All the new features of the ski resorts

If you like skiing or are thinking of taking it up, why not come to Spain? You'll find 33 resorts, many of them with new ski pistes, areas for snowboarding, a multitude of après-ski activities, fairy-tale landscapes, accommodation with spa facilities… Everything necessary to guarantee a great time this winter.

Spain has everything you need to enjoy the snow. Spain is Europe's second most mountainous country, and home to areas such as the Pyrenees in the north and Sierra Nevada in the south. Here you'll find 27 fully equipped alpine ski resorts and five resorts for Nordic skiing. If you prefer indoor skiing, there's also an indoor resort on the outskirts of Madrid. Use our search engine to find out the characteristics of each one. And in the 2011-2012 season the resorts are packed with new features – from new leisure activities and more pistes to a range of technical enhancements.

More slopes for the whole family

Resorts such as Cerler and Masella have added two new runs, while others have extended or improved the existing ones, such as Baqueira-Beret, which has installed artificial snow cannons on three new slopes.

This year many resorts offer an improved range of facilities for children. For example, Sierra Nevada offers a large area with facilities for families and various new promotional packages; Boi Taüll Resort has opened a themed area; Panticosa is home to the new Skity Slalom area where kids can have fun practicing their turns; Valdelinares and Cerler now include additional children's areas in their restaurant spaces; Javalambre features a new outdoor snow garden for the younger members of the family; Baqueira has refurbished its children's play park; and Valdesquí has improved its beginners' area. Additionally, crèche and child-minding services have been extended in resorts such as Candanchú, Boi Taüll and Panticosa. This last resort also offers a daily programme of activities for children.

For daredevils

And if you're into jumping, twisting and snowboard, you're in luck, because most resorts have special areas for this sport, some of which have been created new for this season. These include the half-pipe installed in Sierra Nevada –the largest in Spain–, the snowpark opened at the resort of Candanchú, the tobogganing and snowtubing area in Javalambre, and the environmentally-friendly snowpark in Tavascan. Other resorts such as Astún, Formigal, Valdelinares, SnowZone Madrid and Llanos del Hospital have refurbished their free-style facilities.

Major international events

Thanks to the quality of Spain's ski resorts, they are ideal for hosting major international events. This season is no different, and users will be able to enjoy the snow both on the pistes and from the stands. For example, the La Molina resort is scheduled to be the site of the World Snowboard and Paralympic Alpine Skiing Championships.

The Espot Ski resort is the venue for the Telemark World Cup, and Sierra Nevada is set to host the Snowboard Junior World Championship.

What's more, the beginning of the year brings another exciting edition of the white route over the Pyrenees on a sled pulled by a team of dogs known as Pirena. The competition lasts fifteen days and will pass through various Spanish ski resorts such as Formigal, Candanchú, Baqueira Beret, Port Ainé and La Molina.

Leisure and après-ski

After a day's fun on the slopes, what better than to enjoy the wide range of après-ski options by sampling the typical cuisine, for example. Many resorts have taken particular care with this aspect, such as Sierra Nevada, which offers themed weeks in its restaurants and has added new gourmet set menus featuring traditional dishes. You'll also find a wide range of accommodation options, many new and refurbished, as is the case of the GranPallars Espot ski resort.

Finally, some resorts such as Cerler have extended their après-ski hours, while others now offer new activities, such as the helicopter excursions at the La Molina resort.

There are so many activities to choose from that any resort you pick is guaranteed be a hit. Check the special promotions at each resort, choose your favourite and get ready to have fun this winter in Spain!