Snow In Taos Ski Valley, Already!

Well it wasn't a huge early snowfall, but the clouds rolled into the southern Rocky Mountains and snow actually fell at Taos Ski Valley this week. It was a sight to see, and I'm pretty sure I heard the sound of powder-hounds barking during this first light storm.

A common misconception is that the southwest Rocky Mountains don't get as much snow as Colorado, but here is proof that the snow starts flying just as early (as Colorado recently reported their first snow too). Taos Ski Valley is known for some of the lightest powder in snow country and it looks like this year is getting an early start.

We found some great deals for this season, including 4th Night Stay Free Ski Packages. Everyone is gearing up for another great season (last year was fairly epic!) Check back with us. We'll be sure to let you know what's going on in Taos Ski Valley!

Bud Light Southwest Pond Skimming Championship Hits Taos...

What a long great season it has been! Lots of snow, lots of events and lots of fun. Closing weekend is upon us at Taos Ski Valley and that means the grand-daddy of all the crazy events is set to take place; The Bud Light Southwest Pond Skimming Championship. The party/event splashes down on Strawberry Hill in the base area in Taos and is a can't miss, especially when the "freaks" come out.

What is a Pond Skimming event you ask? Imagine a man-made lake (also known as "Lake Blake") that is approximately 80 feet long filled with icy blue water. The object is to gain enough speed make it across the pond and stay dry. Of course, as this event is meant to entertain, not everyone makes it across and they end up a soggy mess! See exhibit A to the right!

Judges will be giving extra points for costumes, style and distance. Style usually plays a big part in the crowds minds with past years favorites being "Darth Vador", a nearly naked boy, a nearly naked girl and of course there are always the cross-dressers!

The event runs from 2:30 - 5:00 PM and registration ($10 entry fee) will be at the TSV administrative offices.

So summon your inner "Aqua Man" and break out your best Halloween costume and get to Taos this weekend. We still have some great deals to get you there. Check out our hot deals section!

Red Bull 1976 Olympics Qualifier Coming to Taos Ski Valley

TAOS, NM – March 3, 2009 – On March 15th Taos Ski Valley and Red Bull will team up to host one of the seven throwback qualifying events for the upcoming Red Bull 1976 Olympics.

The Red Bull 1976 Olympics will pay homage to the 1976 Winter Games that were awarded to Colorado. Voters in Colorado later voted against hosting the games, even though the state had initially fought hard to be the host. Red Bull 1976 Games brings the games back to Colorado to finally "give the year 1976 its day". The culmination of the qualifiers will be in the main event April 17-18 in Copper Mountain, Colorado.

The Olympics and the qualifying events at Taos and elsewhere include a range of vintage-themed competitions including Snowbladecross and the Old School Air competition and an award for most outrageous costume and team mojo. There will be no snowboarding allowed in these events, as it was not yet an Olympic sport in 1976.

"We are excited to work with Red Bull to bring this throwback inspired event to Taos Ski Valley," said Alejandro Blake, Taos Ski Valley Special Events Director. "Red Bull consistently sponsors fun and innovative events and we know this retro qualifier will draw a great group of contestants to Taos."

Teams for the ‘76 games will be made up of five competitors donning their best ‘70s-style skills, clothing and gear. The winning team from the Taos qualifier will be awarded a free trip to the finals at Copper Mountain. The second and third place teams from Taos will also be invited to the finals.

To sign your team up for the Red Bull 1976 Olympics or learn more about the event go to www.redbullusa.com/1976games. Or contact Hendrick Onderdonk at 505.730.9486 or hendrickonderdonk@redbullu.com

Salomon New Mexico Extreme Freeride Championships...

It's coming soon! The Salomon New Mexico Freeride Championships are slated to hit Taos Ski Valley March 4-7, 2009. This blog isn't really to tell you what it is as much as it is meant to give you a recount of some of my memories of years past. If you want to know more about the competition, click here.

