GREATEST DEAL IN SKIING

Taos Ski Valley announces changes to Millennium Pass ~ more days, more value
With shorter days, cooling temperatures and the first signs of fall in our local mountains, excitement has begun to filter throughout the winter sports community. Anticipation of the coming season is palpable everywhere. Skiers in New Mexico know the facts: the snow last year was epic. Those who skied Taos Ski Valley got more than their fair share of untracked powder and blue skies. Even TSV's president Mickey Blake, who has skied Taos since its inception fifty years ago, recognized last season as something special. After one memorable bluebird day of skiing, he was overheard to say, "It doesn't get any better than this!"

This season marks Taos Ski Valley's 50th anniversary and better, not bigger, has always been its motto. What could be better than a great deal? Last year, plenty of the skiers gracing TSV's slopes were doing so on the Millennium Pass, the ski pass that allows for 70 days of skiing during the season. This year, the pass gives skiers even more value, with fewer Taos blackout days and 12 bonus ski days at four participating Colorado resorts. Anyone who plans to ski the Southwest nine days or more this season would be making a big mistake by not buying one.

EXTRA VALUE
Two seasons back, TSV got together with three southern Colorado ski areas and created an exchange program, allowing pass holders from participating mountains to ski three days at each other's resorts. Call it the Southern Rockies taster tray of skiing. This year, Copper Mountain has joined the ski alliance formed by Taos, Crested Butte, Durango Mountain Resort, and Telluride. Only four hours from Taos, Copper offers not just a different ski experience in terms of size and variety, but an extended season as well. Their projected dates of operations run from November 5 through April 16. That means an extra two weeks on either end of TSV's season for pass holders to plan a three-day visit to a different mountain.

New Mexico and Colorado skiers aren't the only ones to profit from the ski exchange. The greater Taos community will likely see increased business from visiting skiers enjoying local restaurants, shops, museums, and lodges. One driving reason behind the creation of the interstate exchange was the idea that once people discover all Taos has to offer, they'll keep coming back for more. "We consider it another way of introducing new people to the many facets of Taos County," says Mickey Blake.

GREAT DEAL
For the 2005 - 2006 season, the $500 Millennium Pass buys 70 days of access to Taos slopes, anytime in the season except December 26 - 31. That's just about $7 a day to make TSV's legendary ski runs your personal playground. With a projected opening day of November 24 and closing scheduled for April 2, that amounts to four months of ski weeks, day trips, or intense weekends to enjoy. If 70 days just isn't enough, the Taos Full Pass has no blackout dates and unlimited ski days. As a way to sweeten the deal, Millennium and Full Pass holders also receive: