Santa Fe, New Mexico — The ski industry in the Southwest is no stranger to the boom-and-bust cycles of weather, but the 2024-2025 season has proven to be an exceptionally harsh reminder of the region's vulnerability to La Niña. While parts of the Northern Rockies have seen consistent accumulation, New Mexico has been left largely high and dry, creating a ripple effect that is being felt from the lift lines to local gear shops.
The Reality on the Ground
Ski Santa Fe, a cornerstone of the local winter economy, has officially suspended operations for the season as of March 30, 2025—closing earlier than anticipated due to unseasonably warm temperatures and rapidly diminishing snowpack. The resort concluded the season with a total of 89 inches of snow, a stark contrast to its annual average of 158 inches.
Ben Abruzzo, General Manager of Ski Santa Fe, was candid about the conditions leading up to the closure. "It’s tough skiing out there for everyone," Abruzzo said. Despite the heroic efforts of mountain operations to maintain coverage, nature simply didn't cooperate this year.
The Economic Ripple Effect
For industry observers, the primary concern in these low-tide years isn't just the skiing—it's the economic viability of the surrounding community. When the snow stops falling, the revenue stream for local businesses dries up just as fast.
Wanonce Rakestraw, assistant manager of Bluebird Mountain Sports, highlighted this precarious balance in an interview with KOAT. "Usually, our season extends out to the first week of April. Past seasons used to be the second week of April," Rakestraw explained. His prediction of an early end unfortunately came to fruition. "It’s been really slow. When places lose business, you lose people, employees. You close early."
Adapting to Low Tide
For the everyday skier, seasons like this underscore the importance of gear selection. When coverage is thin and conditions are variable, you need equipment that can handle a beating. This is exactly why I always recommend keeping a pair of 'rock skis' in your quiver—durable all-mountain drivers like the K2 Mindbender 99Ti or the Volkl Mantra M6. These skis offer the metal laminate construction needed to hold an edge on firm, man-made snow and the durability to survive unexpected encounters with the base layer.
Contextualizing the Closure
The struggle in Santa Fe is symptomatic of the broader La Niña pattern that was forecast for the 2024-2025 winter. These cycles typically push the jet stream north, leaving the Southwest warm and dry. While Ski Santa Fe fought hard to keep 32 trails and 5 lifts spinning as long as possible, the late March sun ultimately won out.
As the resort announced on social media, the decision to close was driven by the safety and quality of the ski surface:
"As of March 30, 2025, we are closed for the 2024-2025 winter season... Thank you for a great season!"
For now, New Mexico skiers will have to look forward to next winter—or book a trip further north where the La Niña storm track has been more generous.
Original reporting by Unofficial Networks.
