Where to Ski And Snowboard - Run straight to Arinsal

Run straight to Arinsal

7th December 2009, by Chris Gill

Lots for beginners and families

The focus for this winter’s improvements in Andorra’s Vallnord region includes a new green run to Arinsal – meaning you can now ski back to the resort directly.

Previously the home run used to finish in the valley at Cota, where you had to catch a bus back to Arinsal. The Marrades piste has been reorganised, extended by 2km and equipped with snowmaking – so instead of finishing at the Cota six-pack, you can now ski straight into Arinsal and hop back on the gondola to Comallemple.

… but Arcalis gets the longest green

Beginners to nearby Arcalis will welcome the improvements to the El Tunel run, which now makes it the longest green run in Andorra at 7km. A new section has been created, El Pont, and the slope improved for a smoother descent. And children benefit in the resort too: the child safety feature, Magnestick, was introduced to one chairlift (La Basera).

Freestyle goes large

Back in Arinsal and the other big development this season is a completely restructured freestyle area. The resort claims one of the largest terrain parks in southern Europe and has built a new area for ten new features, a rail park and various boxes – all geared to expert or beginner levels. To increase its popularity, the park also has a new freestyle school run by one of the country’s top riders – Igor Dominguez. The school has operated in the Alps and Pyrenees for more than five seasons and will be offering freestyle tuition in Arinsal from this winter.

And now ...

Recent snowfall in the region means that Arinsal and its neighbours are now open for the season, with most lifts and runs open - and packed powder reported on the pistes. There is 50cm snow cover on the upper slopes. Sadly, the new home run isn’t one of those open just yet, but there’s plenty of time for that ...