This winter there is more to ski and do in New Mexico with a new lift at Ski Santa Fe, new runs at Angel Fire, Sipapu, and Enchanted Forest XC, Taos' 50th Anniversary celebration going on all season, new ways to save at Red River, a new spirit at Pajarito Mountain, a new look at Ski Apache, and a brand new nordic area at Valles Caldera National Preserve. The Winter Insider will give you fresh insights on everything from area specials to fitness to gear to making your visit to New Mexico extra special.

In This Issue of the Winter Insider

Season Preview

Ski Deals

Last Minute Fitness

Southwest - The Way to Fly to New Mexico

Manage Your Winter Insider Mailing

SKI SEASON OPENS

Winter has finally made its frosty entrance into New Mexico's mountains—a little late, but that's been the pattern the last few years. Last year's December snows brought some of the best skiing and boarding ever. By the holidays, there was enough powder to bury a school bus. Last week brought the first major storm this year to our area. Each of our mountain resorts received significant amounts of snow. Nights are cold, snowmaking is happening, and it looks like another storm is on its way. We have lots of winter to look forward to.

Sipapu, Taos Ski Valley, and Red River are open for the season. Taos is open daily, Sipapu has been open weekends and begins daily operations on December 8 and Red River will be open this weekend, December 9, 10 and 11 before beginning daily operations on December 16. Expect more of our winter resorts to open in the next few weeks and stay tuned to the web site for updates. By the way, winter sports fans, don't mistake man-made snow for some inferior product. Its uniform, granular texture actually makes it ideal, much more fun to slide on than some of the wet, gloppy stuff delivered by Mom Nature this early in the season.

There's lots new happening on the New Mexico winter sports scene this year. First, welcome Valles Caldera National Preserve, Ski New Mexico's newest member. For the first time ever, the Caldera will have groomed nordic and snowshoeing trails open to the public. This pristine wilderness, formerly a vast private ranch, is a treat to experience. Its wide open spaces, the result of an ancient volcanic explosion, its old-growth trees, and abundant wildlife are unlike anything else. Valles Caldera will be open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and some holiday Mondays.

If you haven't skied and boarded in the southern part of the state lately, you're in for something special. Ski Apache has made a number of improvements, but the most spectacular is the newly opened, completely rebuilt Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino. Staying at the Inn with beautiful views of the lake and snow covered mountains is an exercise in luxurious pampering. There are 273 rooms and suites, plus restaurants, lounges, an indoor pool, gym, and, of course a lavish casino. You could forget to hit the mountain.

Ski Santa Fe has just finished a brand new chairlift that will help speed access to the upper mountain and open 6 new runs. Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort has new trails for kids and new terrain park features. At Angel Fire Resort, the tubing hill is longer and more thrilling, plus there are new runs and a new incubator terrain park. The Angel Fire Resort Hotel has been renovated and upgraded. Look for more terrain park features at Pajarito Mountain, more snowmaking at Red River Ski Area, and new snowshoe trails at Enchanted Forest Cross Country Area. Taos Ski Valley has new lodging options with the opening of the Snakedance Condominiums and Spa, the rebuilt Edelweiss Lodge and Spa, and the Inn at Taos Valley. Oh, and this year, for the first time, you can book your entire New Mexico winter vacation right here on the Ski New Mexico web site.

So, dear winter sports fans, make plans. Remember the holidays book up fast. See you on the slopes in New Mexico!

Jack Affleck Photography/Angel Fire Resort

INSIDER DEALS

The Insider always wants you to have the most winter fun for your buck. So, look for our "deals" feature in every issue. Early season lift tickets are a fantastic bargain. An adult lift ticket at Taos Ski Valley is only $28 and more terrain is opening as snow allows. Until December 16, lift tickets at Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort are just $15. The last of Red River Ski Area's annual half price weekends is coming up on December 9–11. Check on Cards and Passes for a rundown of season passes, discount cards, and savings on skiing and boarding all winter long.

