Press Release 2014 2015

News for 2014/2015

th 50 Anniversary

Baqueira Beret will be celebrating their 50th anniversary (#baqueira50) this season, with numerous sport festivities. The official inauguration day dates back to December 6th, 1964, but the festivities will take place throughout the entire winter.

New

The Aran Valley station has 35 lifts this season, with a carrying capacity of 60,683 persons/hour. Moreover, with three new lifts this season’s quality is much improved.

- New Jesus Serra four-seater . This new chairlift replaces the Vista Beret chairlift and joins Orri with Beret in a comfortable and fast manner. Starting at Orri at 1,847m altitude and arriving at 2,160m altitude, it is 1.965m long and has a capacity of 2,400 persons/hour.

- New button lift Saumet, beginning at the middle of Vista Beret’s track at 2,006m altitude and arriving at 2,384m altitude, it is 1,173m long and is considered as an area for experts, giving access to 4 new .

- New button lift Stadium, beginning at 1,845m altitude, very close to chairlift Dera Reina and running parallel to it, it climbs up to 2,222m altitude. It is open to all skiers but has been specifically designed for those who train at Beret’s Stadium.

New Pistes

The resort will offer 21 pistes more than last winter in a skiing area of 2,166 hectares. There are a total of 99 marked pistes and 3 itineraries, offered by Baqueira Beret to their customers for this 2014-2015 season with a total of 153 kilometers for skiing.

- In Baqueira

The well-known off- La Passarells has now been turned into a new piste.

- In Beret

The new lift, Saumet, gives access to 4 new runs – the red Saumet and the three black Craba, Sanglier and Orri de Tredos pistes. These pistes go through the Baciver valley and reach Orri. There are also two new blue pistes, Ta Beret 3 and Ta Beret 4, to from the top of the new chairlift, Jesus Serra, down to the base of Beret.

The new red piste, Peira Arroja, starts at the top of the Blanhiblar chairlift, the red pistes Barlongueta and Parros, start at the top of the Costarjas chairlift and end at Beret’s parking lot.

- In Bonaigua

The black piste, Muguet, a variant of the Manaud piste; the black piste, Barranc der Aire, beginning at the Teso dera Mina chairlift and opening a new route that connects with the Bonaigua piste. The black piste Cigalera, starting point of the Tuc de la Llanca chairlift goes into various runs which lead to the Muntanyó piste.

In the Peulla area, the black Gerber run has been added, which up until last season was an itinerary. The Pletiu d’Arnaldo red piste, a variant of the Pleta del Duc piste, has also been added.

Machines for Piste Preparation

Two new Kässbohrer machines, model PB 600 Polar have been acquired, one of them equipped with a winch, which along with the 12 existing ones will provide perfect maintenance to the tracks.

Restoration

Expansion of the Moët Winter Lounge terrace, and the addition of new furniture will enhance the clients’ comfort.

Web www.baqueira.es website has seen much improvement in usability, design and overall operation as well as online ticket purchasing services and improvements to facilitate access to Baqueira Beret’s products with just one click.

Share Baqueira with…

Share Baqueira with friends: good times and experiences guaranteed

A few days with friends in Baqueira Beret can go a long way. If your goal isn’t athletic, but rather enjoying the tracks and the views in a calm manner, we recommend the Blue Safari. The Safaris allow you to see most of the resort, adapting the difficulty of the pistes to your skiing level.

No running out of breath with the Blue Safari

The Blue Safari is the best choice for those who like to ski calmly and safely, on comfortable and spacious tracks without exaggerated slopes. Designed for those who seek a good time with friends. It is a 23.3 km route with medium difficulty slopes, which allow you to see every corner of Baqueira Beret in just a few hours along with 3,566 meters of downhill skiing. This journey can be made with the guidance of an expert guide or by yourself as the track is clearly signposted.

Breakfast in the heights

At 2,100m high along the Blue Safari in Baqueira, having passed Bonaigua and Peulla, we recommend breakfast at Refugio de San Miguel, located in the Cap del Port. This brewery offers a selection of original and different tapas in a modern and welcoming space.

Concerts in Baqueira Bar 1500

To get in the mood after skiing, the Baqueira Bar 1500 offers concerts every Saturday at the base of the mountain. It is great to finish the day’s skiing in a relaxed manner while discussing the mountain’s stories and anecdotes and celebrating having skied the whole Blue Safari; all the while moving your feet to the sound of live music.

Jesus Serra Foundation Challenge

If you come during the weekend when the Jesus Serra Foundation Challenge takes place in Baqueira (March 7th and 8th) all those who have registered previously may participate in the open alpine ski race without the need to be federated. It is essential to have insurance. On Saturday, the popular Giant race event takes place and the top rated participants will participate on Sunday. In addition, the winners under age 25 will win a check for Studies, worth 2,000€ (1st prize), 1,500€ (2nd prize), and 1,000€ (3rd prize), among many other gifts and surprises during the two days.

Share Baqueira with family: all of our services for children

Skiing is undoubtedly a family sport, even for very young children who still can’t ski or who have only worn the a couple of times. Baqueira makes it easy for the children of skiers to discover the safely and comfortably in the Snow Parks and nurseries in the area.

First steps on snow

At Baqueira Beret there are four nurseries, differentiated by their location and offerings. For families with infants between 3 months and 2.5 years old we recommend the nursery at Baqueira 1500, located at the foot of Borda Lobato, next to Montarto Hotel. They offer a completely personalized program for infants and children who have learned to walk but are still not familiar with snow. Besides the many indoor activities, they also will also have a snow garden, to discover the white element.

The other three nurseries in the area are located in Beret, Bonaigua and Baqueira 1,800. The first two are accessible by car and parking is close to the facilities. Baqueira 1,800 can be reached by Baqueira gondola, leaving from Val de Ruda and from the middle stop at 1,500, as well as by the Bosque chairlift.

In all of these three nurseries children must be over 2.5 years of age. Bonaigua nursery is only open on weekends. The Beret and Baqueira 1,800 nurseries’ outdoors areas are well known for their ski conveyor belts. These allow the children to get a start at skiing in a themed, fenced-in and protected area. It is a space exclusively for the use of children in the nursery. Skis and boots are provided for the children. All activities are done with the company of qualified personnel.

However, it isn’t all about skiing. There is also a playground on the snow, toys and sleds and a large indoor area for fun. Moreover, there’s a meal service with menus tailored to all ages and any food needs (allergies, intolerances, etc.). Fun ways to experience the snow that will surely make children want to become future skiers.

After Skiing

Coming down from the tracks, particularly when descending from Baqueira 1,800, you will find the new area of Val de Ruda. Ruda is perfect for a cold beverage or a warm drink while the young ones tell you about their initiation into winter sports. If kids are savvy and skilled in the snow, you can go to Ski Service Baqueira Store to purchase or rent children’s skiing equipment or or even sleds and snowshoes.

In the Aran Valley, one of the most popular activities for children is ice skating at Palai de Geu de Vielha. During Christmas times, visiting Baqueira 1,500 next to the station office is a must. From there, they will greet the Three Great Kings coming down the mountain on the snow plows. For New’s Year Eve we recommend you enjoy the fireworks and the torchlight parade coming down the same run. At the end of the season, Aran Park is a great place for children to see bears, wolves, deer, etc., in their natural habitat in the Aran Valley.

Share Baqueira with experts: an adrenaline full challenge

For those who take sports seriously, those who like to excel and to try things out of the ordinary, the Aran Valley resort is the right place. Experts will be able to burn their adrenaline on the steepest tracks of Baqueira Beret or they will be able to feel the thrill of the original and popular Quattro Era Baishada Open race, racing towards the freedom and tranquility of the mountains. Black Safari Tour

The Black Safari is the best option for the brave looking for a dynamic skiing experience. The tour takes place in Baqueira and Bonaigua, leaving the easier Beret area to the rest of the skiers. It totals 23 km with 4,468m of downhill skiing. The itinerary goes through mythical station pistes. Competitive skiers will probably complete it in 2 or 3 hours of non-stop skiing. The best reward will be to rest your legs and mind with a glass of wine at Baqueira Bar 1,500 after such an intense experience. The most popular tracks are part of this safari like Manaud or Pales der Arias. Other less known but very promising tracks are also part of it, like Pala Gran de Peulla.

