Photo credit: Reed Weimer, Red River Ski Area
As winter approaches, the excitement for skiing enthusiasts in New Mexico is palpable, and the anticipation is justified with the exciting improvements across the state’s renowned resorts. Let’s take a look at what each resort has in store for the upcoming season.
Angel Fire Resort: A Winter Wonderland for Families
Angel Fire Resort, is gearing up for an exceptional 2023-24 season. With a predicted heavy snowfall due to a strong El Niño, the resort is set to open its slopes on December 15, a week earlier than last year.
The star of the show is the upgraded, energy-efficient snow-making equipment that will ensure optimal conditions right from the start. Angel Fire Resort plans to extend its closing week, weather permitting, promising visitors an extended window to enjoy the winter wonderland.
But it’s not just about the skiing. The resort is expanding its winter activities to cater to everyone. From snowshoe hikes and stargazing tours to snowman-making contests and ice sculpture demonstrations, there’s something for every member of the family.
Taos Ski Valley: Elevating the Experience
Taos Ski Valley is elevating its game for the 2023-24 season with significant improvements. Lift 4 has been upgraded to a high-speed detachable quad, reducing ride time to under 5 minutes. Chair 4, accessing terrain in the Kachina Basin area, has been replaced with a Leitner-Poma high-speed detachable quad, enhancing the overall experience.
Pioneers lift has undergone an upgrade, complemented by the regrading of the Pioneers terrain, making it even more accessible for beginners. The return of The Martini Tree Bar adds a lively après-ski atmosphere, featuring live music, games, and delicious food and drinks.
Ski Santa Fe: Streamlined Experience with a New Ticketing System
Ski Santa Fe has invested ½ million dollars into a state of the art RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled ticketing and gate system. This automated system reduces the need for ticket scanners and mitigates skier/boarder wait time in chairlift lines.
In addition, Ski Santa Fe has increased their snowmaking capacity with the addition of more snowmaking guns bringing their total fleet to 42 snow guns.
Pajarito Mountain: Snowmaking Power and New Equipment
Pajarito is celebrating the return of water in its snowmaking pond after a dry spell. New demo snow fan guns and lances are ready to enhance snow quality, and a new snow groomer is set for delivery in December.
Red River Ski & Summer Area
As always Red River is upgrading and improving snowmaking system with 10 new automated snow guns. We are looking forward to opening the day before thanksgiving as we have for the past 40 years. Come watch fireworks and torchlight Saturday the 25th.
Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort:
is scheduled to be the first to open yet again in New Mexico on November 17, 2023. Our team has been hard at work renovating our hotel bathrooms, refreshing the paint and bedding, and renovating our historic casitas. In addition, we’ve cut a new double black trail, dubbed Dysfunction.
With these exciting improvements, New Mexico’s ski resorts are set to provide an unforgettable winter experience for visitors of all ages. Whether you’re a seasoned skier, a family looking for winter fun, or someone seeking après-ski entertainment, Ski New Mexico has something special in store for you in the 2023-24 season.
