Gamechanger! The Lasting Impact of the Santa Fe Express

I love all of Ski Santa Fe’s chairlifts, from the old school charm of the Sierra double chair—perfect for mid-mountain access or a quick drop up to the summit triple chairs of the Millennium or Tesuque Peak or an early lunch at Totemoff’s—to the conveyor belt of Pine Flats or the mellow rise of Easy Street, where new riders first comprehend the magic of skiing or snowboarding down a mountain with easy trips back up.

But really, over the past two seasons it’s the speed and comfort of the Santa Fe Express that continues to blow my mind with all the new opportunities it brings for skiing and riding the mountain daily.

The “Quad” chair has always accessed some of the best terrain in New Mexico—and maybe all of the Rockies—with base area delivery to wide-ranging blue runs, terrain parks, legendary bump lines (like Muerte and Desafio), and treeline favorites that reveal new options with every arc.

To be able to access each and every one of those runs with just a four-minute lift ride is hard to comprehend. You barely have time to ask how long your seatmates have lived in New Mexico—or where they are visiting from—or why they love their new snowboard or down jacket. And if you want to tell a joke, it better be short.

That’s because the aptly named “Express Chair” is all about getting more runs than you can count.

The Buffet is Open

In the past, I used to plan my “Quad Runs” like a slow-cooked menu, with some meaty bumps on Azmataz, a few quick carves on J.C., then a nice big entrée of wide-open edge-to-edge GS turns down the perfect groomed face of Open Slope. And maybe I’d repeat that rhythm twice in a day before I chaired my way further up the mountain to ski Wizard, Gayway, and Cornice.

Now? Sometimes it’s just more fun to ski from the base. Especially with all the options to drop a layer at your car as the day warms up, or stop at La Casa for a Gatorade or hot chocolate, or even just sit in the sun for a couple minutes, trying to find a single cloud in all the blue sky above.

You know, even in a snow-shortened season like we’re having right now, I wouldn’t want to ski or snowboard anywhere else.

New Mexico really is the best.

Being Here

Now that the closing day for this beautiful season is officially in the books, a few more days on the Express Chair sound like the perfect way to be grateful for the snow we did get, and all the amazing people we got to share it with.

Every season is a gift. As is every ski and snowboard-based friendship we get to make while sharing the snow, the weather, and especially all of the stoke.

Here’s to hoping we get to ride a few more chairs together before it’s over and share a laugh and some beautiful New Mexico insight about why this really is one of the best places to ride on earth.

Hoping you had a great season. And that you’re healthy and happy (cue the fist bump) as this winter wraps up.

Look forward to seeing you on the Express!