First Ski Area In New Mexico Opens For Season This Weekend! Sipapu Kicks Off Ski Season Saturday, Nov. 18!
Snow enthusiasts can make their first turns of the season in New Mexico when Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort opens at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Nov. 18, signifying the 15th consecutive season that Sipapu has opened before any other ski area in the state.
Last winter, Sipapu’s season extended from Nov. 19 through Apr. 9. Nov. 18 is one of the earliest opening days in recent history for Sipapu.
“Thanks to our hardworking and dedicated mountain team, Sipapu is once again the first resort to open for the season in New Mexico,” stated John Paul Bradley, Sipapu’s mountain manager. “We’ve been watching the weather and taking advantage of favorable temperatures to continue making snow, staying up at all hours to make snow when the opportunities arose.”
With cooler temperatures, Sipapu’s crews have been able to make enough snow and allow the resort to be the first to open for ski season in the state. Tuesday night, crews worked around the clock as they prepared for opening day. Sipapu’s snowmaking crew began making snow this season on Oct. 22, and this week’s forecast calls for a chance of snow on Friday.
“These efforts help establish a solid base to supplement what Mother Nature provides throughout the entire season,” stated Bradley. “We plan to make more snow right up to the minute we open in order to give our guests a great skier experience on opening day.”
At 9am on Saturday, Nov. 18, Sipapu will open the quad chairlift Lift 5. Sipapu will open the intermediate trail, such as Thumper, plus Terrain Park features. Limited ski and snowboard school lessons will be available, and reservations are recommended by calling 800-587-2240. Representatives from Sierra Nevada Brewery will provide giveaways and samples of their craft beer on Saturday.
Discounted lift tickets for opening day are available: $29 adults (24-59), $25 students (13-23), and $19 for kids (ages 7-12) and seniors (ages 61-69). Kids ages 7 and younger, and guests who are ages 40, 60 or 70 years and older receive a free lift ticket everyday of the season. Kids in fourth and fifth grades also get a free lift ticket simply by presenting a report card. For more information on early season lift tickets, visit the snow report webpage at SipapuNM.com.
Sipapu will be open Saturday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 26 with lifts turning 9am to 4pm. The resort will temporarily suspend operations to allow mountain crews to continue making snow in order to open more terrain. Daily operations will begin Friday, Dec. 1.
For more information on terrain and conditions, visit the online snow report at SipapuNM.com
New this season! Debuting this winter isSipapu’s renovated Lodge, which includes a new 2,141 square foot addition, housing a new rental shop with upgraded ski and snowboard rental equipment, a new Ticket Office, retail space, and improved traffic flow with more gathering space, new bathrooms, and a ski locker room.
Sipapu is continuing its commitment to enhancing its ski and snowboard school program by installing a new hand rail on the ski school’s magic carpet. The widening of the intermediate trail, “Beep Beep,” was also completed this fall.
Purgatory Resort in Durango, Colo. also opens for the season, Saturday, Nov. 18 at 9am. Purgatory will open with 2 lifts for skiing, plus a chairlift for mountain biking, weather permitting. Purgatory will be open daily for the season starting Saturday, 9am to 4pm.
