Skiing, Spanish style, in Sierra Nevada.

Sun, sea, sand, and paella. These are all things most people associate with Spain, but how about snow, mountains and skiing? It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Spain, however, there are numerous ski resorts dotted throughout the country. Sierra Nevada, close to the beautiful town of Granada, is just two hours drive from the Mediterranean and is Europe’s southern most ski resort. Sierra Nevada offers the longest ski season in Spain, providing around five months of skiing, from late November through to the end of April. The resort has 87 kms of pisted runs, including 11 green, 35 blue, 36 red and 5 black runs, with the longest being El Aguila at 5.9 kms. Sierra Nevada, meaning Snowy Mountain, has some of the highest peaks in Europe. The Mulhacen is Spain’s second highest, at 3482 metres.

The advantage of being located so close to the Mediterranean is that Sierra Nevada boasts unrivalled sunshine. It’s also a surreal, yet warming feeling, to know that as you glide your way down the pistes in mid April, there are actually people sunbathing on the beaches just two hours drive away!  Descending the wonderfully groomed slopes, with the sun shining down upon you, allows the resort to look at its most beautiful, throughout the entire season. The resort prides itself on the organisation and quality of the slopes, the snow is always wonderfully prepared, to such an extent that great skiing is possible even if it does not snow for an extended period of time. Advanced snow making machines work around the clock during these dry spells, making for quality ski conditions throughout the entire season at Sierra Nevada.

Sierra Nevada caters wonderfully for snowboarders as well. Snowboarding has gained in popularity over recent years and the resort is very popular with fans of this sport. There are plenty of wide runs to carve your way down, as well as the jumps and half-pipes of the snowboard park. Fresh snow brings many opportunities to go off-piste and practice powder riding techniques. There are numerous snowboard schools in Sierra Nevada and competitions are held regularly throughout the season. The activities on offer do not stop at skiing and snowboarding. Cross country skiing, artistic skiing, moguls, trekking and adventure skiing are all available if you require something different.

The Sierra Nevada resort town itself, beautifully located at the base of the slopes, is a combination of modern design with traditional charm. The town exudes the Spanish love for the good life and for having fun. There are many hotels available, providing everything from basic accommodation, to a more luxurious stay. Most facilities are located around the main plaza, which plays host to a hive of activity. If you don’t have your own ski equipment, that’s no problem, as there are several ski hire shops located around the plaza. ‘Après ski’ is as important as the skiing itself for many people and Sierra Nevada will not disappoint on this front. There are lots of lively tapas bars and restaurants within the ski resort. However, remember this is skiing Spanish style, so the nightlife doesn’t get started until around eleven at night. For this reason, if you enjoy having the slopes to yourself, set your alarm early and get out onto the snow at nine o’clock in the morning. Most of those late night partygoers will still be sleeping off the after effects!

For the beginner, or even those wishing to have top up lessons, there are plenty of ski schools in the resort, one of the most established is the British Ski Center.  The British Ski Center was set up in the winter of 2002-3, their business now operates under the company name of “Sierra Essence Ski & Mountain Center”.  Their team of instructors offer professional tuition, for both group classes and one on one sessions, they can also assist people in getting to grips with the resort. The centre, set up buy two native Englishmen, guarantees that if required, you will have an English speaking teacher for your lesson. For details on Sierra Nevada and The British Ski Center visit www.sierranevada.co.uk