Quattro Era Baishada

For experts, there is a great popular competition: the Quattro Era Baishada Open, which will be held this winter on February 21st. This open represents the legendary Era Baishada from the 90’s, but with a renewed spirit. All those who have previously registered may participate in this fun race which mixes different skiing disciplines and boarder cross at the Beret Stadium.

The competition will feature a parallel start, followed by a Super Giant race, a jump, the “flying kilometer” (100 meters of speed) and a unique design with turns and slopes. A maximum of 300 people in the categories of youth and veteran can participate. The winners will earn prizes valued at 10.000€ and a driving course at the Audi Driving Experience, taught by the sibling pilots Marc and Jordi Gené. There will also be a drawing for the many other awards and a party at the end of the race.

All Skiing Varieties in Baqueira Ski Service Store

Why settle on always skiing with the same equipment? The winter sports trends encourage good skiers to experience new sensations. Baqueira Beret has an excellent premium gear rental service where every day you can change your equipment. Downhill skis, giant skis, freeride skis and snowboards. In addition, Ski Service has five stores in the area which also offer cross-country skiing, telemarking and mountain skiing equipment for experienced skiers who wish to discover the advantages of free heel skiing and to enjoy Baqueira Beret on different slopes.

Share Baqueira with the curious ones: the nooks and services to discover

It may seem a bit overstated to say that there are secrets left undiscovered in Baqueira Beret, but it is definitely clear that there are some parts and services in the area still unknown to many. For curiosity sakes:

The new tracks

The major discovery during this winter 2014-2015 will definitely be the 21 new runs that the area has made available for its clients for this 50th anniversary season. One of the brand new areas to open its doors is that of the new lift and piste, Saumet. This lift, which exceeds a height of 380 m, opens up tracks for experts and gives access to 4 new pistes: The red run, Asumet, and the three black tracks, Craba, Sanglier and Orri Tredós, which go through the valley of Baciver and reach Orri.

Other notable nooks in which you will be able to leave your trace is the area of Bonaigua with its new black piste, Muguet, as a variant of the Manaud slope and the black piste, Barranc der Aire, which starts at the Teso dera Mina chairlift and opens up a new route connected to the Bonaigua piste. In Beret, from the top of the , Costarjas, you can descend from the new red tracks Barlongueta and Parros to the base of Beret. Finally, a route that has become a main run which many will want to try is the slope of black piste Passarells on the northern face of the mountain.

High cuisine at Val de Ruda The highest diner-bar of the resort is located in Baqueira at 2,200m. This distinctive pop architectural building is one of Baqueira’s best terraces with the best views of the Montarto and Aneto peaks. It is ideal for a snack so as to continue skiing without delay. In Beret, the restaurant, Audeth, allows you to enjoy the taste of Aranese specialties and cuisine after a morning on the slopes.

The shopping, restaurant and hotel area in Val de Ruda is an important asset at the core of Baqueira 1500. It is an indoor zone with all the services any user may need in Baqueira – both at the start of a skiing day and when returning from a whole day of skiing. There are rentals, shops, restaurants, hotels, and a large underground parking lot to protect your car from the frequent snowfall. Having the ticket offices and the base of the ski lift right in the heart of Ruda, this area couldn’t be any more comfortable for you.

The advantages of Baqueira Ski Service Store

Ski Service is much more than just a store, a workshop or a rental for winter sports equipment. We offer a storage service of keeping your skis and boots safe so you don’t have to carry them back to your room or home. You can also ask to have your skis delivered to your hotel and have different kind of skis every day in order to try different styles and shapes, depending on the snow forecast.

In all entrances to the resort, except at Orri, there is a repair shop with a team of professionals to help you tune your equipment as quickly as possible. This service is accompanied by a “Material Service” through which you will receive free assessment or supervision on your equipment’s condition thus ensuring your safety.

