Ski season is just around the corner so it might be a good time to get your gear out and get ready for some winter excitement this year regardless of what your non-season sport of choice might be. In preparation of another winter whooshing by, check out these ski areas — all within easy reach of Lovington:Angel Fire: The Angel Fire Resort boasts the only snowboarder half-pipe terrain park in the state.Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Area: New Mexico’s largest full-service cross-country ski area, located near Red River, offers trails groomed for both classic and freestyle cross-country.Pajarito Mountain Ski Area: Carve turns at the only alpine skiing/snowboarding area in the Jemez Mountains near Los Alamos.Red River Ski Area: It’s fun just to hang out in the former mining town of Red River, but you’ll find the alpine skiing and snowboarding on these 290 acres unforgettable.Sandia Peak Ski: Check out the Sandia Mountains and the 30 groomed trails at this intimate 200-acre ski area.Sipapu Ski: Located about 20 miles south of Taos, Sipapu offers a low-key experience that’s deliberately short on glitz but big on family fun.Ski Apache: At 12,000 feet, Sierra Blanca towers over the Ski Apache Resort, owned by the Mescalero Apache Tribe in the heart of the region known as Billy the Kid Country.Ski Santa Fe: Just 20 minutes from Santa Fe, Ski Santa Fe is on a 12,000-foot peak, 45 wide intermediate alpine ski and snowboard runs, and narrow expert trails flanking the Pecos Wilderness in the Santa Fe National Forest.Taos Ski Valley: The Taos Ski Valley features a top-ranked ski school, uncrowded slopes, abundant snow and endless sunny days to create a memorable skiing vacation.Valles Caldera Cross Country: The Valles Caldera is a 15-mile wide collapsed volcano crater. The eruption that created the Valles also created the Jemez Mountains over one million years ago. The Valle is a beautiful place for peaceful day cross-country skiing.