About skiing

3 learning principles

In all skiing/snowboarding classes, our instructors will apply the 3 basic principles that govern the recreational learning process for outdoor sports: Safety, Amusement, Learning.

The learning process and evolution in the practice of skiing/snowboarding depends highly on coordination and physical capacities, technical abilities, motivation and perseverance of each pupil. Snow Life instructors are there with the tools to help you ensuring the improvement on abilities and high levels of motivation. 

Ski levels and slopes difficulty

In Spain we consider 4 colors for slopes difficulty: green = easy; blue = intermediate; red = difficult; black = very difficult; and 5 levels of ski learning: A (first timer); B (can do snowplow turns on green slopes); C (can do basic parallel turns on blue slopes); D (can ski in parallel in every slope); E (competition).

Refer specifically and exactly to your ski level when booking a class.

Getting ready

You will need your daily or half-day (after 1 p.m.) ski-pass (forfait), to buy at the booths ('Taquillas') located in Plaza Andaluzia, Pradollano (open from 8 a.m.). During busy days (weekends, holydays) we advise to purchase the ski forfait and collect your ski/snowboard gear on the afternoon before.

With your pass and gear, take one of the 2 gondolas (telecabinas, opening around 9 a.m., each taking 12 to 15 minutes to arrive at Borreguiles) to arrive early at the meeting point/Borreguiles (with time for a coffee or warm up on the slopes), before queues start forming on gondolas or chairlifts.

Equipment: if you can’t try your gear on the day before, you should get it right away at 08:30 a.m. (opening time) on the day of the class. This way, you can be ready at 09 a.m. (your shoes will stay in the store) and take the telecabina straight up (opens at 09 a.m.).

Get your gear: Snow Life has an agreement with Custom Aventura store for you to get an immediate 5% discount on ski/snowboard rentals. They are very professional and will grant you the best assistance. Custom Aventura store is located (see photo below) in Plaza Andaluzia, number 8 of Enebro building (in front of the Pharmacy, 25 meters away from the ski-pass booths and 1 minute walking from the Al Andaluz gondola), and opens from 08:30 to 20:30. Prices (see more below) from 26€ (ski complete); 18€ (snowboard or ski children).

Ski gear: boots, skis, poles (normally not necessary for kids under 7, if it is their first time) and helmet. The use of helmet for children in classes is mandatory; in case of under 18, it is totally advisable and, even for adults, it is absolutely recommended (for adult skier beginners the helmet might not feel necessary as we start on almost flat slopes but, as we take the chair lifts up, which might occur on the 2nd or 3rd hour, you will feel much safer) — the danger is not your own falls but that someone else comes crashing against you. We also recommend the use of back protection vests.

Snowboard gear: boots, snowboard and helmet (mandatory) — the danger for snowboarders is their own falls backwards. We also recommend the use of wrist protections.

Take to the slopes: take your own protection equipment; take small backpack with a small water bottle or sugary drink, some chocolate, energetic bar or fruit (don’t go up without having breakfast or you might be susceptible to suffer low tension). Do not forget proper clothes, gloves, cap/helmet, sun protection (glasses/goggles and cream).

   Solar protection for the eyes with the use of appropriate glasses (better goggles) with a minimum category 3N, UV400 lenses, and solar cream for the face (PF 30 to 50) ought to be respected; also the right protections against cold, with neck buffs, gloves, and adequate inner layers.

Physically: ideally you have started shaping up a few months in advance so that during classes you do not feel as much the tiredness for the use of specific muscle groups. For skiing, most power exercises using upper legs are useful (squats, biking) as well as endurance and flexibility. For snowboarding, work on your calf muscles as well as endurance and flexibility exercises.

On the slopes always try to practice some warming up exercises like rotations of joints (neck, waste and knees, for skiers; neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waste and knees, for snowboarders) before the classes and your own practice; then, start skiing/snowboarding gently.   

Getting to the meeting point

The meeting point is always on the slopes (unless required differently), in Borreguiles, immediately to the right of the exit of the Al Andaluz gondola (telecabina). We will send you a photo of this point and uniform of the instructor if required.

In case you take the telecabina Borreguiles from Pradollano to Borreguiles, you need to go up both flight escalators as you leave the gondola; then leave the building out to the Borreguiles terrace, cross it and head for the building in front, 30 meters away (where the telecabina Al Andaluz arrives).

Learn the 10 FIS rules

The 10 alpine skiing rules of the ‘Fédéracion Internacional de Ski’ apply to skiers/snowborders behaviour on ski runs worldwide.

1. Respect for others: A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.

2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding: A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.

3. Choice of route: A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.

4. Overtaking: A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.

5. Entering, starting and moving upwards: A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.

6. Stopping on the piste: Unless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.

7. Climbing and descending on foot: A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.

8. Respect for signs and markings: A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.

9. Assistance: At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.

10. Identification: Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.

Rental prices

With Lawine: Plaza Andaluzia, Montebajo building, store 11, Pradollano, Sierra Nevada (the closest, 15 meters away, to the Al Andaluz gondola). Opens daily from 08:30 to 20:00.