Technical Data

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

153 skiable kilometers 99 pistes: 6 green (4 km), 41 blue (70 km), 37 red (54 km), 15 black (18 km) 3 routes (7 km) 7 km of Nordic ski circuit Snowpark and Slalom Stadium Freeride Zone 35 Lifts: 1 gondola (9 seats), 20 chairlifts (10 detachable 3x6, 7x4 and 10 fixed clamp (6x3, 4x2), 7 lifts (4 lifts, 2 seater ski lift, 1 rope pull) and 7 conveyor belts. Carrying capacity: 60,683 people / hour Power: 18,697 * Maximum elevation: 2,510m Minimum elevation: 1,500m Elevation Change: 1,010m Ski Are: 2.166Ha. 611 machines

Snow plow machines for preparing tracks: 14

* Power = Carrying Capacity x elevation, (for each lift) 1,000 ≈ Area capacity = 18,697 skiers

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

5 ski rental and repair centers Total parking lots: 7 with a total of 5,040 car spaces 26 cafes and restaurants on the mountain 4 Nurseries 2 Medical assistance stations 1 private Medical Center in Baqueira 1500. More than 500 ski instructors Residential area at the foot of the tracks with hotels, apartments, restaurants, clubs and shopping centers.

Tentative events and competition schedule

Baqueira Beret 2014 2015

December

13 Tv3 Marathon, alpine ski race, GS Open, Beret

20-21/12 Salomon Quest Challenge

January

10-11 Solidary mountain race

17-18 50th anniversary celebration #baqueira50 and World Snow Day (FIS)

24 Intercopos

February

31/1-1/2 Marxa Beret, popular ski race, all categories, Beret

7-8 Montse Corominas Challenge, Children I-II , GS and SuperCombi, Beret

7-8 Freeride Val d'Aran

14-15 Amics de Montgarri Challenge, Alpine Ski Alevines, SL and SG, Beret

14-15 Spain Freeride Championship

21 Audi Era Baishada Open, Combi Race Open, Beret

March

28/2-1/3 Top CAEI FIS, junior and seniors alpine ski, GS, Beret

7-8 Jesus Serra Foundation Challenge, junior, senior and veterans alpine ski, GS open and Parallel, Beret

6 y 9 Freeride World Tour

10-12 62nd Ski Club of International Journalists Meeting, alpine ski (GS), Beret

14 Desigual Freestyle Challenge, , Beret

15 Spain Slopestyle Championships, Beret

17-18 Spain Teachers Championships, alpine ski, Beret

20-22 Spain Veteras Championships, alpine ski, Beret, SG, SL, GS, Beret 28-31 Spain Absolute Championship, alpine ski, GS, SL, SG, Cara Nord

30-31 50 Years RFEDI National Alpine Ski Meeting

April

2 Social Ski Race Camp Era Escola, Beret

3 Social Race Social CEVA, Beret

4 Golden Test Baqueira Beret, Beret

5 Social Race CAEI, Beret

6 Baqueira Beret’s staff race, Beret

Featured events and competitions in Baqueira Beret, 14-15 season

December 13th – TV3 Marathon

Baqueira Beret joins TV3 Foundation this year again to organize a ski and race at Beret Stadium on Sunday, December 13th. The 15€ registration will go to the TV3 Marathon fundraiser, which this year is for heart diseases. Assistants will have the chance to buy a 3€ ticket at Baqueira’s offices to enter in the drawing for hotel stays, workshops, dinners and other prizes featured by the Aran Valley companies.

January 17th and 18th - #Baqueira50 anniversary celebration and World Snow Day (FIS)

This season is very special for the Aran Valley resort because we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary. There are numerous events planned to celebrate Baqueira Beret’s 50th birthday. The most important weekend will be during mid-January, when we will have numerous events on the mountain and also in Ruda galleries. The event is on the same day as the World’s Snow Day, sponsored by the International Ski Federation in which special events are held to bring snow awareness to children and families in order to convey the benefits of the practice of winter sports.

