ANGEL FIRE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Angel Fire Resort, Northern New Mexico’s premier family vacation destination, announced today that several new events and mountain improvements, including expanding the terrain parks and widening several of the most popular trails, are planned for the resort’s 50th Anniversary season. Angel Fire Resort opens December 9, 2016.
EXPANDED TERRAIN PARK – NEW MEXICO’S FIRST SEASON-LONG BOARDER-SKIER CROSS COURSE:
Under the direction of one of the most prolific terrain park designers in the country, Angel Fire Resort’s Liberation Terrain Park is expanding for the second season in a row. Jon Eppler, who has created parks for major events including The Winter X-Games and The Burton U.S. Open, completely redesigned Liberation Park last winter and is now developing plans for a new boarder-skier cross course for the park.
“Boarder cross courses are the fastest growing areas of interest for skiing and snowboarding families,” explains Jon Eppler, slope operations manager, Angel Fire Resort. “We did an experiment and left the course up that we built for the USASA Boarder-Skier X Games for our guests to try out and it was so popular we are now creating New Mexico’s first and only season-long, lift-accessed boarder-skier cross course.”
Eppler, a second-generation terrain park developer, is also expanding the popular Stash Parks he built last season. The Stash Parks use non-conventional terrain park features, such as natural snow and logs to ride through as skiers and riders make their way down the mountain. Thanks to the popularity of these new parks, the resort will be adding several more Stash Features along various green and blue trails.
WIDENING OF TRAILS:
Before the snow hits, mountain operation crews are busy clearing trees and widening critical areas on some of the more popular slopes, such as “Headin’ Home” and “Highway,” to reduce pinch points, which will ultimately give skiers and riders a better experience on the mountain by providing more room and less crowding on the most traveled trails.
NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART GREEN SNOWCATS:
In an effort to give guests the best groomed trails in the state, the resort has purchased two brand new PistenBully 400 snowcats that will carve the deepest corduroy possible. The new snow grooming equipment has gen 4 engines that provide the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly grooming in the state.
“The winter weather in New Mexico can be unpredictable, which is why adding these more efficient, top performing snowcats to our fleet of grooming machines will allow us to make the best trails and cover the most terrain regardless of snow conditions,” explains Andy Whitacre, mountain operations manager, Angel Fire Resort.
ANGEL FIRE RESORT 50th ANNIVERSARY:
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary season, Angel Fire Resort will host a weekend-long celebration January 19-22, 2017. To mark the resort’s Golden Anniversary, a select number of lift tickets will be just $5.50 each on Saturday, January 21, and Sunday, January 22, 2017. This is the same price the lift tickets were when Angel Fire Resort first opened back in 1966, and is limited to the first 550 skiers/boarders each day.
The weekend kicks off with a cocktail welcome party and an open house featuring selected pieces showing the resort’s rich history over the last 50 years. The night party will also include a live performance by Atomic Balm. The weekend celebration includes fun parties, such as the Vintage Ski Suit Après Ski Party on the deck, free night skiing and will wrap up with a spectacular firework show.
NEW DEDICATED PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES:
Angel Fire Resort continues improvements to its full-service Children’s Ski School and on-site day care, known as Snow Bear Camp. Several programs are in place to help parents get the most of their time on the slopes while their children are actively engaged learning to ski and board, making new friends and having fun.
- The Parenting Pass – This interchangeable pass allows two parents to take turns coaching and skiing with their child, or it also allows parents to take turns on the mountain in a single day while the other stays behind to care for an infant or toddler who is too young to ski.
- New this season: PreSki Program – For the tiniest of tots just learning how to ski the resort offers an additional unique program for three- to five-year olds. The PreSki Program offers little ones a short private lesson, lunch and snacks plus snow play and activities at Snow Bear Camp. This allows the parents a full day on the slopes themselves, knowing their children are in good hands for the whole day. Additionally, the resort offers the ‘Lil Chile Ski Program, which is a full ski day for ages 4-5.
- New this season: ‘Lil Chile Poppers Snowboard Program – This is a full day Snowboard Program for 5-year olds to complement the ‘Lil Chile Ski Program. Lessons will incorporate Burton Riglet Boards and “Feature Enhanced Learning.”
- The Family Season Pass – Through October 31, for $1,299 a family of up to 6 people (2 adults and four children ages 17 and under) can purchase an unlimited ski and snowboard pass for each member of the family. Pricing will increase starting November 1, 2016.
- 5th Graders Ski Free – Offers all 5th graders a free lift ticket with their report card and completed form.
- Kids 6 and under and Seniors 75 and over Ski Free – Seniors 70-74 ski for just $29 a day.
- Angel Fire Resort also has a large slate of non-ski family activities, including: Tubing Hill (the Polar Coaster complete with a 700’ surface lift to take the hike out of tubing), a traditional sledding hill, indoor pools and a hot tub. A full Nordic Center offers rentals and lessons for classic and skate styles and snowshoe hiking. Additionally, in the Village of Angel Fire, horse-drawn sleigh-rides, ice fishing and snowmobiling are also available.
