Sierra Nevada, a paradise for winter sports, as during the cold season there's no better place to enjoy snow and everything related to it. Truth be told, I'd never skied before. In fact, my closest experience with snow dates back to childhood trips to the mountains. But encouraged by some friends... here I am, ready to go!
According to experts, it boasts some of Spain's best ski slopes in terms of layout, length and snow conditions. Before the trip, I was advised to do some prep work to avoid ending up too sore: a bit of cycling, abs exercises, quad and hamstring work (to prevent ligament injuries) and leg stretches...
They also assured me that for my "snow baptism", I wouldn't need to break the bank – equipment can be rented for two days at a reasonable price. What they did recommend was properly trying on boots before choosing a pair, making sure they weren't too big or tight, and absolutely no double socks or such tricks, as this could only lead to injury.
We arrived in Granada by car, but Sierra Nevada can also be reached by bus, train and plane – it's one of our best-connected ski resorts. Here begins the adventure! I've been warned that two days won't make me an expert, but it's worth giving it a go, right? If you fancy it, you can join me – it promises to be fun...
On the first day, right after settling in, we headed to the slopes where our instructor was waiting to give us a brief ski lesson. I grabbed the necessary gear and started sliding downhill with the rest of the group – great fun, I must say. Though I did struggle a bit with the braking and turning technique at first, but once I got the hang of it, nothing could stop me (or rather, my skis).
We stopped for lunch, as everyone knows physical activity wakes up your appetite. We didn't linger too long after eating, knowing the snow would be waiting for us, so we couldn't miss the chance to hit the slopes again. And after a full day of skiing, it's no surprise we were exhausted by nightfall...
Next morning we had to rise early – though tough, it's the best way to make the most of your time. After checking the weather report and paying for the day's ski pass, Pedro, one of my friends, treated me to a snowmobile ride. Never had such a thrilling experience in my life! Climbing and descending slopes, reaching dizzying speeds. I think I've got loads to learn before attempting to drive one myself...
Later, I rented some snowshoes with my girlfriends for a walk – a very enjoyable though more relaxed activity than the snowmobile. No special preparation is needed for snowshoeing, so I set out to explore more of the mountains, accessing areas unreachable on skis. Of course, before starting I grabbed a map and marked a route to avoid getting lost in the snow – you can't be too careful.
But that's not all you can do at this resort. Fans of cross-country skiing, ski touring and snowboarding (no idea how they balance on a single board) also have their place here. Other activities include snow sled excursions, night skiing or paragliding. For those preferring calmer options, there are football pitches, tennis and basketball courts, volleyball, swimming pools... even a climbing wall!
Aside from the endless queues (the resort's Achilles' heel), everything here is perfect – probably why it's so popular. Well... there's always a price to pay for skiing in such a spot. All that walking builds an appetite... we stopped for a pork sandwich at one of the mountain bars. Nobody stops skiing for a sit-down meal – you've got to make the most of the snow! That's why it's typical to just grab a quick bite before rushing back to the slopes.
There's still plenty to do until 5pm in the mountains. So I headed back to Borreguiles to keep practising my ski balance. I popped into the resort shop (can never resist) for some souvenirs. Took the opportunity to buy some gloves and a sports hat (handy given this winter's cold snap). I also checked equipment prices, as ski resort shops stock everything from sales to rentals. Finally, we visited Restaurante Los Jamones for our weekend's last tapa.
Right... time to head home now night's fallen... Truth be told, this skiing taster left me wanting more. If you can, spend at least a week to properly get the hang of skiing and try some of Sierra Nevada's other activities. That paragliding has really piqued my curiosity, as has properly exploring the Natural Park...