January 31st and February 1st

36th Marxa Beret

On Saturday 31st and Sunday February 1st the cross country skiing race promoted by Conselh Generau d’Aran, Baqueira Beret and Naut Aran’s Municipality will take place with the collaboration of other agencies, institutions and clubs. During the weekend, the competitions for the 10, 21 and 42km will be held. Registration is now open at: www.marxaberet.com

February 7th and 8th – Montse Corominas Memorial Challenge CEVA

The Ski Club Val d’Aran (CEVA) is organizing the memorial race to the great skier and founder of this Aranese club, Montse Corominas. The race is also a part of the Audi Quattro Spanish Cup, youth categories I and II. The Super Giant (SG), (GS) and Slalom (SL) will be held at Beret’s Stadium.

February 14th and 15th – XVIII Amics de Montgarri Challenge

The Amics de Montgarri Challenge, organized by Aranese Club d’Esports d’luern (CAEI), is a part of the alpine skiing competitions Audi Quattro Cup. The SG, GS, and SL till take place at Beret’s Stadium during the weekend. February 21st – Audi Quattro Era Baishada

On February 21st, the Audi Quattro Era Baishada will hold its second edition. All previously registered racers may participate in this open race, mixing different disciplines of downhill skiing and boardercross at Beret’s Stadium. The competition will feature a parallel start followed by a Super Giant, a jump, a flying kilometer and a unique layout of giant curves and bumps. The 300 participants will be eligible for prizes worth €10,000 and driving lessons at Audi Driving Experience Baqueira, among others. www.quattroerabaishada.com

February 28th to March 1st – Top CAEI FIS

The CAEI holds the FIS race in the Aran Valley. In this competition, consisting of a Giant Slalom and a Slalom, there are over 250 Spanish, French and Andorran racers among others.

March 7th and 8th – Jesus Serra Foundation Challenge

On the March 7th and 8th weekend, the Jesus Serra Foundation holds the Challenge with the same name. It is a popular race consisting of a Giant race on Saturday and a Parallel on Sunday, when the best participants from the previous day will participate. It’s an open race, therefore a popular one, where the winners can earn scholarships and there are many other prizes for participants.

March 10th to 12th – 68th Ski Club of International Journalists Championship

On March 10th, 11th and 12th the Ski Club of International Journalists, Baqueira Beret and Conselh Generau d’Aran, invite all national associations and members of the SCIJ to participate this year again at the Journalists World Championships which will be held at the Stadium and at the Beret’s cross-country skiing circuit.

March 28th to 31st – Spain Absolute Alpine Ski Championships, and national team RFEDI members meet.

The Spain Absolute Alpine Ski Championships will be held at Beret Stadium this season. Over 200 racers from all autonomous federations will gather for this important sporting challenge organized by the Real Spanish Federation of Winter Sports (RFEDI). Members from our national team, such as Andalusian Carolina Ruiz and Basque (raised in Aran) Paul de la Cuesta will participate. This same weekend, a meeting of former RFEDI alpine team members will be held to celebrate the 50 years of the national team’s creation.

Skiing and après ski

Baqueira Beret non stop

• Very few stations offer such a wide variety of activities for Après-ski as in Baqueira Beret. • Guided tours • Special activities for group students program (welcome cocktail, weekly picnic, final race course, etc.) • On weekends, the chance to go on a guided Safari • Special Christmas activities (classical music concert, torchlights, etc.) • Special Carnival Program • Special World Snow Day Program • Snowshoe tours • Guided snowshoeing during full moon nights • Guided snowmobile tours • Popular activities and competitions • Romanesque Aran Valley Route • Dogsled rides at the Pla de Beret • Hiking and horse sleigh rides • Thermal baths at Tredós and at Baronía de Les • Hiking to Montgarri with the chance of lunch or dinner at the Refuge • and scenic flights by helicopter • Ice rink at the Palau de Geu, heated swimming pools and gym in Vielha • Museums in Vielha, Vilamos, Bagergue, Unha and Salardú • Adventure Park in Les • Aran-Park wildlife park (from march to November) • Movie theater in Vielha • Indoor Paddle courts, cafes and playgrounds for children in Vielha • Indoor Climbing center in Vielha

Details at www.baqueira.es, Aran-Aneu / Activities.

