Surveys Rank Taos among the Best

September 23, 2005 - Taos Ski Valley, NM

The current magazines readers� survey is out and has ranked Taos Ski Valley among the best winter resorts in North America. Why? Pick up any of the ski magazines this fall and you will find Taos rated among the best because Taos not only offers great weather (ranked #1) and challenging terrain (#3), but also because as skiing grows more expensive in other resorts it remains affordable at Taos (Taos received a top 10 rating for value). From great groomed cruising runs to some of the most exciting steep runs anywhere Taos has it.

Skiing Magazine ranked Taos 25. �Big potential for fresh powder, no lift lines, and a camaraderie between skiers,� Scott Barady writes, �with chute after chute that pinch down into chokes or mandatory rock drops.� But Taos is not known just for its expert and double diamond terrain, 49% of the mountain is beginner and intermediate offering great skiing for the whole family to enjoy.

Powder Magazine�s Resort Guide wrote that in Taos skiing is a way of life; gravity is a state of mind. Only pure skiing in Taos, snowboarding in not allowed. �You go to Taos because it is steep and deep and dry and deserving of every accolade it receives,� Tom Bie writes, �for the best views, for the exercise, and mostly for the skiing�enjoy the Southwest the way it is supposed to be skied.�

Freeskier Magazine stated that the Southern Rockies are a road trip you need to take. "Taos is far enough away from major population centers that you'll rarely stand in a lift line and steep trees and chutes stay untracked for hours on powder days", writes Tom Winter, "Once you've gotten a taste of Taos, you'll be addicted."

�An American classic�this is one of the best.�

SKI Magazine called Taos, "An American classic. If you're good, this is one of the best," ranking Taos at number twenty-four. Taos General Manager Gordon Briner commented, �Our overall place in the rankings improved this year. That is gratifying because it is an endorsement of the Taos passion for skiing from a wide cross-section of people.� (This year�s survey is based on 5500 responses.)

When Briner speaks about Taos�s ski passion, he doesn�t mean just skiers� enjoyment of the slopes. The unique blend of founder Ernie Blake�s board-free vision of the mountain and the resort employees� support of that vision, as well as their obvious love for the ski area and excitement about skiing, has landed Taos Ski Valley in a business niche that gives the little resort the same name recognition as many larger areas. At Taos, the concentration has always been on offering service that makes guests feel welcome and at home. Outstanding service is evident in everything Taos does but is especially recognizable in the Ernie Blake Ski School. Returning skiers say the �don�t-miss� part of Taos is a lesson with this legendary instruction program.

Taos has long been known as a place where skiers enjoy dreamlike mountain views, steep fall-line skiing, entertaining ski school classes and a ban on snowboarders as well as a resort where they get world-class skiing at a great value. With Taos� special promotions this season, enjoying Taos is more economical than ever. Consider the half-price sale from November 28th to December 16th and March 26th to April 2nd, where everything from tickets ($28) to kid�s ski school ($47) is discounted, or the celebratory 50th Anniversary Ski Weeks in January (6-day ski weeks, normally $200, are only $50). For more information on the half-price sale, Anniversary Ski Weeks or any of Taos� special packages go to skitaos.org or call 505-776-2291.

So visit the place that "inspires the kind of loyalty that other ski hills can only wish for" and experience for yourself the challenge, service, value and magic that is Taos.