Image: Taos Ski Valley
After a decade of lackluster ticket sales, New Mexico skiing is back in a big way according to Ski New Mexico.
The group is reporting that over the 2014/2015 winter season, the average number of skier visits rose 19.4% from the previous year. That increase, which totals 176,000 more visits and an added $98 million in revenue for the New Mexico economy, is the second biggest year for skier visits in the last decade and offers a much needed boost to skiing in the Land of Enchantment.
According to onthesnow.com, snowfall in late February and early March brought 55 inches to Taos Ski Valley in an 8-day period, giving the ski valley some of the best storm days the resort had seen in a decade. The immense snowfall, which was reflected on the Instagram accounts of pro skiers such as Elyse Saugstad (@elysesaugstad) and Sven Brunso (@sbrunso), is bringing hype back to the rowdy terrain that spans the southern state.
With Taos redesigning their base area and Ski New Mexico as a whole fighting to keep up with Colorado resorts, it seems as though the smaller less crowded resorts down south are beginning to find a sustainable niche that gives skiers a unique experience that is pure soul and seeks to remain New Mexico True.