Our range of après-ski also includes a selection of restaurants serving typical Aranese, French or International cuisine in addition to pizzerias and crêperies. And to finish the evening you can go for a drink at the many bars and clubs in Baqueira / Beret and the Val d'Aran.

Hotels and Accommodations

THE VAL D’ARAN HAS OVER 33,000 BEDS.

Hotels, country houses, pensions, hostels, apartments, houses and villas make up the wide range of accommodations for al kinds of visitors.

11,000 HOTEL ROOMS spread over a total of 67 hotels (1*****GL, 3*****, 13****, 17***, 26** and 7*) and apartments, hotels, guesthouses and lodges. Nearly 4,000 rooms are at the foot of the mountain.

22,000 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, second homes, spread among different towns of the Val d’Aran and at the base of the resort. They are commonly used on weekends and during holiday seasons such as Christmas, New Year’s or Easter.

STAY IN LES VALLS D’ANEU

Access to Baqueira/Beret through the Port of Bonaigua allows us to increase our hotel offer connecting with Les Valls d’Aneu, in Pallars Sobira.

Les Valls offers family accommodation of limited capacity. 1,400 hotel beds spread out in hotels, apartments, guesthouses, youth hostels and farmhouses.

The Val d’Aran

The Val d’Aran is located in the Pyrenees of Lleida and is the only Atlantic facing valley in Spain. It is a privileged area because of its snow quality. In the Pla de Beret, the Garona and Noguera Parallesa rivers are born.

Aran is a valley surrounded by mountains over 3,000m tall and in which over two hundred lakes exist. Some, such as Lake Mar or Tort de Rius, are the largest of the Spanish Pyrenees. Its abundant forests are filled with Spruce, Pine and Beech trees. The Val d’Aran preserves and maintains its impressive artistic and cultural heritage in many of its churches such as Salardú, Arties, Vielha and Bossost. There are numerous admirable Romanesque images in each; For example, the Christ of Salardú, Casarilh and Vielha. You can also find the unique baptismal and holy water fonts in the churches of Arties, Vilac or Vilamos along with artwork dating from the XII and XIII centuries.

The homes and buildings of the Val d’Aran are made of stone, slate and wood, including the notable Romanesque and Gothic style churches.

A characteristic feature of the Val d’Aran is its language: Aranese. It is a living language, commonly spoken by the people of the region. It belongs to the Occitan language family and is a variant of the Gascon de Comminges language. Another asset of Val d’Aran is its cuisine. Its food is strongly influenced by French cuisine due to its proximity to the French border. Nonetheless, Aran still has its own typical cuisine, notably the “Olha Aranese”, a delicious soup.

Les Valls d'Aneu

Les Valls d´Aneu are neighboring valleys to the Val d’Aran. Located in the region of Alt Aneu, they are nearly an extension of Aranese lands as they are reached just after the natural boundaries from Port Bonaigua and the foothills of the Sant Maurici i Aigüestortes National Park. The clearly Pyrenean character of these valleys ensures beautiful landscapes year round.

Les Valls d´Aneu have a variety of tourism options. Along with its physical charm and scenic features, there are other noteworthy interests to be found. Gastronomy, sports, art and culture have helped shape the idiosyncrasies of these valleys. Its proximity to the Val d’Aran makes it easy for visitors move from one area to another.

Along with the typical buildings of Pyrenean architecture, with stone walls and slate roofs, Romanesque temples in their purest manifestation are spread throughout these valleys. They portray excellent examples of religious art and architecture. We can highlight the parish church of Sant Lliser in Alós d’Isil, the church of San Joan in Isil, or the Sant Just i Sant Pastor temple, in the small town of Son. These are some of the area’s most characteristic buildings and home to many artistic treasures of which some are now in the Museu d’Art de Catalunya.

The past in a glimpse

Ever since the opening of the first chairlift on December 6th, 1964, Baqueira Beret has experienced significant growth.

