ON THE PISTE - Sports News From Around Spain in H! Society Magazine - Comments
Post a Comment
ON THE PISTE
Poster: H! Society 19/03/2008
Jump to Comments
MICKY REYNOLDS GIVES A BEGINNER’S GUIDE ON HOW TO ENJOY YOURSELVES AT SIERRA NEVADA
We are well blessed here on the Coast, having Europe’s most southern ski resort virtually on our door-step (well, just over two hours away), with its 87 pistes and the same number of kilometres that cater for skiers (both alpine and cross-country) and snowboarders alike.If taking to the slopes is not your forte it’s still worth a trip as there are plenty of other activities to enjoy, such as ice skating, rubber ring rides and horse or dog-drawn sled rides. And many just ride the cable car up to the ski station to chill out and take in the very fresh air on the bar/restaurant’s sun terrace.So why not plan a trip to Sierra Nevada’s wonderful white world? You never know, you might get bitten by the snow bug – I did.(Note: All prices quoted on these pages were supplied by Cetursa, the company that runs the resort.)
NEW THIS SEASON
The new jewel in the Sierra Nevada crown is the updated Borreguiles cable car up to the ski station, which now takes half the time of its predecessor and can transport 3,200 people per hour instead of 600. New to the Fuente del Mirlo recreation area are two toboggan runs plus the Trineo Ruso, a 130-metre roller-coaster style ride where two people share a toboggan that travels at speed on rails. The Fuente del Mirlo recreation area is located in the village to the right of the Al-Andalus cable car by the ice skating rink and the crêche.
LESSONS
There are numerous ski/snowboard schools and the majority have English-speaking teachers. A one-hour lesson for one person is €35; for two, €40; for three, €45 and for four, €51. It is advised to take lessons in the afternoon when the snow is not so hard (especially for snowboarders).
SKI/SNOWBOARD AND CLOTHES HIRE
Many are put off trying as they have no equipment. Skis and snowboards can be hired from one of the many shops in the resort and there are also a few that hire out ski pants. You have to leave your passport/residencia as collateral when hiring equipment and prices are €22 for skis and boots and €24 for snowboards per day.
SKI PASS PRICES
The season is split into three categories: low, medium and high. Weekends (until 5-6 April), local and national fiestas, the whole of February and Semana Santa (15-23 March) are all high-season. Prices are €34 (for both children and adults) for a half-day pass (cannot be purchased until 1pm), and a full day one costs €40 for adults and €24 for children under 13 and pensioners (ID must be provided).Medium season (weekdays in January, March, 7-11 April, plus weekends after 5-6 April) costs €31.50 for a half-day pass and €37 (adults) and €22 (under-13s) for the full-day.Low season (weekdays in April after the 11th) costs €27.50 for a half-dayer, while all - prices are €32.50 for adults and €19.50 for under-13s.A one-trip return ticket up to the ski station for non-skiers costs €15 for adults and €12 for under-13s and pensioners. The ticket office (marked “taquillas”) is located in Plaza de Andalucía (the lower square). There is an extra €3 charge for the plastic card pass which is refundable at the end of the day from the “blue box” machines in the village, or keep it in case you want to return as passes can be booked in advance with these cards via the internet. Advice: booking in advance saves time-consuming queuing at the ticket office on the day.
SEMANA BLANCA
February can be one of the busiest months of the season; by this time there is usually a healthy layer of snow and it is traditionally half-term for school children. Spain’s provinces all take a different week off and you can guarantee that for the whole of the month the slopes will be packed – especially with school kids. You have been warned!
SKI CROSS WORLD CUP
The only professional activity this season features the Ski Cross World Cup troupe
and they will be in action on 22 and 23 February. The competition takes place at the Pista Tubo de Borreguiles and there will be local interest as Granada’s very own Rocio Delgado and Daniel Rienda will be participating.
DIRECTIONS
If you are driving to the resort, take the N340 autovia and after passing Málaga take the turn-off for Antequera (N331) and head north until you see a sign for Granada (A359). Once this by-pass ends you join the A92, the main road to Granada. You will pass Granada airport on your right at Km. 229 and then take the next turn-off at Km. 230 which reads Santa Fe and Sierra Nevada. Follow this dual-carriageway past Santa Fe until you see the A44/E902 autovia which you join (there’s a petrol station on the right just before the turn-off) and the Sierra Nevada road (A395) is then well-posted after a few kilometres. A useful hint: all sign-posts for Sierra Nevada are coloured brown.The return journey: once reaching the bottom of the road from Sierra Nevada (A395) take a left turn, travel through the tunnel and then follow signs for Jaen (it’s advised to keep in the right-hand lane as the autovia splits in two after a few kilometres and if you miss the turn-off to your right for the A45 you will find yourself heading for Motril), then sign-posts for Malaga will soon appear.
BOX
Information on the resort, the latest snow/weather reports and piste information can be found at www.sierranevadaski.com BOXSierra Nevada has one of the longest ski seasons in Europe, and more hours of sunshine than any other resort on the continent.
Comments
There are currently no comments for this entry.
