|
Don’t miss Andalucia’s exciting regional championships on January 31st!
Andalucia is well known for sunshine, beaches and amazing rural and cultural tourism opportunities – but what about ski? In fact, there is a thriving downhill ski industry thanks to the world class station in Sierra Nevada. Few, however, are aware that this region is cultivating cross country ski and that we have excellent athletes in training that compete not only in the south of Spain but also throughout the world.
Miguel Angel Torres is the head of Cross Country Ski and Ski/Target Shooting Biathlon training and events in Andalucia. Recently we spoke with him regarding the Regional Cross Country Ski Championships (Campeonato de Fondo) that takes place on January 31st either at the Sierra Nevada Ski Station or at the Nordic Ski Station in Puerto de la Ragua near Guadíx in the province of Granada.
AC- Tell us something about the athletes that will be participating in this Regional Cross Country Ski Championship?
MA- Actually we have quite a high calibre of athletes. For example, there is Victoria Padial who has just met the requirements to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada. About 30 to 40 skiers will be participating and many of them are highly qualified. However, anyone can participate in this event, so there will be a variety of levels.
AC- Could you tell us a bit about cross country ski in Andalucia?
MA- Our main centre for activity is Puerto de la Ragua near Guadíx. It’s a wonderful area for cross country ski with typical Alpujarra landscapes, pine trees and – on clear days - fantastic views to the Coast of Almería and even of Africa. However, Puerto de la Ragua is only at about 2,000 metres altitude so that means the snow is not always in shape for events which is why we use the facilities at Sierra Nevada. If it’s possible to hold the Regional Cross Country Ski Championships at Puerto de la Ragua on January 31st we will. The important thing is for spectators to check the ski federation’s web page (www.fadi.es) for information prior to heading for the slopes.
AC- What’s the next level after the Regional Cross Country Ski Championships?
MA- Those who make the selection will go directly to the National Cross Country Ski Championships in Lles and Aransa in Cataluña. That event starts on the 15th of March, 2009.
AC- Tell us a bit about the cross country ski scene in Andalucia.
MA- Actually there aren’t many people who practice this sport in Andalucia. However, we have some very good athletes. Our regional training centre is in Sierra Nevada. It’s called the Winter Sports Specialisation and Technical Skills Center (Centro Especializado de Tecnificación de Deportes de Invierno) and it’s subsidised by the regional government. The centre trains athletes that compete in all winter sport categories. We don’t have many cross country skiers, but actually we’d rather have a small team and thus be able to make a higher investment in each athlete. As you can imagine these athletes need to travel quite a lot to train and compete on slopes across Europe and around the world. So we have a few very highly trained and qualified cross country skiers that represent our region well.
AC- Do you encourage spectators at the Regional Cross Country Ski Championship?
MA- Yes, we do. As you can imagine, the spectator element is the key to success in sporting events these days. People are encouraged to come and watch free of charge. They can bring their cross country skis and follow the participants throughout the event. And then afterwards we enjoy a meal together. Spectators are welcome to ring me for more details, which often depend on the weather conditions. My number is 667259224.
AC- Could you recommend a couple of good places to enjoy traditional mountain cuisine in the Granada area?
MA- Puerto de la Ragua is a really good place to enjoy rural tourism in Andalucia. In that area in a place called La Calahorra there’s an excellent restaurant called El Castillo. Also, I recommend an inn just five kilometres or so from Puerto de la Ragua heading towards Almería. It’s called La Posada de los Arrieros. That’s a nice place to stay, very rustic built of wood and stone, and you can get a good meal there too.
AC- Tell us a bit about your job as head of cross country ski and the ski/target shooting section of FADI, our regional ski federation.
MA- Basically I’m charge of a team of trainers who, in turn, are responsible for training the athletes whose ages range from 12 to 18 years old. I coordinate and direct their work and then organise competitions.
AC- And finally, what role does FADI, the regional ski federation, play in the events held at Sierra Nevada?
MA- We are entirely responsible for regional events, but we also play a role in both national and international events held here because we are the hosting federation.
back to top
|