In December 1982, after 7 years of negotiations, the Queen (Reina) Chairlift was inaugurated – the first ski lift in Beret.

In December 1985, the Dossau Chairlift was the first phase of Beret’s development.

In 1988 the ski area was expanded by opening the new Argulls area, equipped with three seater chairlifts to give access to 150 hectares of skiable area. Argulls is the area with the most snow, and the surface below the snow is grass.

In 1990, the most important investment was made with the implementation of a snowmaking system to cover the main areas of Baqueira and with the inauguration of the second four-seater , “Mirador”, giving access to the top of Baqueira from the 1,800m area in only 7 minutes.

The big novelty of the 92/93 season was the preparation of the new North Face / Cascada piste, which starts from the Cap de Baqueira, descending to an altitude of 1,500m, totaling 5.5 kilometers long with 1,000m of descent.

In 1994, Baqueira Beret inaugurated a new entrance to the resort, with a set of services and the chairlift “Bonaigua” through the Port of Bonaigua connecting to another Valley: the Vall d’Aneu and to another region of Pallars.

In 1995 the snow production system was installed in Beret and in 1997 the two areas of Baqueira Beret were expanded to guarantee their connection.

In 1998, the first six-seater detachable chairlift was opened, the new Pla de Baqueira, which substituted a two-seater with the same name. Its transport capacity of 3,000 person/hour, its 1,800 meters length and the remodeling of Mirador and Pla de Baqueira pistes allowed more skiing in Baqueira and the unclogging of the other ski areas.

In 1999, the launch of the second six-seater chairlift “Dera Reina” in Beret improved the skiing quality in that area and facilitated the connection to Baqueira.

In 2000, the four-seater detachable chairlift “Blanhiblar” and the ski lift “Costarjas” were launched in Beret, opening a huge off piste skiable area. The new chairlift “Teso dera Mina” in Argulls gave access to several areas and “couloirs” to expert skiers. There were a total of 100 new hectares of ski area opened.

In 2001, we duplicated the size of the Audeth Cafeteria in Beret. The project included an expansion of the Bar and a new building that houses a restaurant. Also in Beret, a new ski rental building was inaugurated.

In 2002, the historic ski lift, Luis Arias, was removed and a spectacular black piste was plotted instead. Two important projects were approved as well: the works to expand Bonaigua with a new access from Alt Aneu and the building of the new parking lot at 1,500m to park 1,500 cars. A new Baqueira Beret office was opened in Vielha.

In 2003, the first phase of the expansion of Bonaigua with three new chairlifts was done (two detachable four-seaters: La Peulla and Bonaigua, and a two-seater: Cap del Port), three pistes (La Peulla, Pieta del Duc and Cresta de Bonaigua) and two mountain routes (Gerber and Lo Boscas). The new services core in Bonaigua 1,900 was also inaugurated.

In 2004, the detachable chairlift Era Cabana was opened in Baqueira at 1,800m to give access to three new blue runs: Era Cabana, Era Coma and Ta Orri. In Bonaigua, an intermediary station was built for beginners in the Cap del Port with a chairlift to give access to a new track: Debutants. The ski area in Peulla was also expanded by building four new runs: Cap a Baqueira (blue), Les Paletes and Bosc de la Peulla (red), La Perdio (red) and the Pala Gran (black).

The main development in 2005 was the installment of the first gondola. The Baqueira gondola, with 78 9- seater cabins, starts at 1,500m and rises to 1,800m right next to the Bosque chairlift. The beginners’ area in Baqueira 1,900m was completely remodeled. The Pastores chairlift was completely dismantled and the Rabadá chairlift and conveyor belt were installed for skiers’ comfort.

In 2006, the beginners’ area in Baqueira 1,800m was completely remodeled and 3 covered conveyor belts were installed, the first of their kind in all Spain, completely fencing off the area. In addition to significantly improving skiing for children and beginners, easier access to the chairlift was created from the Bosque cafeteria for non-skiers. The service area in Bonaigua 2,072m was expanded and was finished. The green track, Era Coma, was created in the Cabana area.

