Resort!
Learn more here. 

March 22, 2020
Winter Season Closing Day
Don’t miss your last chance to ski at Angel Fire Resort this winter. Head out to closing day and ski or ride to close out another great season!
Learn more here.

Pajarito

Feb. 29, 2020
Rail & Refreshments
Compete in Pajarito’s first slopestyle competition or come as a spectator and enjoy delicious beverages!
Learn more here.

March 14, 2020
Skiesta
Head to Pajarito for a costume contest, themed skiing events, and live music! You’ll love taking part in this longstanding tradition.
Learn more here.

Red River

March 22, 2020
Pond Skim
Closing day is filled with activities at Red River. Join us for fan favorites, like the pond skim, where you attempt to slide over the water on your skis or snowboard!
Learn more here.

Sipapu

March 7, 2020
Moonlight Hike & Campfire
Get out in nature for an overnight adventure at Sipapu. You can gather with other adventurous souls for a moonlit hike and campfire. At Sipapu, you know s’mores are sure to be involved!
Learn more here.

March 15, 2020
17th Annual Cardboard Derby
No one does a cardboard derby like Sipapu. Get out as a spectator or compete for the top prize at the 17thAnnual Cardboard Derby!
Learn more here.

March 21, 2020
16th Annual Pond Skim Contest
Pond skimming is always an end of season favorite in New Mexico. Come to Sipapu’s family friendly event where you can join in the challenge or watch others compete for the winner’s title!
Learn more here.

Ski Santa Fe

March 28, 2020
March Madness – Gladfelter
Take part in a different kind of March Madness at Ski Santa Fe at the Annual Jeff Gladfelter Memorial Bump Run!
Learn more here.

Every Sunday 11:00 – 3:00 pm
Live Music at Totemoff’s
Make sure you stop by the Totemoff bar between 11am and 3pm to check out some live music. Set down your skis or board for moment and enjoy the local entertainment and refreshments on our deck. We will see you there!

March 29, 2020
Rail Jam
March Radness! Get your grind on, Sunday March 29, as Ski Santa Fe hosts the 5th annual Rail Jam. Snowboarders and Skiers of all ages will attempt to impress the judges with skill and style. Compete to win great prizes, entry is free! Learn more here.

April 4, 2020
Annual Slush Cup
Test your Pond Skimming skills from noon – 2:30pm at Totemoff’s or just join us for the show with live music. Costumes are encouraged and registration is free. Grab your skis or board and come enjoy the final weekend of the 2019/2020 Ski Season with our closing weekend festivities and live music with Pigment on the deck. Get more details.

Taos

Feb. 29, 2020
Wild Skills Junior Ski Patrol
Young women 8-17 can learn vital survival and first aid skills for experienced women ski patrol at this day camp!
Learn more here.

March 3-7, 2020
Taos Freeride Championships
Come out for New Mexico’s largest and most prestigious ski and snowboard competition as athletes from all over compete to get one step closer to making the Freeride World Tour.
Learn more here.

March 7, 2020
Founders Day Celebration & Fireworks
Celebrate the Taos Ski Valley founders with a torchlight parade, fireworks display, and even birthday cake!
Learn more here.

Rally in the Valley by Field Institute of Taos
Dress up in a costume and take part in a fun, silly on-mountain scavenger hunt! Sign up individually or with a team!
Learn more here.

April 10-12, 2020
World Pro Ski Tour World Championships
Taos Ski Valley is hosting the World Championships of the World Pro Ski Tour in April 2020! You won’t want to miss watching these incredible athletes!
Learn more here.

SKI APACHE

March 7-8, 2020
Vines in The Pines
This wine festival will feature countless wines to taste along with handmade goodies, live music, and local vendors!
Learn more here.

March 14, 2020
Chris Janson at Inn of the Mountain Gods  
Catch Chris Janson, an incredible country singer and songwriter, live in concert at Inn of the Mountain Gods!
Learn more here.

Celebrate Mardi Gras in the Mountains This Year

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Fat Tuesday is a special day in New Mexico, as it represents a blending of culture, tradition, and fun that brings many people together to have a good time. This year, make your trip to Angel Fire or Red River even better by taking part in some fantastic Mardi Gras celebrations.

Angel Fire

The Fat Tuesday celebration kicks off in Angel Fire well before Feb. 25 with Hal’s Pals Mardi Gras celebration beginning Feb. 21. Throughout the week, there are activities that will appeal to people of all ages with varying interests. See some of the things you can do below!

Meet and Greet Other Skiers
Meeting new people is always a fun part of vacation, and that is incorporated at the very beginning of the celebration. Come to the Village Haus from 3 to 5 p.m. for live music, cookies, cocoa, and great conversation.

Feast on King’s Cake 
King’s Cake is a Mardi Gras tradition dating back to the middle ages. Currently, it’s made of sweet dough, covered in frosting, and typically decorated in purple, green and gold. You can take part in a King’s Cake Pancake Breakfast at The Village Haus from 8 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 25. The only cost to you is $12 at the door!

Fiesta with a Singer from The Voice
Music is a lively part of the Mardi Gras tradition, and you can enjoy music in Angel Fire with a contestant from The Voice, Gyth Rigdon! (See him performing in the 2019 finale here.) The concert takes place 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Angel Fire Community Center. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

For a full list of Hal’s Pals Fat Tuesday activities with dates, times and locations, click here.

Red River

Red River has been celebrating Mardi Gras since 1992, said Shelby Werley, Executive Director of the Red River Chamber of Commerce, and this year promises even more fun for the community and visitors.

