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| Sun and Fun at the Sierra Nevada |
NEWS FOR THE 2011/2012 SKI SEASON
The main event for this season is the Junior Snowboard World Championship, which takes place on 23-31 March 2012. For more, see our Events page.
The most exciting new addition to the Sierra Nevada Ski Station for the 2011/2012 season is the half-pipe in the Superparque Sulayr. Measuring 165m long by 6 metres tall, with an inclination of 32.5 degrees, it is the largest of its kind in Spain and meets FIS (Federacion International de Esqui) standards. The half-pipe is situated in the Loma de Dilar, the location of the superpark, along with the other snowboard and freestyle obstacles such as jumps, boxes and rails. The superpark also has other new features this year.
Once again, children aged 0-5 go free in the Borreguiles park, which is the main area for families and youngsters. Two new runs for the youngest skiers, Piñata I and II, broaden the range available for little ones, as well as other new nursery slopes around the resort.
The capacity of the lifts has increased from 47,431 skiers per hour last year, to over 50,000 this year.
Sierra Nevada now has its own channel on Youtube, Sierra Nevada TV.
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| Get a dose of that feel good Ski factor at Sierra Nevada |
LAST SEASON STATISTICS: 2010/2011
The 2010/2011 ski season started on 27 November 2010 and finished on 1 May 2011, lasting 149 days. The snow quality was excellent for most of the season, especially January and February thanks to ideal weather conditions during these months. However December was affected by rain, especially the Puente de la Constitucion.
The total number of skiers was 848,25 (up 21% on the previous season), with a further 132,388 visitors using the lifts and recreational area Fuente del Mirlo Blanco, making a total of 980,657. Together with general visitors, who numbered 220,000, the total for the season was 1,200,657.
Nearly 15,000 children aged up to five enjoyed the sport for free as part of a promotion, as well as 7,000 schoolchildren in groups. The average age of visitors dropped from 35.7 to 30.4 years.
Again, like previous years, most visitors were from inside Spain (63% from Andalucia); of the foreign skiers, over half (51.6%) were from the UK.
Last season also saw the retirement of Maria Jose Rienda, the best Spanish skier in recent times.
One third of those who come to Sierra Nevada to participate in winter sports prefer to shred it and drop in - go snowboarding, in other words, showing the increasing popularity of this sport.
