Why the TAOS Snowsports School is SeconD to None

Taos Ski Valley is nestled in the mountains of northern New Mexico. It’s a unique blend of cultures and heritage that sets Taos apart from the ordinary. In the midst of a $300 million revitalization campaign, it’s only getting better. Many areas of the resort are benefiting, but perhaps none more so than the Ernie Blake Snowsports School.

Snowsports at Taos Ski Valley is approached with the intention of preparing every skier/rider to tackle almost any type of terrain along with an appreciation for the mountain lifestyle. From the never-ever to the expert looking to hone their skills, they have a program to suit every ability level.

There is a saying here that “you don’t have to be an expert to ski/ride Taos but there is no better place to become one.”

“ …bone-dry powder shots, steep chutes, big bumps, cornices, and glades- it is all here. If heart-stopping terrain is not your thing, you will find miles of well-manicured slopes and gradual groomers to carve up all season long.” Taos Ski Valley

HISTORY In the early 1950s, from the cockpit window of his Cessna 170, Swiss German skier Ernie Blake spied the perfect location to build his ski resort. Together with his wife Rhoda Blake, and a little help from a mule named Lightning, they dedicated their lives to building the mountain experience of Taos Ski Valley. They wove together their European heritage with the local culture, creating a ski destination with a distinctly unique vibe.

THE LEGENDARY ERNIE BLAKE SNOWSPORTS SCHOOL First and foremost, Ernie Blake had a passion for the sport of skiing. That passion translated into the development of Taos Ski Valley as a pure mountain experience. He shared his love for the sport with all who came to visit Taos Ski Valley and make the mountain accessible to everyone. And so started the Ernie Blake Snowsports School.

THE PERFECT PROGRESSION The Ernie Blake Snowsports School at Taos Ski Valley offers the Perfect Progression to draw beginner skiers/riders into the sport. The program is broken down into six clearly defined “steps.” Skiers and snowboarders hone their newly developed skills on gradually increasing slopes where the emphasis is on helping people new to the sport “go” as opposed to having to worry about how to “stop”. Beginners start out on zero percent grade to practice getting a feel for the equipment on the snow. The next steps move up to the Magic Carpets, the first at a 5% grade, the second at an 8% grade, letting the skiers/riders experience the flow over the snow. Step four, hop on the Gondolita for a nice long groomed 10% grade. Step five introduces the chairlift and varying degrees of pitch from 5% to 20%. The final step, six, caps off on the Oslo Trail with a respectable 25% aspect.

CHILDREN’S CENTER REVITALIZATION The new state-of-the-art Children’s Center, part of the Ernie Blake Snowsports School, has benefited from an $8 million revitalization. The upgrades include a more streamlined check-in facility that gets parents in and out of the building as quickly as possible while their kids are engaged by indoor climbing walls, slacklines, play areas, and an array of modernized amenities. The Children’s Center also offers daily child-care as well as après fun and games for the kids.

SNOWMAKING CAPABILITIES A part of the $300 million revitalization, Taos Ski Valley has gone into a comprehensive overhaul of the snowmaking capabilities at the mountain. With the addition of new pumps, 30 new tower guns, and 50 additional towers, 100% coverage of the beginner and intermediate terrain is now obtainable. “As Taos is the first, and to-date only, certified B Corp ski resort, developing an efficient snowmaking system was and continues to be a top priority.” Taos Ski Valley Snowsports Director

SNOWBOARDING Back in 1954 when Taos Ski Valley opened to the public for the first time, nobody was snowboarding. Around 1964, a surfer named Sherman Poppen wanted to figure out a way to ‘surf’ the snow, designed the ‘snurfer’ and so began the movement. Around 1977, Jake Burton Carpenter added bindings and the modern day snowboard was born. Originally met with resistance, by the 1990’s snowboarding gained access to most ski resorts. There were, and still remain, some hold-outs. Taos Ski Valley was formally in the hold-out camp. Thanks to a core group of snowboarding advocates, Taos Ski Valley opened the lifts to them for the very first time on March 19, 2008. Today, riders are enthusiastically welcomed and the terrain at Taos Ski Valley sets itself up perfectly to be ridden by snowboarders of all ability levels.

AVALANCHE DOGS Safety is a top priority at Taos. The professional ski patrol team is busy safeguarding the mountain with help from the avalanche dogs. Don’t let their cuteness fool you, these dogs are highly trained in search and rescue. “If you’re taking a lesson, don’t be surprised if your instructor stops in the Patrol Shack to introduce you to Hattie, Oslo, or the other pups that are real life savers!” Burt Skall, Taos Ski Valley Snowsports Director

MOUNTAIN STATS: Average annual snowfall – 300 inches Average Days Of Sunshine – 300+ days Total Acreage – 1,294 acres Number of Trails – 110 total: 24% beginner, 25% intermediate, 51% expert Number of Lifts – 14 Total Lifts / 1 gondola, 1 double chair, 4 quads, 1 high-speed quad, 3 triples, 4 surface lifts Base Elevation – 9,200 feet / 2,805 meters Summit Elevation – 12,481 feet / 3,804 meters Vertical Drop – 3,281 feet / 997 meters