Soldeu El Tarter

 

The Speed Ski World Cup will be held again this year on the Riberal slope in Grandvalira’s Grau Roig sector, from April 5 to 7. Before the start of the ski season, the resort’s fastest slope was modified: the braking area located at the final stretch of the slope was extended to provide higher safety standards for competitors and non-professional skiers alike.

 

The legendary Avet Alpine Skiing World Cup slope has been widened. The route, which is located in the Soldeu sector, was modified so that the slalom and giant slalom races can be held simultaneously during the World Cup Finals in 2019. 

 

Starting last season, the Pas de la Casa sector has a new blue slope that runs from the top of the Costa Rodona chair lift to the foot of the resort, giving medium level skiers access to the upper part of the resort. Likewise, this new slope has been modified and improved to better meet the needs of the skiing school and families in order to help them make suitable progress.

 

 

 

The resort therefore has the capacity to ensure that more than 65% of its area is skiable, weather permitting. Since the resort first opened, its has continually invested in snow cannons, progressively expanding its infrastructure until reaching its current state: a network made up of more than 1,030 cannons. This network was created to provide artificial snow on previously uncovered slopes and areas that suffer more wear and tear due to skier transit. For the 2017–18 season, the resort has purchased new state-of-the-art snow cannons capable of producing snow more efficiently in marginal temperatures.

 

This season, Grandvalira’s well-known “artisans of the snow” (snow groomer operators) will have 32 snow grooming machines at their disposal. The resort’s groomer fleet now has 5 new additions.

 

Thanks to its 71 ski lifts, Grandvalira has the capacity to transport a total of 111,478 skiers per hour throughout its 210 km (130 mi.) of skiable area. For the 2017–18 winter season, Grandvalira has renovated the Llac de Cubil ski lift, implemented a twoperson system in the Grau Roig sector and renovated the old Pic Negre ski lift in the Pas de la Casa sector. Further improvements include the Tosa Espiolets and Llosada chair lifts in the El Tarter sector, whose transport capacity has been increased to 600 skiers, thus improving mobility in two of the resort’s busiest spots. These two chair lifts combined are able to transport more than 5,000 skiers every hour.

 

 

A giant sculpture of an eagle has been erected at the exit of the iconic Àliga slope (El Tarter sector), which also includes a variety of the Austrian Skiline system. In this case, it is set up as a “photocall”, so skiers can go home with a nice souvenir of the World Cup 2016 slope, with images that can also be shared online.

 

A series of improvements have been made to the Imaginarium routes in the Grau Roig sector. In the snow garden, the magic carpet has been covered. Likewise, the Isards area in the Pas de la Casa sector has also been modified, while the snow garden has been expanded to provide kids with more space and entertainment options. The routes for kids in the Encamp, El Tarter and Canillo sectors have also been improved with the aim of making them more appealing and facilitating the kids’ learning process.

 

For the 2017–18 season, a new cross-country skiing trail has been added to the 5 previously existing signposted trails. The new trail is in the Soldeu sector and is aimed at intermediate–advanced level “skimo” users. Additionally, this season the Grandvalira Mountain Guides team will also be offering new options so that skimo lovers can enjoy new experiences.

 

The Canillo sector now boasts a brand new Top Class lounge. For the first time in this sector, all users who have purchased the Top Class product at the Ski and Snowboard School, or who come from the Grandvalira Mountain Club, will be able to relax in a warm area equipped with all kinds of amenities. It’s the perfect place to take a break during your day of skiing, have a snack, attend instructors’ theory lessons, etc. 

 

The Exceptional Tea Lounge Experience is ready to open its doors, and will do so hand-in-hand with Dilmah, the prestigious Sri Lankan tea company. Located in the Gall de Bosc building, next to the Ski and Snowboard School, in the Soldeu sector. It will offer all of the teas and blends produced by the company as well as an extensive menu of teas, cocktails, mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails), milkshakes and herbal teas. The lounge can comfortably seat 100 people and will be a hybrid of tea lounge and bakery, producing its own products to enjoy alongside the delicious range of teas.

 

 

One of the proposals included in the project developed by the Alicia Foundation for season 2017–18 was to reinstate Andorran cuisine in some of the resort’s restaurants. À la carte restaurants in the Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig and Encamp sectors will now offer a daily menu and a selection of different dishes of the day comprised of both modern and traditional Andorran recipes and products. 

 

At Grandvalira, we prioritize high-quality self-service establishments. For the past 6 years we’ve come to call it “Free Flow” service. For the 2017–18 season Canillo will be opening a new Free Flow restaurant. Its theme will be a combination of what is traditionally called “Cuinetes” and a rustic style, along the lines of the Forn de Canillo restaurant.

 

One of the Grau Roig sector’s busiest spots is the Pulka restaurant, which is at the base of the sector’s slopes, right next to the Ski and Snowboard School. It will be opening for the 2017–18 season with a brand new terrace with a view of the mountains surrounding Grau Roig. Likewise, this season there will be a large wooden terrace by the beginners’ area in the Pas de la Casa sector, right at the base of the slopes. The terrace will have bar service and a restaurant offering fast but highquality food.

 

Grandvalira has decided to host a second edition of the Snow Club Gourmet: a culinary club where a selection of 28 renowned brands come together to offer a series of themed culinary events for the members of the club.

 

 

This season, this casual French cuisine restaurant – which serves duck magret breasts, casseroles and confits, among other dishes – has a broad new wooden terrace.

 

This season the Mon(t) Magic Family Park in Canillo has a new attraction aimed at all audiences, but at families in particular: The Skiline Speed Check. This innovative system measures descent times along a slope decorated with characters from Mon(t) Magic. The Skiline Speed Check times skiers’ descent times and displays them on a large screen, along with their ranking. This device has been added to make the slopes more dynamic and can be found at the world’s best ski resorts. On top of that, it allows skiers to register their descent times, share them online and win different prizes.

 

This staffed mountain shelter is located below the Estany de L’Illa dam, at an altitude of 2,488 meters (8,163 ft), in the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley (in the parish of Encamp), which as declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 2004. The old unstaffed shelter has been completely renovated and has 6 rooms to accommodate up to 8 people. Guided tours to the shelter and back will be available on a daily basis this winter.

 

As part of the Government of Andorra’s Engega 2017 plan, which promotes the use of electric vehicles, the El Tarter sector has installed two charging stations for electric vehicles located in El Tarter’s large parking lot, next to the building that houses the chair lift.

 

This season the resort will be releasing a new range of Grandvalira clothing and products, which will be on for sale at different locations throughout the resort.