Training in the snow in Andorra

Alpine skiing and snowboarding also contribute towards enhancing your performance at altitude, and you can enjoy the beauty of the mountains and the snow while training. It’s a great way to release the stress of the pre-season and put you in the right frame of mind for the sporting challenges ahead.

There are more than 300 km of slopes at Grandvalira Resorts – the largest ski area in the Pyrenees – with the three resorts Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis located at a moderate altitude of between 1,600 and 2,500 metres. Having been a venue of FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup events and other international competitions, they offer exceptional facilities for professional alpine skiing training.

There are designated areas for slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom, as well as artificial ski slopes to ensure optimal training conditions throughout the season. The ski schools also offer you the wealth of experience of the Grandvalira Mountain Guides with whom you can hold specific training sessions, both in technique and speed, taking advantage of the wide variety of terrain available. They are highly qualified instructors who can provide personalised training focused on the individual skills and needs of each professional skier.

Andorra attracts elite freestylers from all over the world thanks to the excellent facilities and snow conditions at Grandvalira Resorts. The Pal Arinsal and Grandvalira resorts are the place to be for fans of aerials and jumps.

There are four snow parks with areas specially designed for extreme freestyle – perfect for professional athletes looking for constant challenges on the snow. Riders have the opportunity to showcase their skills on the different sections and obstacles designed to test their performance as well as push their limits. You’ll find a large number of obstacle courses such as ramps, jumps of different levels, rails and slide boxes, halfpipe or kicker lines, including the longest line of modules in the Pyrenees. 

In addition, there’s a wide variety of terrain to dive deep into these disciplines, including slopes with natural features such as cornices, steeps and areas of untouched snow. Professional riders will be able to encounter different types of terrain and improve their skills under a wide variety of conditions. With the help of their specialised instructors and expert mountain guides, you’ll be able to prepare your personalised training sessions by setting the objectives to be met in your altitude training in the snow.

Andorra has a side diversity of off-piste terrain offering challenges for professional freeriders. ranging from sweeping powder-covered slopes to steep corridors and wooded areas that will put the skills of the best athletes to the test.

Ski resorts such as Grandvalira and Ordino Arcalís boast ski lifts that give quick and easy access to vast, remote and unspoilt areas where you can explore new terrain effortlessly. The versatility of the slopes, as well as the safety and professionalism of the teams and certified mountain guides, will let you build the perfect training programme for the season. You’ll improve your turning technique, speed control, balance and navigation through wild, uneven terrain. In addition to improving your technique and skills, you’ll perfect your knowledge of challenging terrain under the best snow conditions and in absolute safety.

Ordino Arcalís also hosts several international freeride events and competitions throughout the season such as the Freeride World Tour. Some of the world’s best freeriders push their skills to the limit to compete with other athletes and enjoy the thrill of competition.

Training for ski mountaineering in Andorra requires a combination of technical skills, knowledge of safety at high altitudes and a suitable level of fitness. Numerous routes and wild trails are available for professional ski mountaineering, including long distances over steeper and more technical terrain. This means that ski mountaineering on the mountain slopes of Andorra will be physically demanding.

You’ll be able to plan rigorous training sessions on demanding off-trail terrain at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 2,900 m, covering the country’s most iconic peaks such as Alto del Comapedrosa or Font Blanca. The off-piste ascents and descents will give you the chance to work on your turning technique, speed control and riding on uneven terrain. You’ll most certainly improve your skiing skills to prepare for a successful season.

The Grandvalira, Naturland, Ordino Arcalís and Pal Arinsal resorts offer easy access, with ski lifts and chairlifts to the marked slopes to go ski mountaineering in a safe and controlled manner. With more than 40 itineraries, you can work on the speed of your movements on the pistes while having services tailored to professional athletes at your disposal such as mountain rescue services, information on weather and snow conditions, as well as shelters and rest areas on the routes. In addition, professional mountain guides are available to explore remote areas safely and under expert guidance.

Andorra is perfect for cross-country skiing professionals to train in. La Rabassa - Naturland is the country’s only cross-country ski resort. It boasts 15 km of cross-country trails of different lengths and difficulty levels, enabling professional skiers to train in a controlled and safe environment.

The resort has become a benchmark for this sport in this area of the Pyrenees and is home to elite local and international skiers. The Naturland ski school is a centre for perfecting the skills and techniques of classic and skate skiing. Put yourself in the hands of its team of coaches and instructors to prepare your personalised training plan and get the most out of your ski training.

Andorra has a sports complex kitted out for ice sports such as figure skating, hockey and curling. Canillo’s Palau de Gel is home to the national federations and sports clubs of these disciplines, which have a 1,800 m2 indoor ice rink that serves as the perfect venue for elite local and international competitions.

The location of the Canillo sports complex – at an altitude of more than 1,500 m – is perfect for a pre-season training camp suitable for skaters and professional players who want to prepare and hone their skills at altitude. In addition, the complex provides spacious facilities to do these sports as well as combined training. These spaces are ideal for integrating strength and mobility training exercises to strengthen these skills. It has a 25 m heated indoor swimming pool, a gym with a weights room, multi-purpose rooms and the necessary equipment for all-round training.