Green Chile and Chairlifts: Why Angel Fire Bike Park is the Ultimate Women’s Mountain Bike Clinic Destination
- 5 minutes ago
- 8 min read
It’s 2021. My bike is from 2013. My shorts are for running and my shoes should have been retired years ago. I’m 6 months into mountain biking and the stoke is real. The early morning sun is sneaking through the trees as we wind along the most beautiful forest. How is the earth so calm when my stomach is in knots? My mind is racing with excitement and fear.
I get to the entrance and look up. Two thousand vertical feet stare back at me. The chairlift cuts perfectly through the middle of the resort exposing my venture to every type of trail you can imagine. From jump lines, to skinnies, bridges, rollers, and the famous Angel Fire chunk.
Alright, I take a deep breath as my heart continues to beat out of my chest. I open the car door and immediately feel at home. As with most places in New Mexico, the vibe is laid back and welcoming. I see some familiar faces and meet many new ones. I mess up the fist bumps, offering awkward hand shakes that turn into half hi-fives. Somehow a burrito is already in my hand and, yes, it is filled with delicious green chile.
I gear up in my confidence boosters - knee pads - and ride to my first challenge, the chair lift. How am I supposed to get this bike on a chairlift? I am regretting skipping arm day for the past 30 years. Panic sets in. A lift person swoops in at the last second, whips my bike on the lift, and gives me the greeting of my new people- the fist bump. Finally figured that part out. Now, all I have to do is sit back, enjoy the view, and figure out how to get down.
What is Lift Served Terrain?
I’m about to find out that lift served-terrain is one of mankind’s greatest inventions. You do not have to pedal uphill to get to the fun stuff. You take a scenic chairlift ride up the mountain and have a moment to meet other riders, eat a snack, and plan your next adventure. Downhill trails are designed to take advantage of the natural elevation loss of the mountain. With lift service and little pedaling, you can save your energy trying new features, picking a favorite line, and progressing your downhill mountain bike skills run after run.
Angel Fire Bike Park Trail Breakdown
Another fist bump comes my way as my new chairlift buddy finds out it is my first day and gives me the beta on all the green, blues, and black squiggles on the map. Before getting into the colors, choosing the type of terrain you want to ride is important.
Freeride Vs Technical:
Free Ride: Look for the orange oval. These are machine-built and contain man-made features. Trails are enhanced with challenges such as dirt jumps, ride-on features, gaps, narrow surfaces, wall rides, and berms. Another term for Freeride is “flow” trail.
Technical: Trails without an orange oval. Technical trails are designed to embrace the rugged terrain of the mountain. Routes are typically hand-built and feature organic obstacles such as rocks, roots, logs, drops, and jumps. Other words for technical include chunk, tech, and techy.
Now to decode the colors.
Green (Beginner): Perfect for riders who are getting started with mountain biking. They’re usually mellow, with gentle turns and small features that help build confidence while keeping the ride fun and approachable.
Blue (Intermediate): Blue trails add a bit more speed and technical riding into the mix. Expect steeper sections, tighter corners, rocks, roots, and small jumps that challenge your skills while still being manageable for intermediate riders.
Black (Advanced): Built for experienced riders who are comfortable with steep terrain and technical features. These trails often include larger drops, rough rock gardens, fast descents, and more demanding line choices that require solid bike control.
Double Black (Expert): expert riders looking for serious challenge and adrenaline. Expect extremely steep terrain, mandatory technical features, big jumps or drops, and terrain that demands confidence, precision, and advanced downhill skills.
The chair lift slows and my heart begins to race. This time out of excitement not fear. All the trails on the map tell me this place truly is a choose-your-own-adventure made for everyone. I make my way to Easy Street. The perfect technical warm-up that winds through the mountain, linking every trail from newbie flow to pro-line chunk.
The Best Collide: VNTRbirds x Angel Fire Bike Park
Fast forward 5 years and I am getting prepped for yet another summer spent ripping around Angel Fire Bike Park. Some things look a little different. My gear matches my skill set - I rock a full face helmet and chest protector. VNTRbirds made its way into my life and I have the Rider to Racer program under my belt. I can now hit the jumps on Boulder Dash instead of rolling through them. I’ve raced through double back diamond trails and my go-to choice for getting down is shredding through the steep corners of DeVinci’s Code.
Both VNTRbirds and Angel Fire shaped who I am as a rider today. I learned how to feel confident, to build community, and to create a space for everyone to feel welcomed, no matter their skill level, gear choice, or style of riding.
