EDWARD HERRERA STARTED TEACHING at Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort as a fifth grader, mostly shadowing his ski instructor dad in exchange for a free season pass. After about 12 years, he chased career opportunities to Angel Fire, but he returned to Sipapu in 2022 to reignite its ski school. Now, Herrera runs one of the biggest programs for school groups in the state, with students traveling from as far away as Farmington, Ratón, and Socorro to ski. The competitive freeskier has also won three United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association national titles, including in 2025, and has medaled 18 times in slopestyle and skier cross competitions.
IT JUST HELPS THE MORALE of people, being able to get on snow and get that first little sliding experience.
WORKING OUTDOORS and trying to be a better part of this planet is a real key to me.
I MIGHT BE THE FIRST HISPANIC ski school director the state has ever seen. To me, that’s not a big deal. To me, what is, is being able to give back to New Mexico. That’s the big vision.
VILLANUEVA IS A VERY SMALL VILLAGE in San Miguel County, in the West Las Vegas School District. They hadn’t had a ski club in over 18 years. I was able to get them a club back.
I TELL MY INSTRUCTORS, you’re going to make these kids remember you for the rest of their lives. You’ve got to have the spirit and the heart for it. You’re affecting families and peoples’ lives in a positive way.
I’M A THREE-TIME OVERALL NATIONAL CHAMPION. That’s unheard of for our state.
I’VE BEEN THROUGH SOME OBSTACLES. Being from little Las Vegas, New Mexico, it’s unheard of. People are like, “Don’t you live in a resort town?” And I’m like, “No, I commute.” My daughter is here in Las Vegas, and my life is here in Las Vegas.
I’M JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT I CAN, because I got that opportunity at Sipapu. If it wasn’t for me starting off there as a little tiny boy, I don’t know if I’d be where I’m at.
Curious about conditions at other mountains? Check out our story on New Mexico's ski season.