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Madrid Local Reference INFOrmation
Information on the ski-resorts and facilities of Spain - mostly found in the moiuntains of the Spanish Pyrenees in northern Catalonia and Andorra, but also in the mountains north of Madrid. Where to go to downhill ski, snowboard, snowshoe or even heliski
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Skiing in SpainWinter sports in Spain are managed by the Real Federación Española de Deportes de Invierno which manages the resorts across the country and ensures that skiers in Spain comply with the rules and regulations for mountain conduct of the International Ski Federation (FIS, Fédération Internationale de Ski)
The Spanish ski season runs from December to April, depending on snow conditions. Many of the resorts offer a combination of pistes for downhill (esquí de descenso) and cross-country (esquí nórdico) skiing. Other mountain sports commonly available are paragliding, parasailing, hang gliding, ice-skating, snow shoe walking, sleigh riding and skidoo trips. Heli-skiing is available in Spain, although illegal in France. It is a sport for the more advanced skier or snowboarder - a helicopter drops you at the top of a mountain and you ski down. On the SlopesSki slopes - or pistes - are graded by difficulty:
The ResortsA lift-pass (forfait) is needed to ski in a resort. Passes are available bought per day or per week. Photographic identity may be needed when buying a lift pass. Most resorts offer accommodation: hotels, apartments or chalets, and have shops selling or renting equipment. Most resorts also have ski schools for all levels. Principality of AndorraThe Pyrenees mountain range runs along the border between France and Spain, with the small Principality of Andorra nestling in the middle. The mountain range is 400 Km long and 70 Km wide stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Mediterranean Sea in the east. The Pyrenees and Andorra are in the Basque region and there is a strong French influence to the cuisine as well as the lifestyle. Andorran resorts are famous for their nightlife and cheaper prices (it is a tax haven). The official language is Catalan although French, Portuguese and Castilian Spanish are widely spoken. Northern Spain and CataloniaAlthough there are winter sports resorts all over Spain (with 36 ski resorts in the country) Catalonia has more than any other region, with 17 resorts, 130 ski-lifts and over 612 Km of skiable slopes (pistes). The resorts are in the Catalonian provinces of Girona, Lleida and Barcelona and in the Huesca province of the Aragon region to the west of Catalonia.
Aragon PyreneesCatalonian Pyrenees, Lleida Province
Catalonian Pyrenees, Girona Province
Catalonian Pyrenees, Barcelona Province
Mountains of MadridThe winters on the Madrid plateau can be surprisingly cold and 50 Km to the north of Madrid there are ski resorts frequented by the Spanish royals and many other Madrileños during the winter. The mountain range of Sierra de Guadarrama has ski resorts that are open all winter for everything from downhill skiing to ice-skating and dog sledding. The Federación Madrileña de Deportes de Invierno is the local federation for winter sports in Madrid with details of clubs and local weather and resorts.
For those who cannot wait for the winter, Madrid has a Snowzone, indoor ski slope.
Resorts Madrid Province
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