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UPDATE: What we know about plans to open Spain’s ski resorts

With Spain preparing for its first proper snowfall this weekend, winter sport lovers are asking when ski resorts across the country will be opening.

Published: 26 November 2020 08:48 CET
Updated: 4 December 2020 10:48 CET
UPDATE: What we know about plans to open Spain’s ski resorts
The town of Formigal as seen from the slopes.Photo: Formigal Aramon Resort

The winter skiing season has become a source of tension among European countries, with several countries refusing to open resorts fearing it could spark a new bout of coronavirus outbreaks.

Even as its northern neighbour France banned its ski resorts from opening and threatened border checks to stop people from crossing the  border to ski, Spain has not completely ruled out opening its ski resorts.

Infact, Spain’s Tourism Minister has insisted Spain is determined to open its ski resorts this season.

Reyes Maroto, said in an interview with RNE that the “government is in favour of these activities opening in a safe way”.

Spain's Association of Ski Resorts (ATUDEM) presented plans last week for the winter season insisting that ski tourism lends itself well to coronavirus restrictions at least in terms of social distancing.

They point out the obvious facts; that the sport is carried out in the open air meeting the “well ventilated” criteria that is supposed to limit the risk of contagion. Plus, the length of skies when worn naturally keeps skiers apart the 1.5 metres social distancing recommended by health authorities.

The report on how to keep resorts safe recognised potential hotspots at ski equipment hire shops, restaurants and on the lifts but suggested that the risks could be easily mitigated.

They outlined plans that include extra cleaning at installations and adding hand sanitizer dispensers, a ban on smoking in busy places in resorts and limiting numbers in restaurants to ensure social distancing.

However restrictions on travel that have been announced over the Christmas period means it could be difficult for those who don’t live near a resort to get to the slopes, if they want to abide by the rules.

In Catalonia, which boasts several areas of ski resorts in the Pyrenees bordering France and Andorra, plans are still afoot to open the pistes after the December puente.

The Catalan resorts of Masella, Boí Taüll, La Molina, Port Ainé, Vallter 2000, Espot Esquí and Tavascán had all announced that they were opening on December 9th.

But on Thursday, a spokeswoman from FGC, a public company that operates resorts in Catalonia said their opening would have to be delayed until restrictions that prevent people from leaving their municipality at weekend were lifted.

Meanwhile the upmarket and privately run resort of Baqueira Beret, a favourite with Spain’s royal family, was due to open on December 11th and has not announced plans to delay its inaugural weekend.

On Thursday Catalan authorities delayed lifting restrictions on movement between municipalities at weekends and loosening limits on restaurants – measures that will now stay in place until December 21just two days before the national ban on travel within Spain kicks in for Christmas.

It would mean that should the resorts open then only those who live within the region itself will be able to visit ski resorts.

Further west in the Pyrenees within the Aragon region, Aramon, the company that runs resorts in Formigal, Panticosa, Cerler and Valdeinares and Javalambre in Teruel have placed staff on ERTE – Spain's furlough scheme – delaying the opening of their resorts until the situation is clearer.

Candachu and Astun, also in the Pyrenees haven't set a date for opening yet and have also placed staff on ERTE.

In the Sierra Nevada, the season usually opens by the last weekend in November and experienced a good dump of snow over the last weeks but the opening of resorts there have been delayed until border restrictions around Andalusia are lifted – they are currently due to remain in place over the December Puente and not open until December 10th.

But with the new restrictions announced over the Christmas and New Year period, a usually busy time for Spanish ski resorts, it is unclear whether they will be able to open at all.

New rules announced on Wednesday prohibit travel across regional borders between December 23rd and December 6th unless it is for reasons that include, work, study, seeking medical treatment etc.

The one concession made to the rules is to allow people to travel to a different autonomous region within Spain to visit “family or close friends” although the advice is to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay at home.

The rules currently make no exception for skiing.

For the latest on resorts opening and snow levels check out Infonieve.

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SKIING

Snow report: What’s the latest outlook for French ski resorts this winter?

Good news for skiers in France, as a mild December has given way to a cold blast in early January that's bringing some much-needed snow.

Published: 5 January 2024 14:50 CET
Snow report: What's the latest outlook for French ski resorts this winter?

After a mostly dry and mild December, snow returned to the the Pyrenees on Friday.

Meanwhile most resorts in the Alps have been able to stay open after a promising early start to the ski season, thanks to fresh snowfalls, with more on the way this weekend.

Pyrenees

Snow has returned in the Pyrenees. Some 5cm fell overnight into Friday, January 5th in eastern parts of the mountain range, with forecasts predicting a further 15cm to 20cm to be on the ground 24 hours later. The region had not seen any snow since December 2nd.

In Angles, 20cm of snow had fallen at higher altitudes by mid-morning on Friday.

Further west, numerous resorts in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département remained closed this week after early December snow had melted in mild conditions that have dominated France in recent weeks, but significant snowfall is expected over the weekend into Monday, and resorts are hoping that they will see enough to open.

One resort, Artouste, has been unable to offer skiing since the start of the season on December 23rd due to a lack of snow. A scenic rail service – usually reserved for warmer months – has kept the resort going. It is set to stop running on Friday, amid expectations of enough snow to finally open the slopes.

READ ALSO Climate crisis: ’90 percent’ of Europe’s ski resorts face critical snow shortages

Alps 

Many ski resorts opened on time, or even a little earlier than scheduled last month, after significant early snow fall, and have enjoyed deposits in the first days of 2024. But, even here, resort managers welcomed the promise of more significant snow this weekend.

Some resorts weren’t so fortunate. Ski areas in Gérardmer, in the Vosges, were still closed in the week leading up to Christmas because of poor snow conditions, but they are hoping for enough snow to finally get started this weekend, while La Bresse-Honeck was using ‘stocked snow’ made by using snow that fell earlier in the winter months to stay open as recently as December 30th.

In the Northern Alps, resorts such as Alpe d’Huez benefited from fresh snowfall on December 22nd, while Val d’Isère had new snow on December 29th. In the Southern Alps, Les Orres’ last pre-New Year snow was on December 8th.

And the French Alps have enjoyed more snow since the start of the year. There’s at least 50cm of fresh snow on the higher slopes of Les Gets and Morzine, for example, a significant improvement on the same time last year, when the resorts were among several that had very little snow to speak of.

In Chamonix, meanwhile, snow has fallen on eight of the last 14 days, with more expected every day between Friday and Monday.

Massif Central

As the post on X / Twitter shows, the Massif Central has not had the best of winters for snow so far. But between 30cm and 50cm is expected in Le Lioran by Monday. 

READ ALSO ‘So many barriers since Brexit’: The French ski businesses no longer willing to hire Brits

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