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Ski resorts are those areas that have been prepared to enjoy the snow and have slopes prepared with special machinery; that is to say, that has been marked out. These slopes are classified, according to their difficulty, with certain colors.
Spain has many ski resorts all over the country. In addition, it is one of the most mountainous on the European continent, ideal for those who like to practice both the extreme sport of snowboarding, in which a board is used to glide and skiing.
But not all ski resorts are the same; each one has its particular characteristics, including the hotels, restaurants, and services they offer, all ideal for the practice of winter sports.
What are the different levels of ski resort slopes?
If ordered from the least difficult to the most difficult, they are classified by color: green, blue, red, black, and others. Next, we will briefly mention each one.
Green slopes are ideal for beginners and novices since they are quite wide slopes, with an inclination of only between 10 and 15%. Therefore, the speed is low, allowing for the protection of strong falls and where the lifts have been adapted. Likewise, the chairlifts run at low speed.
The blue slopes are recommended for skiers with a slightly more advanced level than the previous one, a low to medium level. They are also wide, with little slope, without bumps due to snow accumulation. It is recommended for the first slides as skiers.
The red slopes: here, we begin to talk about a medium-high level, with a slope of 40%. Therefore, you will acquire more speed and have better control of both skis and board, as you may find some areas a little narrow, with bumps or changes in gradient.
Black slopes are recommended for more experienced skiers, experts in the matter since they are 50% slopes. Therefore, they are of an important speed, in addition to bumps, changes of gradient, and some narrowness.
Other slopes: these are not intended for the general public. Only some of the main resorts have this type of slope called FIS, conditioned for international competitions, such as the World Cup or any other competition. The famous International Ski Federation has approved them.
Other slopes are neither approved nor reviewed, called off-piste. They have virgin snow and certain difficulties, such as the natural risk areas of rocks hidden under the snow or snow slides. They are not recommended because of their dangerous terrain.
Some of the best ski resorts in Spain:
The Catalan Pyrenees Baqueira-Beret: located in the Aran Valley, it is the only ski resort on the northern slope of the Pyrenees. It consists of 4 zones, covering some 167 km for skiing. In addition, it has 120 slopes for all levels, from the most basic and inexperienced to the slopes that contain extreme difficulties in their descent.
They also offer a service in which the skier is guided as to the color of the slope that corresponds to him, that is to say, his true level. This service is called safari. It has 25 different ski schools, more than 500 instructors, 4 children’s snow parks, 2 snow parks for pirouettes, jumps, and some tricks, also 1 slalom studio for skiing between gates and poles.
In the Sierra Nevada Massif: this ski resort is located in the Sierra Nevada National Park, at the level of the Penibetic System, or mountain system, in the southern part of Spain, a few minutes from the city of Granada, in the municipality of Monanchil. It is a well-equipped resort with 131 marked trails.
In addition, it has 110 km for skiing and all kinds of amenities, such as ski schools, nursery service, clinics, excellent instructors, a snowboard park called Sulayr, bars, discos, spa, and many hotels. There is also a 300 km circular route within the Sierra Nevada park, the longest in the country, and for beginners, there are special 2-day courses.
In the Benasque Valley, the Aramon Cerler ski resort is located in the heart of this valley, also called the Hidden Valley, and is surrounded by beautiful fir forests. It is the highest resort in the Aragonese Pyrenees, with 2630 m, and the highest difference in altitude in the mountain range; it also has a skiing surface of 79 km.
Although these slopes have areas for different skiers, it is blue, i.e., low to medium level. It has about 65 slopes, distributed as follows: for beginners 7, 25 of an intermediate level, for expert skiers 14 and about 16 easy ones. Apart from all the above mentioned, it has a snow park, hiking trails and nearby are located the villages of Anciles and Cerler.
In addition, part of Benasque is occupied by the Aneto peak and the Posets-Maladeta Park, a monument of the Pyrenean Glaciers. This resort won the World Ski Awards for 2 consecutive annual periods for being the most complete and the best resort in the country.
