Andorra, ski between Spain and France

Get ready for winter in Andorra

Sled dogs in Andorra

Andorra is a small country in the Pyrenees linked to snow and sport, a white paradise which caters to skiers from around the world eager to enjoy its incredible mountains.

It’s been half a century since the first ski lift was inaugurated in 1957 at the foot of Coll Blanc, yes, somewhat rudimentary since worked thanks to the engine of a truck. Since then, the facilities have been growing and improving to get a country of just 500 km2, has more than 300 km of ski slopes. A favorite for lovers of winter sports places.

Large stations

Skiers of all levels can slide down the slopes of Grandvalira, the Southern Europe, with 210 kilometers of pistes spread over 118 tracks of varying difficulty largest station. It has hosted major events like the World Cup women’s downhill skiing and Kilometer, among others. In addition, for skiing there are many other activities: mushing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, fun slides and children to enjoy, you can even stay in a spectacular Igloo Hotel.

The second season consists of Vallnord Ordino-Arcalis and Pal-Arinsal, has about 100 km of tracks and stands out as a benchmark in the freerider – for both beginners and professionals-and for having a family atmosphere.

It is said that the best snow in the Pyrenees is located in Ordino-Arcalis, and the surfers enjoy in their long and wide tracks. But it is the children who spend it better in the longest green run in Andorra, the Megaverda, and Agustina, a character story at the Family Park.

While in Pal-Arinsal, 38,000 square meters have been cleared to make the most incredible jumps and spins. Do not forget that children can learn to ski with a special monitor, a giant Pocoyo.

For starters, the Parador Canaro mini station, located between El Tarter and Soldeu has two tracks especially designed for them, no matter the age, falls (safely) are constant.

And for those who seek to live experiences in nature, they will find them, more than two thousand meters in Sant Julia de Loria, in the adventure park Naturlandia, through two amazing attractions: the Tobotronc, a slide of 5.3 km full of curves that pass through the forest of La Rabassa up a comfortable two-seater sleigh; Airtrekk and a sky trail (circuit aerial platforms and boardwalks) 13.5 meters high and three difficulty levels. Calmer it is the practice of skiing, and the park has over 15 kilometers of marked trails for those addicted to this mode.

While the most popular sport is skiing – in all its forms-, Andorra offers a wide range of possibilities that complete an excellent stay with health centers and relaxation, fine dining, shopping and evenings not finished.

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Children Fun in the ski resorts of the Pyrenees in Catalonia

Learning and development of skiing or snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing and recreational parks attractions in delight younger

chldren at ski station at Pyrennes

The attraction that children feel the snow is one reason why many families choose to come to the Catalan ski resorts. There they discover that besides skiing -the white sport par excellence and snowboarding, a method that is gaining more followers, offering activities for children is very varied, though perhaps little known.

Playful with all kinds of attractions, tours sledding, snowshoeing, beginner and performance enhancement … the proposals of the 16 stations of the Pyrenees in Catalonia are endless and allow you to enjoy the snow on family farms. Moreover, the existence of seasonal ticket and package subscriptions that give access to different stations expands the possibilities to meet and enjoy the various facilities throughout the winter. An opportunity, along with a range of catering and accommodation suited to families, the choice becomes a guaranteed success.

Ski schools

All Catalan stations, both downhill skiing as cross-country skiing, have school-some of them have Various interests, which greatly facilitates or perfect the technique in a sport that can be enjoyed from five.

Through individual or group lessons, smaller become familiar with snow and learn to walk, fall and slide with the most basic hand techniques of specialized instructors. The more experienced can follow classes or courses to correct and improve your style.

The training offer is not limited to downhill skiing, it is possible courses of Nordic skiing, telemark, -trineos mushing dogs-drawn or snowshoes, among other specialties, or learn to build igloos, orientation, or participate in gymkhanas at stations as those of Sant Joan de l’Erm or Tuixent-La Vansa, both in the Alt Urgell.

Dog sledding

Mushing gaining fans every day, especially among animal lovers. Browse through spectacular mountains and snowy landscapes emulating Santa although this time the reindeer sleigh instead of being pulled by Nordic dogs is for the little experience as exciting. In addition, children discover how they are and how they live these dogs accustomed to low temperatures.

Ideal family practice, so as Portainé stations, Espot or Tavascan, all in culd, organized tours with a guide which always attends and gives instructions on driving. Also in the same area, Virós Vallferrera station, or other like Masella and Molina in Cerdanya, have their own circuit.

The success of this approach has led to create Bescaran in Alt Urgell, the first Catalan school of this specialty, and in Baqueira Beret celebrate annually the Championship of Spain Mushing Snow, who has a child category.

Snowshoes

Another upward modalities are snowshoes, as mushing, allows adults and children to share an experience that, contrary to what might seem, does not involve great difficulties. Walking with snowshoes not require technical and easy, so that children can be released from the seven or eight years.

