Baqueira is the best ski spot in Europe out of the Alps. In terms of influence, there is not as much Catalan and French as the video suggests, it's rather 90% Spanish, mainly Madrid, Aragonese, Navarran and Basque influence. The fact that Baqueira is closer to Zaragoza or San Sebastian (3.5 hours) than to Barcelona (4 hr.), lets it feel when you're there.
Small area, easily skied out in a couple of days, with unchallenging slopes (blacks here are equivalent to blues in Val d'Isere), character free self service mountain restaurants only, underwhelming scenery, and heavy traffic constantly flowing thru the centre of a bland, modern village. Even the tapas is pretty poor. I don't know about the off piste, as I was only an intermediate when I visited, but as the vertical isn't great I doubt a keen off pister would be pleased. I wouldn't recommend it except maybe for a weekend.
Although the area is pretty much treeless there are some interesting high spots and mountain rock areas. Also some areas can have strong winds which actually adds to the interest of the place. I found the scenery interesting a few areas where you could curl round mountains and a less tourist feel to some alpine resorts.
If you visited as an intermediate I'm not sure how you can comment on the black runs. I can give you Luis Arias and Egua being "unworthy" of the black run qualification, the first one is black because it's a historic run and modifications have made it more mellow. The second one is only fairly steep. But runs such as Pala Gran, Pala del Teso, Tubo Nere and Pasarell offer gradients in the mid 30°, together with narrow part usually with moguls (tubo nere can get 2m moguls in the first few turns). I've never been to Val d'Isere but if blue runs there are like those black runs I assume multiple beginners get killed each year or atleast leave Val d'Isere with serious injuries trying to ski those blue runs. About the scenery, it's the Pyrenees, so obviously it is not as broad and massive as the Alps, but it certainly has its charm, and from Baqueira you have spectacular views towards the Maladeta massif, the highest of the Pyrenees. You're also really close to both the Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu and the Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici. Many people prefer the Pyrenees to the Alps when it comes to scenery, but to each their own I guess. I fully agree with Baqueira being an ugly resort town. It's despicable, horrendous... almost as bad as many French Resorts put smack in the middle of the mountain. Luckily, it sits at the valley floor, and you only have to see it twice a day. There are other towns in the valley which are not bad at all, even Vielha has its charm (see video). I don't know about the tapas. I've never had any in the Valley, and to me it's unimportant. But from what I've heard food is pretty good and not too expensive in the Valley, and at the other side of the Bonaigua Pass (where I live) there are a few decent restaurants as well. And, with regards to the off piste possibilities, it's not all about the vertical metres. Sure, you can't make 2km vertical descents, but the 400-900 m range is one of very intensive and fun runs, with plenty of sustained steeps at about 40-45° inbounds, and amazing coulouirs such as the Pic de les Ares if you're willing to walk. The ski-resot can indeed be seen in two days (one if you're just going from one lift to another) the possibilities of each mountain (there are around 8) far exceed the skiing anyone can do in one day. After all, it's been 12 years since I started skiing here and I'm still finding new spots.
You say you were an intermediate when you visited and that the area is "easily skied out in a couple of days". I think you need to think again as there are 153kms of skiing in this resort. As another poster points out the blacks are over 30 degrees and I can assure you that no blue in Val d'Isere is anywhere close to that.
I agree with most of what you said but Baqueira isn't as ugly as most of the purpose built ski areas in France, Tignes is much worse. I have to say that I have skied for the past thirty four years and went to Baqueira for the first time in 2015, it has become my favourite ski area.
Oh god bless this place is influenced by France! I was worried about the fact of finding myself in a very spanish place.... thank you for telling us! it isn't that spanish after all.
Well, if you get impressed because you found ski in Spain, you should come to Bariloche in Argentina with tons of snow and skiing Parks during july!
Pero España está a 2h de Inglaterra y Argentina a 15 jajajajj
ademas es normal que haya nieve en junio porque es verano
Cool 👌 what’s the latest month in the year there is decent snow there man?
Not so much under the radar in the UK, it was one of the top ten resorts a few years back in the Observer magazine.
Ya me gustaría estar deslizándose X esa nieve y no confinada en casa!!!
please keep it undiscovered, my family have skied there for 25 years and don't want it to be flooded!