In the Province of Huesca, the Candanchú resort in Aragón: we are talking about the first ski resort and, therefore, the oldest in the country; it was inaugurated in 1928. It is a few kilometers from the French border and the city of Jaca. It is located next to the Aragón river, at its source.
It has several slopes for less advanced levels, spread over 39.5 km; it also has a snow garden for the little ones and ski schools for children and the 3rd age. For more experienced skiers, there are also areas with tricky descents, such as the Tubo de la Zapatilla the Tuca Blanca, among others.
The Formigal Panticosa resort is next to the French border in the Aragonese Pyrenees. This resort is located the largest and widest in the country, with 180 km for skiing. It is made up of 6 valleys and divided into 2 different sectors. It also offers a nursery service and many activities for the little ones.
But, in addition to skiing, you can visit the Tena Valley with the towns of Panticosa and Sallent de Gallego. You can also relax in Marchica, an outdoor terrace with live music, to enjoy any drink.
In the Lleida Pyrenees Boí Taüll: it is located exactly in the Bohí Valley, and in 2020 was awarded the World Ski Awards. Its maximum altitude is 2751 m, and the minimum is 2020 m, with 47 km for skiing, about 43 slopes, and off-piste 2 itineraries, all with excellent snow quality. The slopes are 14 black, 20 red, 3 blue, and 6 green.
Its main advantage is that it is a resort that has few people, besides the red slope called Aran Collibros, which is very long and especially demanding for more experienced skiers of medium-high level.
It has 6 chairlifts and 11 lifts, and a nursery for the little ones. The older ones have many instructors who teach ski lessons at different levels. They also have holiday complexes, including accommodation, children’s club, entertainment, spa, and restaurants.
In the Aragonese Pyrenees, in the Astún Valley: we are talking about the Astún ski resort, a candidate for the Winter Olympic Games in 2010, 2006, and 1998. It has about 50 km of skiing, 51 slopes, and about 10 itineraries outside of it. Its maximum altitude is 2300 m and has a drop of about 650m. It also has chairlifts to later slide down the blue toboggan run.
Likewise, you can go up the Cima Raca chairlift and take the Balsas slope, which is also blue and reach Sarrios, accessible for beginners and with very good snow. In addition, this station offers combos that include ski school classes, equipment rental, food, among others.
There is a project from 2013 that has been unearthed, which is the union of the Pyrenean resorts of Astún, Formidable and Candanchú, thus forming the perfect geographical triangle for the enjoyment of ski lovers. Once the funds are granted, they will be ready in a maximum of 4 years and will be called Aragón Ski Circus.
In Asturias, the Fuentes de Invierno ski resort: in the Cantabrian Mountain Range, specifically at the level of the Council of Aller, is located this resort of Fuentes de Invierno, which was inaugurated in March 2007, to encourage and recover this Council, due to the crisis caused by mining.
It has its highest base at about 2000 m, a middle area of 1700 and the lowest at 1500 m high and 8.7 km to ski, with marked trails. It has a few chairlifts, 1 ski lift, and 1 ski lift. Likewise, snowshoeing is allowed.
In Segovia, the ski resort of La Pinilla: is located at the level of the Central system of the country and with 1500 m of altitude above sea level. The highest point of the station is located at about 2200 m, and its proximity to the cities of Segovia, Madrid, Valladolid, and Burgos allows a good alternative for skiers who are located in that central area.
The town of Riaza and the medieval towns of Sepúlveda, Maderuelo, Ayllón, and Pedraza are also very close to this area and the town of Burgo de Osma.
In the Eastern Pyrenees, the ski resort La Molina: located in the region of Sardinia, this station has about 67 km of skiing terrain and several slopes equipped for all levels of experience, and to enjoy the snow both in the snowpark, for the realization of his pirouettes and jumps, as in the Superpipe.
It is a structure in the shape of a half-pipe used in these extreme sports at snow level; it is said to be the largest in the Pyrenees. In these facilities were held some competitions, including in 2013 the Alpine Skiing Championship at World level for the disabled; likewise in 2011 the World Snowboard Championship and in 2008 the Alpine Skiing World Cup.
