For those with a spirit of adventure, winter sports insurance cover could be agood option! A winter sports holiday can be the ideal way to get away from a dull, drab winter at home. With adventure though, comes a certain amount of risk which needs to be guarded against.
Comprehensive winter sports insurance cover is essential and can traditionally cover many different types of activities such as snowboarding, glacier walking, and of course different types of skiing.
The most important item in any policy is medical cover. This includes emergency hospital or dental treatment, and any necessary travel arrangements. Winter sports insurance policies also protect against lost, stolen, or damaged equipment, lift and piste closures due to bad weather and losing a ski pass. All of these scenarios are real possibilities that could cost a lot of money to set right.
As with any ski cover there are several different levels of cover, and things to consider. Which policy you go for could depend on how often you ski/board, whether you are an expert or beginner, where you go, and how you choose to buy your insurance.
Standard travel insurance can often be customised to include some winter sports cover, although this will normally have conditions attached, and may not be as comprehensive as separate ski insurance.
Specialist winter sports policies can cover a whole skiing season (4 months) for avid skiers, or just a single trip, which would suit first time skiers. Policies can be purchased at high street travel agents as part of a package holiday, or separately through other insurance providers.
Most policies now can be bought online and you may find better deals here than on the high street. This could be worthwhile if seeking joint, family, or generally more comprehensive cover. Online discounts also apply when purchasing annual or seasonal cover.
In summary
When looking for winter sports insurance check what your standard travel and health insurance will offer, and what additional cover you will therefore need. When researching different policies, check through each scenario covered, and the payouts for each.
Also if you like off-piste check and double check your policy covers you.
There will likely be variations on the amount paid out, any excess the customer will have to pay, and conditions under which the insurer will make a payout. Conditions could include the number of lifts closed, the level of bad weather, or where you were when something was lost or stolen.
In summary, taking out the right sort of cover will avoid any unnecessary gambles and allow you to enjoy your holiday with peace of mind.
GRADE 1
Archery (amateur), Badminton (amateur), Baseball (amateur), Basketball (amateur),
Beach games, Bungee jump (1) , Camel / Elephant Riding, Canoeing (Up to Grade
3), Clay pigeon shooting, Cricket (amateur), Cycling (Other than specified),
Dinghy sailing, Fell walking, Fencing Fishing, Football (amateur), GAA Football
(amateur), Golf (amateur), Hiking (under 2,000 metres altitude), Hockey (amateur),
Horse riding (up to 7 days), Jet boating, Jet ski-ing, Jogging, Marathon running
(amateur), Motorcycling up to 50cc (wearing a crash helmet - no racing), Netball
(amateur), Non manual work (Including professional administrative or clerical
duties only.), Orienteering, Outwardbound pursuits, Paintballing, Parascending
/ Parasailing (over water), Pony trekking, Racquetball, Rambling (under 2,000
metres altitude), River canoeing up to Grade 3, Roller skating, Roller blading,
Rounders, Rowing, Running-sprint/long distance (amateur), Safari (UK organised),
Sail boarding, Sailing within territorial waters, Scuba diving* down to 30 metres
if qualified and not diving alone or accompanied by a qualified instructor (see
notes below), Skate boarding, Snorkelling, Squash (amateur), Surfing (amateur,
under 14 days), Tennis (amateur), Tour operator safari, Track events, Trekking
(under 2,000 metres altitude), Volleyball (amateur), War games, Water polo (amateur),
Water ski-ing (amateur), Windsurfing (amateur), Yachting (racing/crewing inside
territorial waters)
Scuba Diving * - Click here for more info
Scuba diving to the following depths. Provided you are diving under the direction
of an accredited dive marshal, instructor or guide. Alternatively, if qualified,
within the guidelines of the relevant diving or training agency or organization
and not diving alone: PADI Open Water -18 metres PADI Advanced Open Water
-30 metres BSAC Ocean Diver -20 metres BSAC Sports Diver -30 metres* BSAC
Dive Leader -30 metres
* We must agree with any equivalent qualification. If You do not hold a qualification,
We will only cover you to dive to a depth of 18 metres. You will not be covered
under this policy if you travel by air within 24 hours of participating in
scuba diving.
GRADE 2 - plus all the above
Boxing Training (no contact), Bungee Jump (up to 3 additional), Black water
rafting (Grade 1 to 4) Life jacket and Helmet must be worn, Camel/Elephant
Riding / Trekking (Non Incidental), Cycle Touring, Go Karting (Specific use),
Horse riding (no Polo, Hunting Jumping), Hot Air Ballooning (non Incidental),
Hurling (amateur), Jet Skiing (non Incidental), Martial Arts (Training only),
Mountain Biking, Rambling between 2000 metres and 4000 metres altitude, Trekking
between 2000 metres and 4000 metres altitude, Safari (non-UK organised)
Scuba Diving * - Click here for more info
Non Incidental/down to 50 metres if qualified and not diving alone or accompanied
by a qualified instructor (see notes below) Sea Canoeing, Sea Fishing (non
Incidental) Surfing (amateur) Triathlon White water rafting - Grades (1-4)
Waterskiing/ Windsurfing / Snorkelling (non Incidental) *Scuba diving - scuba
diving to the following depths. Provided You are diving under the direction
of an accredited dive marshal, instructor or guide. Alternatively, if qualified,
within the guidelines of the relevant diving or training agency or organization
and not diving alone: PADI Open Water- 18 metres PADI Advanced Open Water
- 30 metres BSAC Ocean Diver -20 metres BSAC Sports Diver -35 metres* BSAC
Dive Leader -50 metres
* We must agree with any equivalent qualification. If You do not hold a qualification,
We will only cover You to dive to a depth of 18 metres. You will not be covered
under this policy if You travel by air within 24 hours of participating in
scuba diving.
GRADE 3 - plus all the above
Abseiling, American Football (amateur), Gliding, Kayaking, Motorcycling with
a full UK motorcycle licence and wearing a crash helmet (over 50cc - no racing),
Paragliding, Rugby (amateur competition), Tandem Skydive (up to 2 jumps maximum),
Sand Yachting, Yachting (racing / crewing) - outside territorial waters
GRADE 4 - plus all the above
Canyoning, Hang Gliding, High Diving under 5m (amateur, excluding cliff diving),
Horse Jumping (no Polo, Hunting), Kite Surfing, Micro Lighting, Parascending
/ Parasailing (over land, non Incidental), Rock Climbing (under 2,000m),
Rock Scrambling (under 4,000m).
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