Ski, Pradollano, Sierra Neveda

Skiing the Sierra Neveda.

LifeStyle’s, Editor, Bill Bristow has skied in many parts of the world and “The Sierra Nevada is one of the most well prepared stations I've seen yet.”

He has shot many car commercials there also. Nissan. Honda and Toyota. I remember doing a location scout up there in the summer, when there is no snow. Mark Sheldrake the art director wanted a high lake in a tundra style environment. The lake is the source supply of water for the snow cannons, and is a 4 km hike. Luckily in the summer you can rent a horse. Frankly it is not the same as the winter months. The slopes are kept in very good condition.

It is a very family and child friendly resort. Bertie, Bill’s son learned to ski on the higher slopes and within 3 days he had the courage to ski all the way down. Some parts are steep. “Living in Alhama De Granada makes the trip to The Sierra Nevada possible in just over an hour. This is turn means that I would go up for the day with Bertie.

The Sierra Nevada ski resort is located at Pradollano in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Accommodation and eating houses are in plenty as are apartments.

This is the most southerly ski resort in Europe and it is quite small in comparison to other European resorts. However, the facilities are considered top rate and it has, therefore, hosted numerous national and international ski events. The Sierra Nevada ski resort has numerous runs of varying difficulties to satisfy all levels of skiers. Natural snow is supplemented by snow cannons on some runs, and many skiers are pleasantly surprised to find that, because of its southerly position, the air temperature is usually warmer than other resorts.

Depending on the snow levels, the season generally runs from the end of November or the beginning of December until sometime in April. There is a surprisingly active nightlife in the Sierra Nevada resort. Spaniards have a reputation for being night owls and this it often attributed to a hot climate that encourages people to lie low during the day and come out only once the cool of the evening has set in. However, the winter scene at Sierra Nevada contradicts this - or at least proves that old habits are hard to break.

Most skiers and visitors come from Spain - mainly Madrid and the cities of Andalucía. According to the statistics from 2006, 80 percent of those using the facilies at the ski station were Spanish. Out of the 20 percent of foreigners skiing Sierra Nevada that year, 30 percent were British.

You would do well to carefully plan your ski holiday in Sierra Nevada, keeping in mind that the last week of February children from schools across Andalucia have one week off school, presumably to enjoy the snow and go skiing, which is why it's called "White Week" (Semana Blanca). Most children don't actually get to go skiing, but February is reported to be one of the busiest months, so beware. Also, as would be expected weekends and banks holidays are particularly busy.

HOW TO GET THERE

The Sierra Nevada ski resort and ski station are easily accessible from both Granada or Málaga provinces. From Granada, it is 45 minutes by car or bus just south-east of Granada city, the provincial capital. It is about one hour from the airport. Visitors should also consider visiting the attractions in Granada city. If you're coming from Málaga airport, the ski station is about two hours driving and is not difficult to find if you head north, following the first to Granada and then to the Sierra Nevada "Estación de Ski".

ACCOMMODATION

The Sierra Nevada is a top class ski resort and the most southerly and highest ski station in Spain, with more than 75 pistes, some at over 2,500 meters, where it is usually possible to ski from mid November through to late April.

There are two principal areas: Borreguiles has the ski schools, cable car stations and main ski lifts; Pradollano is the ski village, with hotels, restaurants, shops and holiday apartments. Parking is at a premium though, so check out availability when you rent your apartment, and don’t forget to drive there with chains on your tyres. As for ‘après ski’, from small intimate tapas bars to larger, international restaurants, the Sierra Nevada caters for all budgets and culinary tastes.December
19-21 Veterans Ski Championships, XXXIV Edition

January
10-11 Fifth María José Rienda Trophy
11 Spanish Mountain Championship
17-18 Cross Country Ski Championship
23-25 Children’s Monatil Ski Trophy
31 Cross Country Ski Championships

February
7-8 Alevín Ruralito Trophy 
14-15 Cross Country Ski Competition
21 Andalucia Skicross Championship
21-22 Rossignol Snowboard Demo Tour
22-23 Andalucia Artistic Ski Championship
25 Spanish Skicross Championship
26 Europe Skicross Cup
27-28 European Artistic Ski Cup

March
1 Spanish FIS Artistic Ski Championship
6-8 Andalucian Snowboard Championship
7-8 Caja Granada Alevín Cross Trophy
12-13 FADI FIS Absolute Trophy
14-15 Andalucian Absolute Ski Championship
21-22 CEDI Trials
27-29 Andalucia Children’s Alpine Ski Championship
30 – 5 April Spanish National Children’s Ski Championship

April
to 5th Spanish National Children’s Ski Championship
6-10 Spanish Championships for Physically Disabled
18 Caja Granada Social Trials
24-25 National Veterans Trophy
26 Andalucia Veterans Championships