Winter sports and ski insurance

Article updated every 6 months. Last update: 14th December 2007
Author: Sean Newsom (Travel Expert) Ask me a question.

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Every winter, more than a million people from the UK put on their bobble hats and prepare to set off down the ski slopes. Sadly, for many the experience will be beset with injuries.

According to the Ski Club of Great Britain, one skier in 100 is likely to suffer an injury during a typical five-day holiday, with the chances of injury for snowboarders rising to one in 50.

Ski or snowboarding insurance is essential.

5 essential tips for ski or snowboarding insurance

Make sure your ski cover is adequate. Experts say that although value for money is important in your winter sports insurance, the key issue to consider is whether it's appropriate. This means making sure you're covered for the activities you may end up doing.
Snowboarding: many policies use the word 'ski' rather than snowboarding. Although most people think the term is interchangeable, it may not be covered in certain cases. Always check with your insurer before you take out the policy.
Off-piste skiing: some brochures will have covers that show a person engaging in off-piste skiing. Yet, they may not necessarily cover people who do it. Make sure yours does. Also, find out if this applies to all off-piste runs, or whether you can only go with an accredited guide.
Tobogganing: many people would think that this is a suitable activity even for young children. Yet not all policies automatically include this within their winter sports definition.
Theft: make sure you understand the definition of 'unattended goods', for example skis. Say you leave your skis on a roof rack when you go for a meal or a drink, or stop somewhere overnight. Does this count as leaving a valuable item unattended? What about the common practice of placing them in the ground outside a bar? Always check before buying the policy.

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Other things to look for:

Ski lift passes: lift passes are commonly lost and in many cases, the operator will make you buy a new one. One or two specialist insurers will compensate you for this. If in doubt, ask.

Unable to ski: perhaps a lift is broken, or skiing is not possible at a particular resort because of high winds, an avalanche, even lack of snow.

Some insurers will cover the costs of travelling a reasonable distance to another resort, plus ski passes so that they can ski. Or skiers can receive payments of up to £20 a day for being unable to ski. Check your policy as you may need a signed and dated report from the resort manager in order to make a claim.

However, if skiing at an alternative resort is offered then you are unlikely to have grounds for a claim.

Liability insurance: this helps if you inadvertently hurt someone else and the injured person claims for damages. Aim for a minimum of £2m of liability insurance in Europe, at least double that and preferably £10m if you are planning to ski in the USA or Canada.

The starting point is to make sure that the activities or the potential situation you may find yourself in is covered by the annual cover you have. If it isn't, you should take out separate ski cover during your trip.

It's far better to be fully protected than to find that, the moment after you take a tumble, not only is your holiday is ruined but you end up many thousands out of pocket.

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