International ski event will be the biggest in New Mexico history and will drive tourism, provide national exposure
Taos Ski Valley will host the World Pro Ski Tour World Championships April 10-12, 2020. The World Championships is a stand-alone event in the World Pro Ski Tour, which travels around the United States from December through April. This prestigious, nationally televised event draws the top professional ski racers and spectators from around the world to the famed slopes of Taos. The Taos World Championships purse of more than $100,000 will be at stake, allowing athletes to compete for the largest professional dual-racing purse in the world.
The World Pro Ski Tour is the country’s foremost dual-format pro racing tour in which professional skiers race side-by-side in a single-elimination bracket. Professional skiers, Olympians and NCAA All-Americans from around the world will begin the Tour this week in Colorado. Through a series of events over the next five months, skiers will rack up points and the chance to compete at Taos in the World Pro Ski Tour World Championships.
“Taos Ski Valley is thrilled to welcome the world’s best skiers to the mountain this spring,” said David Norden, CEO of Taos Ski Valley. “We’ve always had the terrain to host a major event like this, and now through years of careful investment we have the infrastructure, lodging, and facilities to roll out the red carpet to this world-famous group of Olympic medalists and professionals. This event will be spectacular for the participants and spectators, and also for the Taos community, which will have an opportunity to highlight its culture, spirit and hospitality to the world.”
“We’re taking important steps forward in developing a robust outdoor recreation economy and boosting New Mexico’s tourism industry,” Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “Taos Ski Valley is demonstrating how businesses can serve local communities. I am so proud of this selection and eager to watch Taos Ski Valley represent our great state on a national stage.”
To accommodate the event, Taos will extend the ski season until April 12, 2020. Season pass holders can continue to ski the mountain through April 12. The event is open to the public and spectators are encouraged to attend to watch the athletes compete.
“We are excited to hold the first World Pro Ski Tour World Championships since the 1990’s at Taos Ski Valley, which is one of the premier ski areas on the planet,” said Jon Franklin, CEO of the World Pro Ski Tour. “Spectators and viewers at home can look forward to seeing two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Ted Ligety, other Olympians and World Champion medalists at this event.”
As a part of the resurgence and revitalization that the World Pro Ski Tour has undergone in 2019, a World Championships event will be put back on the schedule for the first time since the 1990’s. Historic rivalries have played out at the historic Pro Tour World Championships, including the battle between Triple-Olympic gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy and U.S. Ski Team rebel, Spider Sabich. The Tour and World Championships will be featured on national television including primetime on CBS Sports Network as well as on OutsideTV and live streamed on FloSports.
About Taos Ski Valley
Nestled among the pristine peaks of northern New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley is undergoing a $300 million renaissance making it one of North America’s premier vacation and adventure destinations. With over more than 300 inches of average annual snowfall, 300 days of sunshine and more than 1,200 skiable acres, Taos Ski Valley is the industry’s only B Corp Certified ski resort, which means it operates with the highest standards of environmental sustainability, and social and economic justice. An independently owned and operated resort, Taos maintains an authentic charm while delivering a world-class experience both on-mountain and off for skiers and riders of all abilities. Taos Ski Valley is proud to participate in the Mountain Collective and Ikon Pass. To learn more about Taos Ski Valley and its B Corp commitment, please visit www.skitaos.com.
About the World Pro Ski Tour
The World Pro Ski Tour is a nationwide tour of events where professional skiers race side-by-side in a single elimination format. Prize money, an overall World Pro Tour title as well as a World Championships special event attract Olympians and professional skiers from around the world. On-site spectators and TV viewers can watch all stops on the Tour in an exciting and easy to understand format.