LAST MINUTE FITNESS

Been a little lax in your fitness program? Think it's too late to get in better shape for winter sports? Think again. The Insider knows great ways to get results fast. First, a caution about safety—once again winter sport magazines are full of photos of twenty-something guys with six-pack abs bounding through the air from squatting positions. Will this improve your fitness? Definitely. Is it a good idea? The Insider says no, especially if (A.) you are older than twenty, or (B.) you are less fit than a professional athlete. But regardless of your fitness level, there are several things you can do that earn big results in little time. The payoff—more stamina for those last few runs, better ability to handle tough situations, and less risk of injury.

POWER. It's the magic word of fitness, the combination of speed and strength, and few of us work it. You can train power indoors or out, although indoors is more precise. You can cycle, skate, run, jog, or even walk, but you will have to push yourself. It's simple. Just increase both your cadence and your resistance. Outside this means being on a hill. Walk, run, jog, skate or ride at a pace that is uncomfortable for the amount of resistance. Do this in intervals, longer ones if you are fit, shorter ones if you're not. Then recover and do it again. If you're already fit, try for at least 30 minutes of power intervals three times a week. If you're not, do less. Studies show that intervals are the most effective way to train, even if they are relatively easy. Power intervals lower your resting heart rate, giving you more stamina for longer days on the mountain. More power also allows you to make quick, forceful moves that will improve your skills and help you avoid that embarrassing face plant.

STRENGTH. OK, you already know to do some chair squats, lunges, or weights to strengthen your quads, but what are you doing for your hamstrings? These muscles on the back of your legs are essential for skiing and boarding. If they are weak relative to your quads, you are setting yourself up for injury. Quads, you see, do most of the work every day—lifting you out of the car and up from the table. So, to have strong hamstrings, you need to work them more. The Insider recommends spending at least 50 percent more time on hamstrings than on quads. The hammies are typically a tough muscle to get to at home, unless you have a weight bench you can rig for hamstring curls. Some resistance band sets can be used for hamstrings or you can get on your hands and knees and do a million or so back leg lifts. The best, however, is the hamstring curl machine at the gym. But, here's the trick. Only do one leg at a time and do the curls slowly. When you use both legs, you are cheating and using momentum to do some of the work. Take that out of the equation and you'll get better results faster.

Now, back to the quads. We can all use some extra strength in these big muscles for winter sports. Ever notice that even though you work out, you use this muscle differently when you ski or board and get sore your first time out? Cycling, for example, mostly uses the lower part of the quad, while skiing really works the upper part. So, whatever your favorite quad training—squats, lunges, isometrics, or leg press—the Insider says do them in three increments. Bend slightly for a count of eight, more deeply for another count of eight, and the deepest bend for another count of eight. No breaks between. You won't need many reps and you'll work those parts of the quads that normally get an easy ride. Incidentally, the Insider follows the recommendation of physical therapists and uses the reclining leg press for the safest and most effective quad strengthening.

CORE FITNESS. You gotta have this. The muscles in your abdomen and back transfer motion between your upper and lower body. They are essential to good balance and will save you in tricky situations. The Insider is religious about the use of a fitness ball for doing abdominal exercises. These big beachballs are inexpensive and widely available. Because balancing on the ball forces you to make constant, tiny adjustments, your ab crunches are more effective. Another plus—your back is fully supported. Here's the big secret for doing ab crunches that make a difference in a hurry—do them very slowly—4 to 8 counts up and the same down. Support your neck only with your fingertips. Doing fast crunches and using your head's weight to propel you up mean most of the work gets done by momentum and your abs stay flab. Don't forget to do the exercises that work the sides of the abdominal muscles.

It's never too late to get more fit. These exercises will all make a noticeable difference in 2 to 3 weeks.

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For Southwest Airlines reservations please visit southwest.com or call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA. For Southwest Airlines Vacations packages please visit swavacations.com or call 1-800-423-5683.

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