What I love about Angel Fire is what has stayed the same over the years. The level of stoke and camaraderie is still just as high. The energy and laid back vibes are still felt by everyone. I get this same feeling any time I am with the VNTRbirds crew. If you have ever experienced a day with VNTRbirds, you know this feeling well. You are guaranteed to leave with a new found love for the outdoors, knowledge that you are capable of more than you realized, and glitter. SO. MUCH. GLITTER.
June 6th and 7th is when my two absolute favorite communities will collide. Two communities that share the same values to bring people together and build each other up. This will be a weekend you will not want to miss. YOU CAN REGISTER HERE!
What you’ll get at the Angel Fire Bike Park Clinic:
Two full days of professional coaching tailored to your individual goals
Lift tickets (season pass discount available)
Lunches
Free Yeti demo bikes
Discounted lodging and additional discounted lift tickets for partners
Hell of a good time and new friends to shralp with
You may be asking yourself, “Why travel to Angel Fire for all this?” Here is what makes New Mexico so special.
New Mexico Mountain Biking is for Everyone
Unassuming and epic. This is the first thing that comes to mind when biking in New Mexico, specifically riding at Angel Fire Bike Park. Biking here simultaneously feels like the best kept secret and an experience so overwhelming you want to share this space with the world. It truly is a special place, where most of us just want a sense of community to share the joys and beauty of life.
Angel Fire Bike Park is open to everyone. I see families, first time riders, pro athletes, freestyle riders, and techy terrain sufferers. No one is out of place and all are welcome. Angel Fire Bike Park boasts every type of trail you would want. It has the space and the terrain to take your riding to the next level even in just one weekend.
Lodging
This isn’t your typical resort stay. It has a charm you can’t find at most large bike parks. It is typical for most New Mexican’s to day trip it and travel at least two hours to get to Angel Fire. It is a right of passage to wake up early, blast music, get hyped, and roll into the parking lot right as the lift picks up speed. If you are a weekend warrior, you camp right at the bottom of the hill. It’s a two minute bike ride to the base of the lift and a five minute ride to grab some coffee in town. For those that enjoy an occasional shower between park days, there is an abundance of Air BnBs and Rentals right on the mountain.
Clinic Participants get a discounted rate for lodging at Angel Fire Resort. Book online or by phone. Use promo code: VNTR
Gear Considerations
Downhill days may require a shift in your regular gear. My method is to focus on what makes you feel safe and comfortable. Feeling safe = more confidence on the bike.
Helmets are mandatory, but full-face helmets are recommended. Downhill terrain is a good time to try out your armor. Think knee pads, elbow pads, and chest protector. None are required, but it is nice to be protected when you are progressing your skills.
It is okay if you don’t have the recommended gear. Angel Fire Bike Shop has just what you need to rent over the years!
You’ll want to wear bike-specific or closed-toed sturdy shoes with less tread. A light layer is good to have as weather can shift quickly when the clouds roll in. For me, I like to wear a long sleeve top and pants, just for good measure.
Bring your bike! If you aren’t sure you have the right set up or are ready to try something new, clinic participants get FREE DEMOS with Yeti this weekend. I don’t think anything gets better than this.
Keep yourself fueled with snacks and water. A water bottle and food that fits in your pocket is enough while on your bike. Since you will be frequenting the base of the mountain you can store more treats here and grab water at the end of your lap.
Is the trip to Angel Fire Bike Park for a skills clinic worth it?
Unequivocally, YES! Angel Fire Bike Park is one of the best places to progress quickly. Lift access means more downhill laps, less climbing, and way more time actually riding and building skills in real time. The vibes are unmatched, the chile is spicy and so are the trails (only if you want them to be!)
Last year, I got to show off Angel Fire to my Colorado VNTRbirds pals. As we start to head up the mountain, Cassie turns to me, admitting she is incredibly nervous. She shreds hard and is incredibly skilled. I am confused. My mind can’t grasp that she would be scared of Angel Fire!
She had not yet experienced the inclusive nature of each trail. Most features here have a ride around, table top jumps are perfectly curated to roll through or send 50 feet in the air. You don’t have to worry about being slow or “not enough” here. There are pull off areas frequently through the trails. I remind everyone who comes to Angel Fire that we are all worthy to ride here. It is true and I hope all those who come, no matter if you are there to progress your skills, make core memories, demo a Yeti, score an insane swag bag, or connect with other badass femme riders, feel they are welcome in the New Mexico mountain biking world.
Alysse Lerager (she/her) is a New Mexico local who loves taking trips out to Angel Fire Bike Park if she isn't pedaling her local trails of Glorieta. As a Rider to Racer Alumni, Alysse loves inviting more femme folks onto bikes and Introducing them to the Incredible trails and more Incredible community. Come ride with her at the Angel Fire Skills Clinic!
