Spanish Ski Resorts Open on 1st December for 2007-8 season
Posted by Nicolas (admin) on Nov 30 2007 at 10:50 AM
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Due to the cooler weather, ski resorts in both northern and southern Spain are due to open on the 1st December 2007.

Last year the warm 2006 winter weather meant scarce snow and a poor time for the ski resorts, but 2007 is set to be a great one for the skiiers in Spain and the more poular ski resorts will open at the beginning of December.

The two weeks prior to Xmas is very poular with Spanish skiiers and is the most lucrative time for of year for the Spanish skiing industry.  In any year a lack of snow means the Christmas season is a quiet time for the industry, but this year, the increase in rain in Spain and relatively colder weather give an optimistic view for resorts throughout Spain.

In Andalucia in southern Spain, the resort of The Sierra Nevada has had heavy snow recently and this, supplemented with snow cannons, means the resort will be ready to open on the 1st December, as scheduled.  The resort can easily be accessed from both Granada (less than an hour) and Malaga (approx 2.5 hours) airports, both of which have cheap flights from the UK starting at around 50 pounds including taxes. The Sierra Nevada resort also benefits from it's proximity to the Granada's Costa Tropical - the weather averages around 18 degress in the winter, and with the sun shining it can feel like 25 degrees and is a popular destination for those looking for winter sun.

In northern Spain, one of the best resorts in the Pyrenees is also due to open on the 1st December. The resort of Baqueira-Beret will only open some of its 33 slopes (a total of 104 kilometres of pistes) - with a rumoured 13 kilometres of slopes and 11 ski lifts to be opened. The snow here is already around 25 cm's deep, and with 549 snow cannons the resort ensures good skiing even at the start of the season. The nearest airport here is in Toulouse, France.

Additionally the resorts of Cerler and Formigal in the Pyrenees will open on 1st December.  They will have 14 and 11 kilometres skiable respectively.  Both resorts are offering a 15% discount on all day passes.

Finally for wine lovers, the resort of Valdezcaray in the region of La Rioja is also due to open this weekend.  Snow is currently falling and they predict that 3 slopes will be open - amounting to 2.1 kms, 2 green and one blue slope.

So, Christmas comes early for Skiiers in Spain this year!

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