By Ski NM Admin
Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort will celebrate the grand opening of its newest lift this Saturday morning and resort officials announced that they will extend the festivities next week with FREE lift tickets for kids and teens.The resort’s first quad (a chairlift that can accommodate four guests per chair) started turning on November 25, not long after Sipapu became the first ski area to open in New Mexico. Sipapu’s November 14 open date was the earliest opening in recent history and marked the 13th consecutive time the Taos-area resort clenched the state’s “first to open” title.Mountain manager John Paul Bradley says there’s a lot to celebrate with the new lift.“We have dreamed and talked about this new lift for years, and it’s been incredible to see skiers and snowboarders enjoying it,” said Bradley. “This is a celebration first and foremost for our guests, but also for our staff and the team of people who worked relentlessly to see its successful completion.”The grand opening will include a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m., a special event with the Santa Fe Ski Team and free tips by Sipapu’s professional staff of ski and snowboard instructors.The quad is the sixth lift at Sipapu and the third new lift in five years at New Mexico’s fastest growing resort. Carrying guests 330 vertical feet and servicing popular beginner trails including Bambi and Lower Bambi, the new lift is ideal for beginners or those guests looking to brush up their skills – and especially for families.“Virtually everything about this lift is family-friendly, even down to the seating arrangements,” Bradley said. “Now a mom, a dad, and two kids can all ride on the same chair.”As part of the celebration, resort officials announced that kids and teens ages 20 and younger will receive a FREE lift ticket with an adult lift ticket purchase. This offer is available Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18.Sipapu is open for daily operations, and four of the mountain’s six lifts are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Sipapu is reporting an 18” base and currently has 20 trails open. Lift tickets start at $15 for kids and $20 for adults. For more information, visit www.SipapuNM.com.