Skiers Breach Andorra Law Entering Resort During Avalanche Control

Two off-piste skiers narrowly escaped injury in Arinsal on Wednesday morning after entering the ski resort during avalanche control operations, an action the station has deemed a punishable breach of Andorra's mountain resorts law.

The incident occurred around 8am, when station staff were conducting routine purging and avalanche checks. The skiers accessed the slopes an hour before the official 9am opening time for lifts and pistes, as stated in a resort communiqué. They came close to being caught in a controlled snow slide but emerged unharmed.

Under the 2022 Mountain Stations Law, off-piste skiing is strictly limited to designated itineraries or pistes, and only during hours set by the operating entity. The resort concluded that the pair violated this rule, exposing them to fines. However, no injuries occurred, and the skiers were not identified, leaving any enforcement unclear.

The law outlines a graduated penalty system without direct links between specific user infractions and fines. Minor offences—covering any failure to follow duties or prohibitions not deemed serious—carry penalties up to €3,000. Serious violations, which additionally endanger people or third-party property, can result in fines up to €12,000. The station has not specified which category applies here, though the risk during avalanche control suggests the higher threshold could be relevant.

Authorities have yet to confirm further details or potential sanctions.