All Catalan stations offer excursions with professional guides in even some of them, like Molina or Baqueira Beret organize night (the latter only with full moon) outputs.

Recreational parks

Children love to play and stations in the Catalan Pyrenees have it very present. Some offer passes that allow children to enjoy outdoor recreational activities including games and adapted to snow areas.

Ziplines and climbing walls, balance games, Tibetan bridges, multi circuit racing sled tracks snake Bliss, tennis -descenso tubbies in gigantic floats or snow quads are some of the funniest proposals.

Smaller include snow gardens, where qualified instructors take care of them while their parents enjoy a day in the snow …

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Avalanche skiers in the Pyrenees (two hours drive from Barcelona)

Weather and snow quality ally with ski lovers for two days crammed stations | Baqueira Beret made history yesterday when passing, first, of the 20,000 practitioners in one day

Baqueira Beret ski resort

Now. After a bridge Purisima low minimums for lack of snow and some Christmas parties truncated by bad weather is time skiing. For a couple of days supply in almost all stations in the Pyrenees has turned 180 degrees. At last the sun shines, the thicknesses are becoming more acceptable (a snow fall naturally later this year with the guns manufactured adds) and snow has excellent quality. And that has resulted in a flood of fans to the slopes, which this year have had to wait almost the end of the holiday season to enjoy these optimal conditions. Yesterday there were queues at the entrances and ticket offices in many stations (one of the longest was formed in access to Baqueira by culd) and most complex closed the day with the best balance of influx of so far this season . Baqueira passed, for example, twenty thousand of skiers. A record number of visits in one day at the station Val d’Aran, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

And the good news though arrives afternoon for business entrepreneurs snow is that the weather forecasts announce that this combination of sun and good snow conditions will be maintained until “Reyes”. The occupation, the closest ski hotels, round hundred percent this weekend and some days and hung the poster Full ago. The reserves in the finals of the New Year festivities have increased over the Christmas week, when the average occupancy in the Catalan Pyrenees was around eighty percent.

If the influx of skiers is maintained in the coming days on the slopes at the same rate as the last two days, the business will ski for Christmas saved after poor start to the season. What they will not recover these complexes are skiers lost the Purisima for lack of snow. The amateur start of the season is lost, changing plans due to lack of snow, usually no more days skiing after the weather seems to have allied with forecasts of reserves in the mountain hotel business. And the bigger audiences expected, as it has been, for this weekend. The Tourist Board of Lleida province expected to sell more than 220,000 passes, a figure always subject to weather conditions, which in the post-Christmas days were not all favorable. Nevertheless Baqueira Beret confident yesterday, according to forecasts by the spokesman of the season, Xavier Ubieira, moving from one hundred thousand visitors this holiday season. So long as the flow is maintained tracks in the coming days.

In the Cerdanya yesterday there was also avalanche of skiers to the slopes. Masella sold nine thousand passes, also record these festive days, as happened in Baqueira and most stations in the Pyrenees. Masella has been opened and all its facilities and the snow quality is also excellent on these slopes in the province of Girona. The drop in temperature at night allows stations to launch all cannons artificial snow.

Station Boi-Taüll in Alta Ribagorça, has also been increasing in the last two days the influx of skiers. This station, like those located on the southern side of the Pyrenees, lost much snow the last few days last year by strong gusts of wind, which forced the closure of several days the lifts of the highest levels. But now, eventually calm, have been recovered with artificial snow. Station High Ribagorça just passed into the hands of the Government, which has been the complex unable to cope with their owners to credit of over seven million euros signed with the Institut Català de Finances. The management of the complex will, however, in the hands of the former owners and in the coming seasons these are committed, with the help of the Government, to invest EUR 3.2 million in improvements and modernization of installations.

Lleida is the one with a higher offer ski and the thirteenth day of Christmas parties entrusted reach 250,000 overnight stays, according to forecasts of the Tourist Board of Lleida. Yesterday many of the hotels located on the slopes had already hung the sign completely, which will be repeated throughout the weekend. The inflow to the ski slopes increases with the visit of the owners of second homes, mostly occupied at this time.

The peaks of affluence as specific days cause more queues and jams are usual. For example, return to the hotels, residences and second homes from the different areas of Baqueira Beret is often very difficult these days as there are only two lane road must for the thousands of vehicles skiers. Yesterday some fans did know, on the other hand, their discomfort for the long wait to buy the pass at the box office only there in “PEULLA”, the first access to Baqueira from culd. Xavier Ubeira spokesman aranesa season, said he took note of these complaints and apologized for the wait of visitors, but remembered these agglomerations “occur only in very specific days and yesterday for this season a historic day with a record skiers, in one day, never reached “. Calm to ski again last weekend, as the “Kings” reserves are much more discreet than closed for the next two days.

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