We may be experiencing one of the hottest summers of all times, if not the hottest. However this does not prevent ski fans from chasing their passion whenever they have the chance.
It is probable that, from a purely stereotypical point of view, whenever someone visits Spain, the first thing that comes to mind is warm weather, good food, beaches, etc. While it is true that Spain can provide tourists with all these pleasures, and many others, not all of them are related to sun and food. Spain has proven to be an interesting option both for Summer and Winter.
A testament to this is that eight ski stations were nominees for the annual World Ski Awards in 2015. This awards are the closest thing to an Oscar that ski stations around the world have. Cerler won the award of best Spanish ski station, and it was one of the nominees to World Best Ski Station.
http://worldskiawards.com/nominees/2015/europe/spain
In the following article, dedicated to ski lovers, and to those who want to start practising this interesting activity, we do a brief review of the 8 most prestigious Spanish ski stations according to these international juries.
Ski Area: 108 km
Tracks: 115 (16 green, 40 blue, 50 red, 9 black)
Distance from Roda: 351 km
First in our list is the closest of the Spanish stations nominees for the World Ski Awards: Sierra Nevada, at a roughly 3 hours drive from Roda. It is an interesting touristic choice which allows you to visit the beautiful town of Granada (it is located 27 km from it), and seeing the Alhambra (World Heritage) before going to the station. It is also located less than 100 km from Motril, in the Granada coast, allowing you to enjoy the beach and the mountain in the same day.
However, it is, above all, a mandatory destiny for ski lovers. Sierra Nevada is one of the best stations in Spain and it possesses over 350 artificial snow producing cannons. 15 schools for all levels, two tracks for cross.country skiing, and a snow park, among other sevices. The quality of its snow, the outstanding care put into their tracks and the additional recreation offer are the greatest ‘hooks’ for ski lovers.
For more information about this amazingly interesting destination, you can check the webpage http://sierranevada.es/, call to +34 958 249111, or write to sierranevada@cetursa.es. This station also has an app available for IOS and Android.
Ski area: 79 km
Tracks: 66 (8 green, 17 blue, 26 red, 15 black)
Distance from Roda: 731 km
Winner of the Best Spanish Ski Station Award in the World Ski Awards, the station Aramon Cerler is located in the village of Cerler, within the town of Benasque, in the Aragonese Pyrenees, and it is surrounded by pine forests and 60 peaks with an altitude over 3000 metres, among them, the Aneto, the highest mountain in the Pyrenees. It has one of the greatest slopes for skiing in the whole mountain range, ranging from 1500 metres on the base and 2700 in the ‘Pico Gallinero’. Most of the station ranges between 1900 and 2700 metres.
The village of Cerler maintains the flavour of the typical villages in the Benasque Valley. Even though it is close to a great touristic centre, the village has been able to maintain its historic beauty. It has a great number of noble houses from the 16th century and some buildings from previous eras.
The station belongs to the Aramon group, owner of 5 more stations in the Aragonese Pyrenees, two of which were nominees for the World Ski Awards. Not bad for a cover letter.
All the information you wish can be found in the webpage http://www.cerler.com/ (available in Spanish and French), managed by the Aramon group, in which you can take a look into the activities scheduled both for professionals and amateurs, along with recent photos and even live streaming videos via the webcams installed throughout the station. You can ask for information by calling to the number +34 974 551 012.
Ski area: 176 km
Tracks: 142 (14 green, 34 blue, 52 red, 42 black – plus itineraries)
Distance from Roda: 728 km
As it has been already mentioned, two stations from Aramon were nominees for the World Ski awards. Even though the Cerler station was the winner, the Formigal station also has some impressive facilities that will be the delight of ski fans.
Having remained active for over half a century, the Formigal station, possessing a ski area of 137 km, joined the Panticosa station (also Aramon’s) last year. As a result, six valleys have joined providing a ski area of 176 km. Panticosa (38 km) and Formigal (137 km) are connected via a ski-bus that leaves every half-hour.
In Formigal, apart from skiing, you can access the ‘Portalet Park’, the snow recreation area for the winter centre, inaugurated in 2012. In it you can partake in 8 rather rare activities: «ski bike»; «ice karting» (a kart race on an ice track); snow «paintball»; building igloos; sledges pulled by northern dogs; «snake gliss» (descending in a train of linked sledges all at the same time); «tubbing» (a special track with cambers fit for descending on a special snow floater); and snowmobiles on a special track. In addition, you must bear in mind the cross-country ski track around the lake and the lake and the spa, at an altitude of 1.636 m., categorized as easy, and in which snow remains during the whole winter.
All this information is avilable on its webpage http://www.formigal-panticosa.com (in Spanish, French, and Russian), including also, as in Cerler’s, photos and live streaming via the webcam system at the station. You may also call +34 974 490 000 for the Formigal area, or +34 974 487 248 for the Panticosa area.
Ski Area: 50 km
Tracks: 50 (5 green, 18 blue, 21 red, 6 black plus itineraries)
Distance from Roda: 740 km
Located in the Aragonese Pyrenees, more concretely in the Aragón Valley within the town of Jaca, the Astun Ski Station ranges from 1.660 to 2300 metres of altitude.