“We’ve pulled different traditions from different places in the world and combined them all to create what is Mardi Gras in the mountains in Red River,” Werley said. “It’s a really fun and unique event.”

Keep reading to learn more about some of the highlights and favorites!

Burn the Tchoupitoulas
Kick of the Fat Tuesday celebration at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Motherlode Saloon with a walk down Main Street leading to a massive bonfire. The flames engulf the Tchoupitoulas, which is a fictional character representing the celebration. While there, you can write down your worries and throw them into the fire. It might not be January, but it’s a perfect time for a new start! 

Watch the Parade
Werley cited the parade Saturday morning as a local favorite. Businesses and individuals participate in the parade with beautiful floats and throw candy and beads to onlookers. It begins at 4 p.m. on Main Street and is the perfect chance to get out before one of the nightly balls.

Dance the Night Away
“Every night we have a ball that is hosted at a different location, and then we also have a Cajun band that plays,” Werley said. For a full list of locations and times, you can visit the Red River Chamber of Commerce Mardi Gras in the Mountain page.Wherever you decide to celebrate, we hope you have a fun and safe time! Be sure to capture your memories and share them with the hashtag #skinewmexico. We can’t wait to see all the fun you have with friends and family alike.

Youth Ski Programs in New Mexico

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Developing new skills or honing existing ones is an important part of child development. In fact, novel experiences are shown to increase happiness and learning. Learning to ski or snowboard in a youth program is one way children can have a new experience, have fun, and develop a healthy skill they can carry with them, even into adulthood. Check out some of these youth programs across New Mexico your children are sure to love.

Sipapu 

Yeti Club
Children ages 5-12 will enjoy Yeti Club Children’s Ski School at Sipapu. They will be taught by professional instructors in the safest way possible. They work to make the program fun for children so the experience feels less like a chore and more like a game! Learn more here. 

Camp Bigfoot
Let your children ages 5-12 spend four Saturdays at Camp Bigfoot, giving them a complete, fun, introduction to skiing and snowboarding. The program is on Saturdays, Jan 25 – Feb 15, and ends with a giant bash called the February Fun Fest. Can’t commit to Saturdays? Try out the Pre-Spring Break Session, March 2-5. Learn more here. 

FREE Kids Season Passes
Sipapu wants every child to experience the joy of skiing and snowboarding, so every child 10 or under can receive a free season pass! They can use this pass at Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, Purgatory Resort, Snowbowl, Nordic Valley, Hesperus, and Spider Mountain during the 19/20 winter season. It costs nothing to you, and you can enjoy it for the rest of the year! Fifth graders also ski free at Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area and Hesperus. Learn more here. 

Pajarito

Camp Bluebird
Children can learn and develop skills in a low pressure environment at Camp Bluebird on Pajarito Mountain. In four sessions, they’ll be introduced to snow sliding and skill development, all while having an enjoyable time with trained instructors and peers. For less than $200, your children ages 5-12 will get four full-day classes lasting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. with an hour lunch break at noon. These classes take place on Saturdays from Jan. 25 to Feb. 15. Learn more here.

FREE Kids Season Passes
As with Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort, children 10 years and young, as well as fifth graders can get a free season pass at Pajarito Mountain! That means no paying for lift tickets any time you want them to practice their skills! The 10 and under season pass can be used at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, Purgatory Resort, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, Snowbowl, Nordic Valley, Hesperus, and Spider Mountain for the rest of 2020. The fifth-grader pass can be used at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, and Hesperus. Learn more here.

Ski Apache

Adaptive Sports
Everyone should be able to enjoy snowsports. That’s why a continuum of services for individuals with disabilities is offered at Ski Apache. Through this program students of any age with a permanent disability can enjoy winter sports with alpine and snowboarding disciplines. With the help of trained instructors using specialized equipment, it is sure to be a fun and safe time!

Taos Ski Valley 

Winter Ski Program
Children in pre-k, all the way to seniors in high school can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and alpine sports at Taos Ski Valley. Programs at Taos give children and teens the opportunity to enjoy winter sports. For those with disabilities or financial challenges, the TWIST and LIFT programs. So far, more than 950 local school children are participating. Now is the time for you to join! Learn more about lessons and programs here.

Sandia Peak Ski

Youth Program
Children across New Mexico and the Albuquerque metro have enjoyed the Children’s Program at the Sandia Peak Snow Sports School. Children 4 through 12 can partake in group ski lessons, and children 8 through 12 can learn snowboarding in a protected teaching area. There is a separate lift, a warming hut where they can warm up, and even bathrooms especially for program students. Learn more here.

Ski Santa Fe

Youth Programs
Ski Santa Fe makes an effort to invest in local youth as well as visitors, with multiple learning options, from single private lessons to six-week programs. Fifteen local schools as well as Rez Riders participate in ski and snowboard activities to help children take part in an active, enjoyable experience. Learn more here.

Adaptive Ski Program
Children of many ages and abilities can participate in snowsports at Ski Santa Fe. Adaptive Ski and snowboard lessons are available for children five and olders. They can participate in half-day, full-day, or multi-day lessons that run from January to March. At Ski Santa Fe, lesson fees include lift tickets, and you can schedule a lesson at any time during the season! Learn more about adaptive sports in NEw Mexico here.

Are you ready to hit the slopes with your children? New Mexico ski areas offer a variety of fun activities for the family sure to make your trip to the mountains an enjoyable and memorable one for everyone involved!