ski resorts

Temperatures dip below zero degrees at Tossa d'Alp and at 2,535m in Boí

Catalan ski season up and running for over a month, much improved on Covid-hit 20/21 season 

Shopping centers and ski resorts reopen, as cultural and religious venues see restrictions loosened

Agreement reached with government to allow progressive reopening with limits on ski pass sales

Catalan Pyrenees awoke on Thursday to the first snowfall of the year, making ski resorts "very optimistic" about the imminent new season

Heavy snowfall midweek means Saturday and Sunday could be among the best skiing days of the season

Cross-country skiing is on the rise with numbers set to exceed last year's 76,000 visitors

Accommodation sells out in many areas while pastry chefs hail a “spectacular” year for traditional ‘mona’ cakes

The Andorra-la Seu d’Urgell Airport kicked off its public and commercial activities on Thursday, and is able to host aircraft of up to 40 seats. The old La Seu d’Urgell’s airfield, in the middle of a Pyrenean valley and only 15km away from Andorra, has been updated to go beyond being a facility merely used by recreational light aircraft. From now on, small commercial airliners, charter flights and air taxis will be able to operate from this mountain airport very close to Catalonia’s and Andorra’s main ski resorts. The new facilities will be managed by the Catalan Government and Andorra, which will meet half of its operational costs. The Catalan Executive is currently negotiating with 8 companies that may be interested in flying from the airport. Furthermore, the permits needed to host flights from outside the Schengen Area are expected to be granted by the Spanish authorities during 2015.

Ski and snow lovers across Catalonia will be able to hit the slopes this weekend for the first time this season, but not all the doors to powder will be open, due to weather conditions. The unseasonably mild winter has meant that most ski resorts will be operating at "half gas" this weekend, with some important resorts such as Baqueria Beret choosing not to open at all. Others, such as Boí Taüll have said they will open on Saturday but only at 50%, and the first ski resort to open its doors has been Vallter 2000, which was operational as from this Friday with 4 lifts and 4 runs. Other resorts expect to open some of their runs, but the final decision will depend on weather conditions in the near future. During the 2014-2015 season, Catalan ski resorts invested a total of €17 million. Baqueria Beret invested the most, over €11 million, due to its size and to commemorate its 50^th anniversary.

The Israeli airline Arkia will offer a total of 20 flights during the summer and 20 more during the winter between Tel Aviv and the Lleida-Alguaire Airport. The new connection will start on the 27^th of June and will have a capacity of 110 passengers per flight. Israeli tourists will be better connected to Western Catalonia and the Pyrenees, which host a large range of ski resorts, adventure sports opportunities, impressive mountain landscapes and unique Romanesque art. In addition, the Israeli Ambassador recently unveiled a route following the mountain paths used by thousands of Jews who crossed the Pyrenees to escape Nazi persecution. Lleida's Pyrenean landscape consists of high peaks, lakes and mountain forests, including the National Park of Aigüestortes.

Masella has committed itself to night skiing and has now become the resort with the highest number of illuminated ski slopes in the Pyrenees. Last Friday, it lit for the first time 13 slopes, which have a combined length of 10 km and offer 420 meters of vertical drop to skiers. The Catalan Minister for Business and Employment, Felip Puig, who officially opened the slopes, stated that “more winter tourism offers will increase the number of skiers, develop jobs and that it is very important in these times of crisis”. It is important that “private and public companies improve their facilities and thus extend the tourist winter season”, he added. According to the Director of the resort, 500 skiers have already bought the night pass for the entire season.

5 Major Catalan ski resorts launch their season this weekend, on the 23^rd and the 24^th of November: La Molina, Vall de Núria, Vallter, Masella and Baqueira Beret. Thanks to the weather of these past few days, the resorts have been able to advance their opening a week earlier than initially planned. Indeed, the snowfalls have been exceptional for this time of year, ranging between 30 and 100 centimetres. Vallter was the luckiest resort with a snow thickness varying between 90 and 100 centimetres. They will be launching their new season with a party and a new range of mountain activities for all snow sports fans. The final four Catalan resorts are expected to open within the next 10 days.