MedianetBlog
December 8, 2022

What's new for the 22-23 winter season

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The main investments are in the ski area, with two new chairlifts and more than 100 state-of-the-art snow cannons.

 TWO NEW 6-SEATER DETACHABLE CHAIRLIFTS

The new Emile Allais and Alhambra chairlifts have been the largest investment in lift renovation in the recent history of Sierra Nevada, with 21 million euros co-financed by FEDER REACT EU funds. A modernisation of mechanical means that seeks the best and most sustainable alternatives, as well as the energy efficiency of the facilities.

The work to replace the two old fixed grip chairlifts with two new detachable ones, with 13 fewer bollards and six-seater chairs, will also lead to a reorganisation of the Borreguiles ski area, particularly the beginners' slopes, making connections with other areas and lifts in the Sierra Nevada more flexible.

The installation of the Emile Allais chairlift maintains practically the same route as the old 4-seater fixed grip chairlift, and is now a 6-seater detachable chairlift. Among its most outstanding technical characteristics are:

Type: 6-seater detachable chairlift
Slope: 115.20 metres
Towers: 6
Length: 644.29 metres
Speed: 5 m/s
Transport capacity: 3,250 people/h.

The Alhambra chairlift (the name was chosen by a pre-selection among the resort's employees and a subsequent vote on social networks) will be the lift that offers the most changes with respect to the current one, as it shortens its route by raising the lower station 455 metres higher.

This modification will decongest the lower area of Borreguiles and distribute users to the green slopes of La Perdiz, Amapola or Piñatas, which are more suitable for beginners and less used than the beginners' slopes located further down. It will also make it easier for expert skiers to reach the base of the Zayas ski lift or to access the Laguna de las Yeguas on the Collado de la Laguna piste.

Its technical characteristics are:

Type: De-climbing 6-seater ski lift
Drop: 153.5 metres
Towers: 9
Length: 792.26 metres
Speed: 5 m/s
Transport capacity: 2500 pers./h.
Travel time: 3.13 minutes

NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART CANNONS

This season, Sierra Nevada has 105 new state-of-the-art cannons, which means that the Granadan winter resort has installed 315 new energy-efficient units with a high snow production capacity in marginal conditions in the space of four seasons.

The new cannons, 40 low-pressure (TT10) and 65 high-pressure (TL8), have been purchased from the Italian multinational Technoalpin, which was awarded the contract.

The Snow Production Department has distributed the 105 new units throughout the ski area, although the black pistes and the final section of the El Águila piste will be the areas that will be most reinforced.

In the case of the black pistes, between Neveros and Fuente del Tesoro, 19 new cannons have been installed (10 TT10 and 9 TL8). Rio, Maribel, Trucha, Zorro, Granados, Peseta, Rebeco, Zahareña, Loma Dílar, Villén or the Mirlo Blanco activity complex are other points where the new cannons will be installed for the 2022/23 winter season.

Simultaneously to the installation of the new cannons, 8 cannons have been installed to reinforce certain routes in Borreguiles, Cauchiles and the entrance to the Laguna area.

With this new contingent, financed with FEDER REACT EU funds - aimed at energy efficiency - Sierra Nevada closes a first cycle of integral renovation of the snowmaking system, with the almost complete replacement of old devices with new state-of-the-art ones.

CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE

The new CAU, which will be inaugurated this season 22-23, has 11 customer service and ski pass sales counters, 11 purchase points with cash dispensers and a booking centre, as well as offices for the resort's commercial services and access control.

The station's ticket offices, which were more than 25 years old, were a point of high energy consumption and their systems were obsolete. The refurbishment included the renovation of the façade, improvement of the roofs, insulation, air conditioning, lighting, waterproofing and improvement of the thermal bridge of the enclosures with highly insulating materials, as well as their interior layout.

The energy improvement of the building has led to its inclusion in the Andalusia ERDF Operational Programme through REACT-EU resources, aimed at energy saving projects.

This season, the User Service Centre will be a unified point for customer service and the sale of passes for access to the rides and other activities. It will therefore be used intensively, with an average customer service time of 10 hours a day throughout the winter season.

NEW RESTAURANT: THE SWISS CHALET

The former Genil restaurant, located on the lower station of the Stadium chairlift, will become this season the first restaurant of Quesos de Suiza. A place that brings the Swiss cheese tradition and its 100% artisan and natural products closer to the public within a great architectural project.

This is a completely new experience, as Cheeses of Switzerland has never had its own themed restaurant. A piece of Switzerland that aims to showcase an artisan, totally natural and top quality food product. The restaurant will offer traditional Swiss food, typical and familiar recipes, ideal for sharing a pleasant time and recovering from a day's skiing.

