From Mediterranean Beaches to Andalucian Snow Pistes
In 1996, Sierra Nevada was at the pinnacle of international winter sports as host of the alpine skiing world championship. Now, 21 years after Italian legend Alberto Tumba and Sweden’s Pernilla Wiberg dazzled spectators on the mountain peaks outside Granada city, Europe’s southern-most ski resort is offering another spectacular show on the pistes – this time, featuring the world’s star snowboarders and freestyle skiers.
Nearly 800 sports stars from 50 countries are competing in the championships, which were officially inaugurated by King Felipe VI on Tuesday and continue until 19 March. In all, there are 20 snowboard and 24 freestyle ski events scheduled over the 12 days.
As keen skiers living on the Costa del Sol, or using it as a base for their winter holidays, will happily know, Sierra Nevada – “where the south is covered in white” – is a convenient two-hour drive from the Coast. Just one other key attraction drawing tourists – and eventual new homeowners – to the Coast and its diverse hinterland areas.
Depending on the weather (and snow), the skiing season can extend from November to April. The resort base level is at 2,100 metres and the top station, 3,300 metres (Veleta peak: 3,398 metres); while Granada city is 32 kilometres away. The slope orientation is north-west, the “groomed surface” extends over 380 hectares, the length of the marked slopes is 106.8 kilometres, and there are 124 runs in total – with the longest, El Águila, 6.253 kilometres.
Total lift capacity is over 45,000 skiers an hour, and special amenities include a recreational area (with conveyor belt and mountain coaster), Dream Land snow playground, Sulayr super-park (for ski and snowboard cross, long half-pipe and jumps), and slides and tubing.
Crèche services are also offered, as well as classes by 400 snowboard and ski teachers at 15 ski schools.
Après winter, Sierra Nevada offers other activities including a 37.5-kilometre bike park open during the summer months, a cable-car from the Pradollano urbanisation to 3,000 metres (near Veleta), chair lifts, hiking and mountain running tracks, sports and language camps, mini-bikes, Russian sleighs, a children’s park, and a pool and solarium.
The resort itself was founded in 1964, but Sierra Nevada’s history dates to the Middle Ages when it was known as the Sierra del Sol (Sunny Mountain Range). Extending over 86,000 hectares (in both Granada and Almería provinces), Sierra Nevada is the largest of 15 official Spanish National Parks. The park network celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.
As the slopes of Sierra Nevada offer cool sporting action this week, we return to the Coast for a featured residential project that provides some chic contemporary pleasures of its own. Conveniently located just off the main Costa del Sol bypass in Benalmádena for those wanting to visit Granada on a regular basis, and designed by local avant-garde architects with a flair for Mediterranean living, Rancho Santa Monica comprises state-of-the-art homes ranging in price from under €1 million to up to €2 million.
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