Hawk Media

Publishing

  • Home
  • Design
  • Projects
  • E-zines
    • Ski Country 2017
    • Farmington, NM Vacation Guide 2017
    • High Country 2016
    • High Country 2015
    • Ski Country 2015
    • High Country 2014
  • GOOD READS
    • 10 Ways To Welcome You
    • Local History
    • Ski Stories
    • New Mexico Stories
    • New Mexico Arts
    • Life in the Southern Rockies
    • Southern Colorado
    • Our Towns
    • Film
  • New Stories!
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Our Towns – Map
  • Archives

Southwest’s largest ski operator adds more mountains

May 12, 2016 by baRb@55

durango2015Purgatory at Durango Mountain, Arizona Snow Bowl, Sipapu Resort and Pajarito Resort – Sipapu managing partner James Coleman adds Pajarito, Durango Mountain Resort, and Arizona Snow Bowl to the fold, forming the largest ski mountain collective in the Southwest.
SpaceAfter nearly 15 years as the managing partner at Sipapu (near Taos, NM), Coleman understands how to successfully operate ski resorts. Since his arrival at Sipapu, he has doubled the ski area terrain and quadrupled skier visits to launch this modest mountain to the fastest growing resort in New Mexico. His commitment to snowmaking has also helped Sipapu to earn a distinct reputation for being the first ski area open in New Mexico (Sipapu is scheduled to open Nov. 15, which will mark the 12th consecutive time the NM ski area opens before any other) as well as having the state’s longest ski season.
Sipapu Ski Resort, NMSpace“I have spent most of my life skiing, working and living in this region, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to continue the visionary leadership of Arizona Snowbowl’s General Partner, Eric Borowsky, Purgatory’s Chairman Chuck Cobb and the Duncan family,” Coleman said.
Space“Skiing is my first priority and, like many of our guests, I’m always eager to get the winter season started,” Coleman said. “I’m committed not only to opening these mountains early but also creating an exceptional experience for skiers and snowboarders – be it local or destination resort guests – while making each of these ski areas the most family-friendly, family-fun resorts in the Southwest and the best value in the nation.”
SpaceLast May, the Los Alamos Ski Club – which had previously owned and operated Pajarito – voted and approved to transfer Pajarito Mountain Ski Area to Los Alamos County and a new partnership formed by the Sipapu Group.
SpaceAs part of their commitment to snowmaking, Los Alamos County, Pajarito staff, the Los Alamos Ski Club and the Sipapu Group have been working to secure approvals for a temporary pipeline, which will transport water (to be used for snowmaking purposes in the winter and fire mitigation in the summer) to the ski area’s holding pond. In addition to investing in water and snowmaking, the Sipapu Group plans to enhance both the winter and summer on-mountain experience through trail, lift, terrain park, tree skiing, and mountain biking trail expansions and improvements.
Pajarito Ski Resort, Los Alamos, NMSpaceSkiing in the Pajarito area dates at least to the 1930s, and a ski club was first organized in 1943. Today, the area has six lifts – a quad, a triple, three coubles and one rope tow – 40 trails on 751 acres and a peak elevation of 10,440 feet.
SpaceThis summer, Sipapu and Pajarito unveiled the New Mexico Power Pass, New Mexico’s only season pass with unrestricted access to two ski areas plus free skiing at more than 25 partner mountains in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and throughout the country. Coleman said that Purgatory and Snowbowl will maintain their existing pass partnerships.
SpaceThe ski industry was buzzing earlier this year when Purgatory chairman Chuck Cobb announced he – together with the resort shareholders, including the mountain’s founding family – was looking for an outside investor to take over majority ownership of the 1,360-acre ski area. Cobb was the majority owner since 2000 and secured the approvals for Purgatory’s master development plan that will allow for extensive improvements through the end of the decade.
__________

This article appeared in SkiCountry 2015, page 23.

Filed Under: Life in the Southern Rockies, New Mexico Stories, Ski Stories, Southern Colorado

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Recent publications

Ski Country 2019

2019 Ski Country

Angel Fire Parade of Homes 2018

2018 Angel Fire Parade of Homes

High Country 2018 - Geraint Smith

High Country 2018

Ski Country Magazine 2018

     SkiCountry 2018

Recent stories

  • Ski Areas Face Climate Change March 5, 2019
  • Here There Be Monsters March 5, 2019
  • Ski Country 2019 December 17, 2018
  • 2018 Angel Fire Parade of Homes August 8, 2018
  • High Country 2018 June 8, 2018

© 2022 · Hawk Media · 575-595-0575 · PO Box 182, Angel Fire, NM 87710