In addition to the ski facilities, the residential nucleus is located just below the tracks and it has all the services needed to turn the station into one of the best in Spain.
However, as in Formigal, it isn’t just about skiing. The station can provide various activities such as touristic visits to the Cathedral and the Citadel of Jaca, to the ‘San Juan de la Peña’ monastery, to the International Railway Station in Canfranc, and to the ‘Güixas’ Cave.
It also possesses several other sports facilities in which you can play tennis, do ice skate, mountain-biking, horse riding, hiking, and canyoning.
You can visit their webpage at http://www.astun.com (available in English, Spanish, French, and Portugese) or you can call +34 974373088 for more information. This station also has an app in the Apple Appstore and the Google Play Store for Android if you are interested.
Ski area: 155 km
Tracks: 103 (6 green, 42 blue, 39 red, 16 black)
Distance from Roda: 744 km
The Lerida station of Baqueira Beret is considered one of the best and most complete ski stations in Spain. It was recently awarded the Bronze Medal on the Sports Merit by the Spanish ‘Consejo Superior de Deportes’ (Superior Sports Council).
In addition to the great amount of tracks available, the station also has 34 ski lifts -a nine seat lift; 26 chairlifts, and 7 conveyor belts-, 629 snow production cannons and 14 machines for the preparation of the tracks.
This season, the station opens four new tracks but, leaving technical details aside, one of the most interesting features of Baqueira Beret has always been the glamour it possesses thanks to the presence of Spanish celebrities. For a long time the station was the chosen destination of the Spanish Royal Family, as well as of some politicians such as the former Prime Minister José María Aznar.
Among other celebrities who have set foot on the snow at Baqueira Beret we have Victoria Beckham and Esther Cañadas, and celebrities such as Belén Rueda (Spanish actress) and Pepe Navarro (former host of several TV Shows) don’t hesitate to have a drink in the Moët Winter Lounge whenever they feel like having a relaxing time in the snow.
If you are interested on this experience, you can visit the website http://www.baqueira.es/ (unfortunately only available in Spanish). You can also send an email to baqueira@baqueira.es or download the app for IOS or Android.
Ski Area: 50 km
Tracks: 51 (10 green, 12 blue, 16 red, 13 black)
Distance from Roda: 737 km
The ski station at Candanchú, in the Aragonese Pyrenees, is the oldest one in Spain, dating back to 1928. It is located in Aisa (in the Huesca province). It is a very complete station, great both for expert ski lovers and for amateurs. Furthermore, thanks to its special orographic location, that keeps it from the wind, it can always guarantee its visitors remaining opened for the whole season.
In addition to the facilities that the station provides, there exists (only for experts) the possibility of performing ‘off-tracks’, practicing cross country or nordic skiing through the most beautiful and spectacular snow-covered sites of the area.
For more information, you can visit the webpage http://www.candanchu.com/es/home (unfortunately only available in Spanish), or you can call directly to +34 974 373 194 or send an email to informacion@candanchu.com.
Ski area: 61 km
Tracks: 54 (17 green, 18 blue, 19 red, 7 black)
Distance from Roda: 715 km
La Molina is the ‘dean’ station for winter sports in Spain. In its history it includes sports and fun for all audiences.
Most of its surface is located in ‘La Cerdaña’. On top of its tracks it has quite a big snow park and the biggest super-pipe in the Pyrenees. Also, as part of the ludic activities for non-skiing audiences, it offers a wide range of activities, including trips on snow grooming machines, snow rackets, snow segways, and mushing tracks.
Among the international events that have taken place in the station there are: the Alpine Skiing World Cup (2008), Snowboard World Championships (2011), and Paralympic Alpine Skiing World Cup (2013).
If this were not enough, La Cerdaña and La Molina regions, El Berguedà and El Ripollès, provide a great gastronomic and hotel offer, all with the aim of allowing visitors to enjoy a very pleasant stay.
For further information visit the webpage http://www.lamolina.cat/es/invierno/, were you can check out a 3D map of the station. You may also call to +34 972 89 20 31.
Ski area: 74 km
Tracks: 65 (9 green, 24 blue, 23 red, 9 black)
Distance from Roda: 708 km
La Masella is located in the Tosa mountain at an altitude of 2.535 metres, and, as in the case of La Molina, in the La Cerdaña region, among the towns of Alp, Das and Urús.
The different station’s sectors allows skiing for all types of visitors, no matter their level of mastery. In high altitudes it is possible to ski between the rock walls of Coma Pregona and Coma Oriola.
Within the station you can find the ‘Dues Estacions’ track which serves as meeting point for ski and snowboard lovers, as well as acting as connection between the La Molina and La Masella stations.
The station has the privilege of being embedded in the natural environment crowned by the Tosa’s peak, from which you can gaze at the great hilltops of the Western Pyrenees, such as Puigmal, Carlit, and Puigpedrós, in addition to the neighbouring Central Pyrenees.
For more information about this lovely station we recommend you visit their webpage http://www.masella.com/ (avilable in English, Spanish, French and Catalonian). If you wish you can also call +34 972 144 000, send an email to masella@masella.com, or download the app for IOS or Android.
We hope you find this article interesting and that you feel encouraged to visit any of this prestigious ski resorts.
See you in the next article!!