My most vivid memory of the competition was in the first year back in 2005. I was volunteering to help with the event and pretty much did whatever was needed from set up, to break down to clearing the shoots after a competitor took a digger. It was a great start to the event. Day one had to be pushed back a day because Ernie (TSV founder) sent us a storm from the heavens that dumped two feet of fresh snow for the competitors. That only meant one thing; skiers were going to go huge!! The next day, I saw competitors dropping some sick rocks that I have never seen launched at TSV. The biggest was one a skier from Carbondale, CO hit that was about an 80 foot drop (and he landed it).

The biggest was done, but not the sickest! There were three competitors from Japan that came in and they were dubbed "The Japanese Air force". These guys must have had a screw loose because they were all about the big air. So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when one of them (who later won the "Sick Bird" award) did a front flip off of a 40 foot cliff and landed it with ease. The crowd grew louder as he approached the sheer face and realized what he was going to do. An eruption of epic proportions let out when he tumbled through the air. When he came into the coral at the finish, he was mobbed like the final out of the World Series.

This event never seems to disappoint, so make sure you have plans to get to Taos for the Extreme Freeride!

Photos by Seth Bullington





Bret

Snowboarding Opens Taos to New Events....

Since Taos allowed snowboarding on March 19, 2008, the events staff have been busy filling the calendar with new events and promotion that were always restricted from the slopes of one of the last few resorts that remained snowboard-free. This weekend saw the USASA Skier and Snowboarder Cross hit the slopes just below Kachina Peak on the back side of the mountain. This was the first skier/boarder cross event held at Taos Ski Valley and was not short of thrilling spills and great competition.

The skier/boarder cross course is a hybrid of downhill racing and slopestyle type terrain. Banked turns, table top jumps and rollers lined the course as six athletes compete on each run in a modern day "Chinese Downhill". It may be more like moto-cross on skis or boards!

Taos has always been known as a "no frills" mountain and this type of event definitely goes in a different direction that the traditional roots of Ernie Blake's early beginnings. The question reagarding these types of events is are these events a good thing for Taos or does it shy away from what Taos does best (hardcore skiing and now riding). There will always be doubters and cynic's, but one thing is for certain and that is that this type of event is a lot of fun to watch. (photos by Seth Bullington)

Bret

Over 110 Inches in the Last 4 Weeks and Still Snowing...

I can honestly say I have never seen this much snow at my house, which sits on the "mesa" (the flatlands off the mountains) since I moved to Taos in 1999. The beginning of the season has been pretty epic and shows no sign of stopping. In the last four weeks, we have received over 110 inches of snow and it is still snowing in Taos Ski Valley as I write. The most recent storm has left 20 inches in a 24-hour period, adding to the ridiculous powder stashes that are already in place on the mountain.

At my house, which is located at 7,000 feet surrounded by sagebrush, we usually see an average of 12 inches a year (and it usually melts within a day or two). We have already had about 3 feet of snow here and almost all of it is still here (I took these pictures this morning). My wife and I have now resorted to taking our dogs on their daily walks in snowshoes because we couldn't without them! Tito, the Powderhound, is loving life.

January happens to be a great time (especially with all this snow!) to take advantage of one of Taos Ski Valley's great deals. The world famous Ernie Blake Ski School is offering a $90 Ski Better Week during the month of January. This is normally $234 per person for 6 mornings of this great program. Check it out.

Bret

Oh My Gosh! Ridiculous! Bottomless!

Just spend a minute in any Taos Ski Valley lift line (not that you’re ever likely to spend more time than that!) and that’s just some of the exclamations you’ll hear over and over again. It’s just the most perfect ski conditions you could imagine. The soft dry southwest snow that Taos Ski Valley is known for, in an abundance that’s heading straight for the record books. From fresh tracks to soft cruisers, ski Taos and everyone you see has something to smile about!

There are still some amazing lodging and lift ticket package deals out there. We’d love to help you plan the perfect Taos ski vacation and experience this unique and special place.

I hope to see you smiling on the slopes of Taos soon! If you don’t have plans yet, that’s a New Year’s resolution worth keeping.

Ski Taos!

Kathy