Green circle (verde): very easy, or nursery slope. This is a wide, gentle slope, with well-groomed snow. Ideal for beginners. |
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Ski runs - colour grading - Sierra Nevada
When you go skiing or snowboarding, you need to choose the right pistas (runs) to suit your ability.
Like all ski resorts, Sierra Nevada has a range of runs to suit different abilities. The difficulty grading is indicated by colours, in an internationally recognised code. The colour grading is awarded according to various criteria, including the steepness of the slope, and obstacles such as moguls and jumps.
The edge of each run will normally be marked with poles of the appropriate colour, so you know the level of difficulty of the run you are on.
In order from the easiest to the most challenging, they are as follows:
Green circle (verde): very easy, or nursery slope. This is a wide, gentle slope, with well-groomed snow. Ideal for beginners.
Blue square (azul): easy. For those who are still learning, with a maximum gradient of 25%. These runs are also well groomed.
Red triangle (roja): intermediate (similar to the blue square in the US grading system). Steeper and narrower than a blue run. Partly groomed. For skiers with a good level.
Black diamond (negra): difficult (equivalent to black diamond or double-diamond in the US). Very challenging. For experienced skiers only.
Sierra Nevada has the following runs, ordered by difficulty grading:
Green: 20
Blue: 48
Red: 51
Black: 7