Press Info: 29 November 2013
Nine main ski resorts sit within the Hautes- Pyrénées: Grand Tourmalet, Saint Lary-Soulan, Peyragudes, Cauterets, Piau Engaly, Luz Ardiden, Gavarnie, Val Louron and Hautacam.
They launch their 2014 winter season off the back of record snow falls in 2013. During January 2013, over 10 metres of snow fell in Cauterets alone and a cumulative snow record of almost 16m fell there during the entire season, a record not measured by any other ski resort in Europe!
This weekend (30 November 2013) the following resorts open for their winter season: Peyragudes, Piau Engaly, Grand-Tourmalet, Luz-Ardiden and Cauterets, Saint Lary opens 6th December and Pic du Midi from 9th. The remaining resorts will open the weekend before Christmas – Gavarnie, Hautacam and Val Louron.
There are many new developments in each resort, please see the attached press document for full news and a few key highlights below:
NEW FREERIDE TERRAIN AT PIC DU MIDI
A new 100% off piste ski area opens from the Pic du Midi – This new freeride area is completely unique in the French Pyrenees, vast unpisted terrain. Two cable cars access this area, with the option to descend from the first or from the top with skiing on all three sides of the Pic du Midi. A new ski pass offers unlimited skiing at the Pic du Midi -£34 per day.
CAUTERETS IS 50!
Cauterets is celebrating its 50th birthday culminating in a huge firework party on 14th February. This season also sees the resort investing 1.2 million euros into a new blue run the size of 10 football pitches.
PEYRAGUDES SKI TOURING
For the first time, Peyragudes will offer ski-touring to the top of the resort and descent for first tracks before the lifts open and another first, speed riding will be offered to snowboarders – a combination of snowboarding and paragliding with speeds of up to 80mph possible.
OPEN ALTITOY-TERNUA IN LUZ ARDIDEN 8-9 FEBRUARY 2014
This race is one of six of the most prestigious mountaineering competitions in the world – it is the most famous and technical race in the Pyrenees and has more than 550 contestants. Open Altitoy Ternua is part of the Grande Course including l’Adamello Ski Raid (Italy), la Patrouille des Glaciers (Switzerland), la Pierra Menta (France), le Tour du Rutor (Italy) and Le Trofeo Mezzalama (Italy).
NEW SPA AT PIAU-ENGALY – EDENEO
No ski holiday to the Hautes-Pyrénées would be complete without a visit to a spa. Every resort has one in the town or nearby using the local thermal waters to ease tired muscles. New for 2014 is Edneo in Piau-Engaly offering a full range of revitalizing treatments, open from 2 December 2013.
And finally..
A FIRST FOR A SKI RESORT – A PIG FESTIVAL: “Fête du Cochon”- 25 January 2014
Porc Noir de Bigorre, is the most famous of St Lary ‘s local produce and the resort celebrates its most famous pig for the first time this winter.
For full details on all the above and more ideas, please DOWNLOAD the winter press kit by CLICKING HERE
For the best ski holidays in the Hautes-Pyrénées book via ABTA bonded skicollection.co.uk or book online at www.pyrenees-holiday.com
