With the Winter Olympics now finished and the Paralympics in full swing, many people have been inspired to take to the slopes and try their hand at winter sports; whether that’s skiing, snowboarding or ice-skating, we want to give it a go!
European ski resorts are renowned for well-groomed slopes and plenty of snow, however with reports of a lack of snow for snowboarding at this year’s Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, some people may be concerned about what cover is available if they turn up to their resort and are unable to use the facilities due to no snow – or too much snow.
When buying your travel insurance, make sure you look for a policy that covers winter sports as standard or a policy that offers the cover as an extension. These policies will provide additional protection, on top of the standard cancellation, medical expenses and possessions, for medical expenses as a result of a winter sports injury, search and rescue, cover for lost or stolen equipment, lost ski passes and if you are not able to use the ski resort due to adverse weather conditions.
If an avalanche was to occur or there was no snow, some winter sports policies will offer compensation for each 24-hour period you are not able to use the facilities up to a total amount (i.e. £20 for every 24-hour period up to a total of £200). The amount you can claim for piste/resort closure can vary vastly from provider to provider, some will offer £20 for each 24-hour period whilst others cover up to £200 per 24-hour period. Travel insurance policies that offer the higher daily amounts are not routinely available, but with costs of daily ski passes for Europe averaging at around £50 per day and in USA and Canada at $175, it may be worth looking for one of these policies.
There are some winter sports travel insurance policies that will also offer to cover the transportation costs (up to a set limit) needed for you to travel to an alternative resort if you cannot use your pre-booked ski facilities.
Those who are concerned about making sure they have the correct cover for adverse weather should read their policy wording carefully or speak to the insurer direct. Remember that cover limits can differ depending on the insurer, so check that the cover provided on your policy is enough to cover you should you need to make a claim.