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TAOS — Taos Ski Valley is opening its slopes to snowboarders for the first time, starting March 19.

It was time, Adriana Blake, a member of the family who founded the ski resort in the 1950s, said today.

Families that traditionally have come to Taos now include snowboarders, she said.

"There were enough families that we were turning people away . . . enough Taos loyalists who want to do it," she said.

Blake acknowledged that a faction feels "it's going to ruin Taos to have snowboarding." Taos was among the last areas in the United States to cater exclusively to skiers.

But, she said, "I think what makes Taos special is the people who work here and the people who come here, and that's not going to change. We're just sharing the mountain with more people."

The northern New Mexico resort will not have separate areas for snowboarders and skiers, Blake said.

Blake had no estimate of how many snowboarders the resort might attract.

Other ski areas that have opened to snowboarders have seen large initial jumps in business because of the novelty, but after that, resorts report an overall increase of about 10 percent, she said.

"Taos tends to attract a certain level of athlete no matter what they're using on their feet," Blake said. "We'll see the same (type of) athlete we're seeing now; they'll just have something different on their feet."

A news release from the Blake family said the decision was made after careful planning and consideration. The family said the debate for several seasons has centered more on when the resort would open to snowboarding rather than whether it would.

"We recognize many challenges that will result from this decision but feel ultimately it will benefit Taos Ski Valley Inc., its employees and the community at large," said the release, signed by Alejandro, Adriana and Mickey Blake.