The naturalness of the wood, the modern aspect of the metal, the robustness of the slate stone create a warm and cosy atmosphere that transports us to the Alpine country, integrating perfectly into the landscape of the Sierra Nevada.

Inside the restaurant, which seats 236 people, a range of light colours predominate, bringing a lot of light and clarity to the interior ambience. In addition, the corporate red of Quesos de Suiza is introduced in certain details, creating chromatic contrasts.

The restaurant has different areas, including a photocall. In the outdoor bar we will find tables to sit and enjoy the gastronomic offer surrounded by the snow and the skiing atmosphere. Next, there is a terrace with comfortable hammocks ideal for relaxing while contemplating the majestic landscape of the Sierra Nevada and in the back area there is a lounge with white polypropylene armchairs and sofas. We can also take a photo at the photocall #SayCheese, in an XXL hammock and a funny red Swiss cow.

FIS SNOWBOARDCROSS WORLD CUP 

Sierra Nevada was included in the Snowboard Cross World Cup 22/23 calendar at the last Congress of the International Ski Federation (FIS) at the proposal of the RFEDI-Spainsnow.

The two rounds of the Sierra Nevada SBX World Cup, which will be made possible thanks to the support of the public company Turismo Andaluz, will be held on the Sulayr snowpark circuit, in the Loma de Dílar area, on 11 and 12 March 2023, with official training sessions on the 10th. The competition will consist of two individual finals; one on the 11th March and the second on the 12th.

The resort has extensive experience in organising this snowboarding discipline.  The first SBX World Cup was held in 2005 in the Borreguiles tube, although after the 2012 Junior World Championships the Snowboard Cross competition was moved to the Sulayr snowpark circuit, in Loma de Dílar. Since then, the following international SBX events have taken place there: Snowboard World Cup Final in 2013, Winter Universiade in 2015, Snowboard and Freestyle World Championships in 2017 and SBX World Cup in 2020.

Spain is a power in SBX with active athletes from the MovistarSBXTeam such as Lucas Eguibar, current world champion (Idre Fjall, Sweden) in 2021 and runner-up in the individual and team world championships in Sierra Nevada 2017. In addition, there will be the participation of new talents such as Álvaro Romero, an 18-year-old who has already won the bronze medal at the junior world championships in Krasnoyarsk (Russia) in 2021 and has achieved several top 10s in the World Cup.

The World Cup SBX Sierra Nevada 2023 will be organised by the resort, the Andalusian Winter Sports Federation (FADI) and RFEDI-Spainsnow.


MORE THAN 20 COMPETITIONS IN ALL SNOW SPORTS DISCIPLINES

Sierra Nevada's sports calendar not only covers all winter sports disciplines, but also consolidates its position as an essential destination for winter mountain races.

This season, the resort will once again host two important competitions that are included in the international calendar of its disciplines:

Snowrunnig: The race starts at nightfall and runs along the slopes of El Río, Cauchiles, Borreguiles and Loma de Dílar.

27th January: Vertical

28th January: Classic

Ultra Sierra Nevada: This will be the ninth edition and will once again have its usual modalities: the Half Marathon (25 km), the Marathon (40 km), the Trail (62 km), the Ultra (100 km) and the recently launched Extrema, of 100 miles (170 km).

From 14 to 16 April

The rest of the ski, snowboard and freestyle competitions for all categories (from U8 to veterans) take place within a sports calendar designed and organised by the Andalusian Winter Sports Federation and Spainsnow-RFEDI.

 SKI MOUNTAINEERING CIRCUIT: EL RIO

This season a new ski mountaineering circuit has been added to the El Río piste, with a gradient of 550m and a length of 3,258m. The resort already had two routes: El Águila in the Cauchiles-Parador area and Montebajo in the Loma de Dilar. This new ascent starts at the lower station of the Al-Ándalus cable car at 2,100m. The ascent will always be on the right and will take place along the perimeter of the track until it reaches Borreguiles at 2,645m.

ALPINE SKIING ROUTE: K 4.6

The long routes are a new way of enjoying the resort, starting from the high altitude slopes to the Pradollano area, following circuits for medium level skiers.

The K 12 circuit has already been successfully tested, starting from the vicinity of the Veleta, going through the Cauchiles area and reaching Pradollano, avoiding the most difficult sections and turning this descent into the longest blue run in Spain.

This winter sees the launch of the K4.6 circuit which starts at 2,846 m next to the top station of the Monachil chairlift, runs along the slopes of the Loma de Dílar and finishes at the lower part of the river, in Pradollano, at 2,100 m. The difference in altitude of this route is 756 m.