It already is flooded but its getting emptier because there are more kids that have school on january
Baqueira is the best ski spot in Europe out of the Alps. In terms of influence, there is not as much Catalan and French as the video suggests, it's rather 90% Spanish, mainly Madrid, Aragonese, Navarran and Basque influence. The fact that Baqueira is closer to Zaragoza or San Sebastian (3.5 hours) than to Barcelona (4 hr.), lets it feel when you're there.
fab looks great .think this would be great tv show good work ski club.a tip team up with warren smith or g bell get this on tv
Thanks Paul! We hope to develop this idea further over the winter seasons
good
The Spanish pronunciation for Beret is to sound the t, it isn't French!
who cares
no, they pronounced it correctly!
It wrong they speak Gascon NOT Spanish and it's beray FUCK FEMINAZI SPAIN!
@@jamesdebearn4362 gascon??? They speak Spanish wtf hahahah
Awesome!
4:42 beat name ???
Jesse James
Thanks for sharing keep safe #JhareinChannel
Hi Christina:)
Black runs Baqueira are not that difficult.. ski Alaska if you want to test yourself
Bla
Small area, easily skied out in a couple of days, with unchallenging slopes (blacks here are equivalent to blues in Val d'Isere), character free self service mountain restaurants only, underwhelming scenery, and heavy traffic constantly flowing thru the centre of a bland, modern village. Even the tapas is pretty poor. I don't know about the off piste, as I was only an intermediate when I visited, but as the vertical isn't great I doubt a keen off pister would be pleased. I wouldn't recommend it except maybe for a weekend.
Although the area is pretty much treeless there are some interesting high spots and mountain rock areas. Also some areas can have strong winds which actually adds to the interest of the place. I found the scenery interesting a few areas where you could curl round mountains and a less tourist feel to some alpine resorts.
If you visited as an intermediate I'm not sure how you can comment on the black runs. I can give you Luis Arias and Egua being "unworthy" of the black run qualification, the first one is black because it's a historic run and modifications have made it more mellow. The second one is only fairly steep. But runs such as Pala Gran, Pala del Teso, Tubo Nere and Pasarell offer gradients in the mid 30°, together with narrow part usually with moguls (tubo nere can get 2m moguls in the first few turns).
I've never been to Val d'Isere but if blue runs there are like those black runs I assume multiple beginners get killed each year or atleast leave Val d'Isere with serious injuries trying to ski those blue runs.
About the scenery, it's the Pyrenees, so obviously it is not as broad and massive as the Alps, but it certainly has its charm, and from Baqueira you have spectacular views towards the Maladeta massif, the highest of the Pyrenees. You're also really close to both the Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu and the Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici. Many people prefer the Pyrenees to the Alps when it comes to scenery, but to each their own I guess.
I fully agree with Baqueira being an ugly resort town. It's despicable, horrendous... almost as bad as many French Resorts put smack in the middle of the mountain. Luckily, it sits at the valley floor, and you only have to see it twice a day. There are other towns in the valley which are not bad at all, even Vielha has its charm (see video).
I don't know about the tapas. I've never had any in the Valley, and to me it's unimportant. But from what I've heard food is pretty good and not too expensive in the Valley, and at the other side of the Bonaigua Pass (where I live) there are a few decent restaurants as well.
And, with regards to the off piste possibilities, it's not all about the vertical metres. Sure, you can't make 2km vertical descents, but the 400-900 m range is one of very intensive and fun runs, with plenty of sustained steeps at about 40-45° inbounds, and amazing coulouirs such as the Pic de les Ares if you're willing to walk.
The ski-resot can indeed be seen in two days (one if you're just going from one lift to another) the possibilities of each mountain (there are around 8) far exceed the skiing anyone can do in one day. After all, it's been 12 years since I started skiing here and I'm still finding new spots.
I had a lovely time, thought it had lots of character and the people were great!
You say you were an intermediate when you visited and that the area is "easily skied out in a couple of days". I think you need to think again as there are 153kms of skiing in this resort.
As another poster points out the blacks are over 30 degrees and I can assure you that no blue in Val d'Isere is anywhere close to that.
I agree with most of what you said but Baqueira isn't as ugly as most of the purpose built ski areas in France, Tignes is much worse. I have to say that I have skied for the past thirty four years and went to Baqueira for the first time in 2015, it has become my favourite ski area.
Oh god bless this place is influenced by France! I was worried about the fact of finding myself in a very spanish place.... thank you for telling us! it isn't that spanish after all.
We the Europeans and what's wrong of being "that spanish"?
What a twat
If you were so worried, but didn't you look elsewhere? scandinavia, easter europe,.. Such a weird comment
Not at all influenced by France. Idiotic comment.
You are an imbecile
Boring