POWDER ALLIANCE PASS ADDS A NEW RESORT
Angel Fire Resort is a member of the Powder Alliance, which allows all season pass holders 3 days of free lift tickets at 14 partner resorts, including Crested Butte, CO; Snowbasin Resort, UT; Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA; Stevens Pass, WA; Timberline, OR; Schweitzer, ID; Bridger Bowl, MT; China Peak, CA; Mountain High, CA; Arizona Snowbowl, AZ; Mt. Hood Skibowl, OR; Silver Star, BC; Whitewater, BC; and Kiroro, Japan.
Additionally, Angel Fire Resort season pass holders are offered 3 days of free lift tickets at Brian Head, UT; Powderhorn and Ski Cooper in CO; and Ski Apache, NM. By partnering with a total of 18 resorts this winter, Angel Fire Resort season pass holders will receive a total of 54 free days of skiing at partnering resorts.
Major Events:
Season runs December 9, 2016 – March 19, 2017
Telluride MountainFilm on Tour Presented by Angel Fire Resort:
January 14, 2017
Telluride
MountainFilm on Tour, presented by Angel Fire Resort, brings
inspiration and education about important issues to audiences around the
world. The tour will return to the Angel Fire Community Center with
documentary films that will explore the themes connected to
MountainFilm’s mission of exploring cultures, preserving environments
and promoting adventure.
50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend: January 19-22, 2017
Big Ol’ Texas Weekend: January 27-29, 2017
A fun-filled
weekend celebrating our country roots, featuring lodging packages, live
music, Texas Hold’em Tournament, The Big Texan Steak Challenge and Brew
Ski.
Whiskey and Powder: January 27-29, 2017
Whiskey and Powder
is a music festival featuring up and coming Country/RedDirt/Americana
artists in the gorgeous Southern Rockies of Northern New Mexico's Angel
Fire Resort. Live music from today’s and tomorrow’s stars will be
playing at various locations within the Village of Angel Fire and the
Resort.
The World Championship Shovel Races: February 3-4, 2017
The
38th Annual World Championships that anyone with a basic snow
shovel and some nerve can do. Once a part of the X Games, competitors
sit on the scoop of a standard aluminum snow shovel, handle pointed
downhill, and then lift their hands and feet to allow gravity to take
them for a ride. Top speeds regularly exceed 60 miles per hour. The
high-speed race draws racers and spectators from all over the world.
Military Winterfest: February 9-13, 2017
Active Duty,
Retired, National Guard, Reserve, Vets, Gold Star and their families are
invited to visit Angel Fire for six days of indoor and outdoor and
adaptive winter activities, with a special appearance by former US Army
Gold Knight and Double Amputee Dana Bowman as he parachutes into the
Resort, and an honorary Military Fly-by. Visit
veteranswellnessandhealing.org for more details.
Angel Fire Mardi Gras Celebration: February 24-28, 2017
Celebrate
Mardi Gras in Angel Fire with live music, parades, daily special
activities and a masquerade ball.
Fiesta del Sol Spring Break Celebration: March 4-19, 2017
It’s
the resort’s Fun in the Sun celebration with live music, themed days,
cool contests, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and great spring skiing
and riding.
CONTACT INFO FOR ANGEL FIRE RESORT:
| WEBSITE | ||||
| @angelfireresort | ||||
| /AngelFireResort | ||||
| PHONE | 855-923-7387 | |||
| SEASON | December 9, 2016 - March 19, 2017 | |||
| LIFT HOURS | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM | |||
| NIGHT SKIING | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (weather permitting, this is available on weekends and holiday peak periods) | |||
| SNOW UPDATES: | ||||
MOUNTAIN STATS
BASE ELEVATION 8,600 feet
PEAK ELEVATION 10,677 feet
VERTICAL
DROP 2,077 feet
AVERAGE ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 210 inches
TERRAIN
PARKS: 3
80 TRAILS: 21% beginner, 56% intermediate, 23% advanced,
560+ acres
NORDIC CENTER: 12km of terrain for classic & skate
skiing and snowshoeing; 5 trails: 1 beginner, 2 intermediate, 2 advanced
LIFTS:
2 high speed quads, 3 doubles, 2 surface
SNOWMAKING CAPABILITIES:
52% of mountain, 90% of beginner terrain
For more details about Angel Fire winter rates, lift ticket pricing, trails and reservations visit www.angelfireresort.com or call 855-923-7387.
NEW WINTER PHOTOS CAN BE ACCESSED HERE. PLEASE COURTESY “ANGEL FIRE RESORT”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2DaG8Er2C17RW95NU9CWXVPbDg
Media only: For new B-Roll, additional photos or to set up a media visit to Angel Fire Resort contact Krysty Ronchetti at krysty@sjcommunications.com or 505-821-9279.
About Angel Fire Resort
Angel Fire Resort is a top year-round mountain resort destination in New Mexico. Angel Fire Resort was named “America’s Most Affordable Ski Town” by Realtor.com and ranked a Top 25 “Best Family Ski Resort in North America” by Dream Vacation Magazine in 2016. Situated at over 8,600' elevation in the Southern Rocky Mountains, Angel Fire strives to offer the best value and choice for family outdoor recreation activities to its members, guests and visitors – including skiing, snowboarding, tubing, sledding, golf, mountain biking, zipline, tennis, fishing, hiking and more. For additional information on Angel Fire Resort, resort membership, or opportunities for real estate investment in Angel Fire, please call 855-923-7387 or visit the resort's website at www.angelfireresort.com.
