Taos Ski Valley opens to strong early season conditions

TAOS SKI VALLEY, NM – Taos Ski Valley, Inc (TSV) will open today to a 24-inch base and more snow forecasted for the remainder of the weekend. On opening day, Taos will open Lifts 1, 2, 3, 5, Pioneer, Zipper 1 and Rueggli covering 26 trails and 400 acres of terrain. Several marquee dining establishments will be open, and there will be live entertainment at The Martini Tree all weekend. The resort is offering skiers and snowboarders heavily discounted early season pricing, with full price day passes starting at just $48 for kids and $63 for adults. In addition to the early season snowstorms that have composed most of Taos Ski Valley’s base, the crews at the resort are hard at work making snow to help open more terrain.

The 2015-2016 season is shaping up to be one of the best ever at Taos Ski Valley. Building off of last season’s historic Kachina Peak Lift opening, visitors will see additional changes at the resort this season including improved terrain in the Wild West, Ernie’s/North American Glades, more snowmaking for better early conditions, and the progress that’s been made on the major renovations at the resort’s base area, including the development of a new world-class hotel, The Blake at Taos Ski Valley.

“We are particularly pleased with the progress of the hotel, which will be named The Blake, in honor of the family that built Taos Ski Valley and their legacy throughout Northern New Mexico,” said Taos Ski Valley’s CEO Gordon Briner. “Throughout this entire process it’s essential we remain true to our roots, and part of that is ensuring the Blake family name continues to be a vital part of the ski valley. Our gratitude to them is immense.”

The Blake is an 80-room lodging property that will host many new services including a spa and additional restaurants. The Blake is slated to open late fall of 2016.

In addition to the improvements evident in the ski valley, visitors this season will benefit from a variety of enhanced experiences at Taos Ski Valley including on-mountain events. Some of the largest events taking place at the ski valley this season include:

• K2 Women’s Ski Weekend (December 11 – 13)

• Holiday activities including torchlight parades on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve

• Not Forgotten Outreach Appreciation Week, celebrating active duty military, veterans family members (January 19 – 24)

• Internationally acclaimed Junior and Masters Freeride Qualifying and Championship tournaments (February 18 – 21, and March 3 – 5 respectively)

• K2 Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which includes the K2 Bumps Challenge and Paint for Peaks snowboard art auction (February 27)
There are many more activities and events ranging from wine festivals to on-mountain entertainment throughout the season.
Taos Ski Valley has also enhanced virtually all of its on-mountain and base areas dining. Taos Ski Valley has new menu options at several of its restaurants including more locally sourced and organic choices, and it also upgraded the interiors of many of the dining spaces, including the affordable Tenderfoot Katie’s at the base of Lift #1.

“Visitors will see changes designed to enhance and improve their visits, from new dining choices to the new Kachina Peak Lift – but the spirit of Taos Ski Valley will remain,” continued Briner. “That’s part of our vision here – to ensure that we retain the mystique, culture and uniqueness of this special place while continuing to ensure we keep pace as a world-class skiing and snowboarding destination. We think this season is shaping up to be one of the best ever.”