The History Southern Spanish Ski

Today the Sierra Nevada Ski resort is a thriving centre of activity, but not so long ago it was nothing more than an isolated area within the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

According to official sources at Cetursa, the organisation that runs the ski station, the first person to express interest in building a resort in the area was the Spanish consular officer stationed in Helsinky. No doubt living in a ski-loving, snow-filled culture inspired Ángel Ganivet to suggest that his compatriots back home in the Granada area think about making it possible to enjoy such wholesome fun in their own nearby mountains.

Nothing really happened however, until sometime later when a group called the “Ten Friends Limited” formed in 1912. They built the first mountain refuge and not long after, in 1914, Spain’s National Sport Week was celebrated there. That marked the beginning of a long history of important competitions that have built the ski station’s present day prestige.

Here’s a look at what’s happened over the years since Sierra Nevada made its first big splash in the sports scene:

1914 - National Sports Week
1932 - Hispano Andorrano Competition
1940 - Spanish Alpine Championships
1941 - National Alpine Ski Trials
1943 - National Alpine Ski Trials
1945 - National Alpine Ski Trials
1956 - International Sports Week (through 1966)
1975 - European Women’s Alpine Ski Cup
1976 - VII Eurosport Alpine Ski Trophy
1977 - Men’s and Women’s World Alpine Ski Finals Cup
1986 - International Ardilla Children’s Alpine Trophy (to 1992)
1990 - Men’s and Women’s World Alpine Ski Finals Cup
1993 - Men’s World Alpine Ski Finals Cup
1994 - Women’s World Alpine Ski Finals Cup
1996 - World Alpine Ski Championships
1998 - European Men’s Alpine Cup
1999 - World Alpine Final Cup
2003 - Women’s World Cup
2004 - European Alpine Ski Final Cup
2005 - Nokia World Snowboard FIS Cup
2006 - World Ski Cross Cup
2007 - Women’s World Alpine Ski Cup

All in all, Sierra Nevada has gone from strength to strength, with raving reports regarding its excellent facilities and top notch organisation. In fact, the Vice President of the International Cyclists Union, Agostino Omini, was so happy after the World Biking Championships in 2000 that he said, “Sierra Nevada is one of the most well prepared stations I’ve seen yet. I hope this Organisation is an example for future Championship events in other countries” (1).

(1) - Dossier de Prensa, Sierra Nevada, Temporada 2007-2008, sección Historia, Cetursa

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