The ski resorts in the Lleida Pyrenees have brought forward the start of the 2013-14 season to November 23rd and plan to have virtually all of their slopes and lifts operational by the Constitution long weekend.
The heavy snowfall across most of the Pyrenees in the second half of November, with significant depths and low temperatures, allowed Baqueira Beret to partially open its facilities on Saturday, November 23, and Port Ainé, Espot Esquí, and Port del Comte on November 30. The Nordic ski resorts of Lles, Tuixent-La Vansa, and Sant Joan de l'Erm also opened on the 23rd, making this season the earliest in the history of this sport in the Lleida Pyrenees.
During the season presentation, which took place in the Lleida Provincial Council's multipurpose room and was attended by the managers of the winter resorts, as well as representatives from other regional administrations and the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan government), it was reported that the 11 Lleida ski resorts have invested almost €4 million in this campaign to improve facilities and services, and especially to attract newcomers. This year, there has been an increase in marked snowshoe routes, mainly at the Nordic ski resorts, which have increased from 51 km last season to 87 km this season, as well as at the alpine ski resorts of Port del Comte and Espot Esquí.
During the season presentation, the president of the Lleida City Council, Joan Reñé, emphasized that the ski resorts of the Lleida Pyrenees welcome almost two out of every three skiers who choose Catalonia to ski each year, and one out of every four of those who do so at resorts across Spain as a whole. "These figures are an example of the quality and appeal of the Lleida Pyrenees for all ski and snow enthusiasts," said Reñé.
The president of the Lleida Provincial Council referred to the fact that the season has been brought forward by one week compared to the initial forecast thanks to the snowfall in the second half of November and expressed his confidence that this good news will lead to the sale of around 1,250,000 ski passes, a figure reached in the 2009-10 season and which would represent almost 10% more than the number of ski passes sold in the 2012-13 campaign.
For Reñé, the postponement of Barcelona's bid for the 2022 Winter Games and the new scenario proposed for 2026 "should be an opportunity to manage and work on a clear Olympic commitment." Reñé encouraged Lleida skiing to support schoolchildren in light of the "opportunities" of the 2026 Winter Games, which are based on the need to promote the practice of this sport among schoolchildren to boost the economy and provide guarantees for a new Olympic bid. He also added that "we should all generate appropriate and attractive offers so that schools and families can practice skiing more intensively and regularly," and said that the future bid should also allow for improved communication infrastructure in the Lleida Pyrenees.
The 11 Lleida ski resorts have invested €3.9 million this season to improve facilities and services, and especially to attract newcomers. Over the last 10 years, Lleida's ski resorts have invested €123.6 million, acting as a true economic engine for the Pyrenees and maintaining their leadership in Spain in terms of skiing year after year.
Source: Pirineo.com