2007 focused on optimizing the snow production system with a new gathering of 200,000 m3 of water from the Ruda River, and substituting 150 snow cannons for newer ones as well as the installation of a new air compressor in Beret. The construction of roundabouts to access Baqueira 1,500m and the surrounding road were completed. The new parking lot of Val de Ruda was completed.

In 2008, the work was completed for improving access from Pallars with a new variant from Guingueta d’Aneu to the Mare de Deu de les Ares and another access connecting Sorpe to Borén. The new underground parking lot in Ruda became fully operational with 1,400 car spaces with direct access to the Baqueira gondola. A new area with ticket offices and ski storage services were built under the chairlift’s underground station. The new section connecting the Residential Ruda area and the new parking lot with the pistes was put into operation. Two new five-star hotels and one four-star hotel were opened in the Residential Ruda area.

In 2009, the oldest chairlift was dismantled, the Horat deth Bo in Orri. The chairlift Choza was renewed. This project was the first phase of the Jorge Jordana chairlift installation, planned for the 2010/2011 season. The department of snow-grooming received heavy investment with the purchase of five new-generation machines.

The star novelty of 2010 was the opening of the Jorge Jordana chairlift, linking the Orri area with Cap de Baqueira, the highest point of the resort, giving access to the entire mountain. Four new tracks were inaugurated: Egua2, Egua3, Tuc deth Miei and Pala del Teso. The launch of the new restaurant in Orri – Moët Winter Lounge – was extremely valued by our customers because of its uniqueness and style.

In 2011, the construction of a lake in Orri took place. It has a capacity of 180,000 m3 of water used to produce snow on the north side. The Luis Arias, North Face and Isards-Tamarro areas were equipped with snow cannons. Three cutting edge snow-groomers equipped with GPS were acquired. A new office was opened in Toulouse, France.

In 2013, the Bosque café was remodeled for the convenience of skiers, opening a new entrance and complementing it with a skiing accessories shop. The bottom of Manaud track, the layout of chairlift Tuc de la Llança, and the final stretch of Ticolet track were conditioned; all of this to facilitate skiing and grooming. There was a proposal on the web for the three Safari tours and a new smartphone app and images of all tracks in Google Street View.

In 2013, the café at 1,800m was renovated and turned into the 5J Restaurant with a new menu and a new terrace near the entrance. A complete renovation of the store and the rental station in the galleries of Val de Ruda was done. The ski storage section in the area was relocated to a new shop right under the gondola. The online booking site with new options to purchase tickets in advance was improved. Two new snow- grooming machines were purchased, achieving a 20% improvement in the ability to groom tracks.

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RESERVATIONS: 902 415 415

BAQUEIRA BERET OFFICE Baqueira cota 1500 25598-Salardú Station’s Phone: 973 63 90 10 Reservations Phone: 902 415 415 Snow Info: 973 639 025 e-mail: [email protected]

BARCELONA’S OFFICE Diagonal, 652 ed. A, bajos 08034-Barcelona Reservations Phone: 902 415 415 Snow Info: 973 639 025 e-mail: [email protected]

MADRID’S OFFICE Hermosilla, 1 (esquina Pº de la Castellana) 28001-Madrid Reservations Phone: 902 415 415 Snow Info: 973 639 025 e-mail: [email protected]

VOYAGES BAQUEIRA BERET IN BORDEAUX 102, Cours de Verdun 33.000-Bordeaux Tel. 00 33 5 56 81 44 74 Snow Info: 00 33 5 56 52 73 97 e-mail: [email protected]

VOYAGES BAQUEIRA BERET INN TOULOUSE c/o Hotel Mercure 8 Esplanade Compans Caffarelli - Boulevard Lascrosses 31000-Toulouse Phone: 00 33 5 34 33 76 30 Snow Info: 00 33 5 56 52 73 97 e-mail: [email protected]

VIELHA OFFICE Sarriulera, 10 25530-Vielha Reservations Phone: 902 415 415 Snow Info: 973 639 025 e-mail: [email protected]

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Press Contact [email protected] Josi Martinez Vilariño – + 34 932 049 557 /+34 973 639 010