Ski Touring Insurance Cover

Ski touring, sometimes called ski mountaineering, allows you to cover the mountain, skiing both uphill and downhill. The special binding allows you to lift your hill for the uphill bit and then attach it for the downhill part. This is a great opportunity to get off the beaten track and see all the mountain has to offer. In this sense ski touring is a mixture of cross country skiing, ski mountaineering and downhill skiing.

To ski tour for the first time you are usually expected to be a pretty confident skier, some experience of off piste can be helpful but overall you really do need to have a good level of fitness. On some ski tours for example you will be walking uphill for two and a half to three hours a day.

Quick Quote For Ski Touring Insurance

The Risks Involved In Ski Touring

The first thing to say is that ski touring can put you at risk of an avalanche. It is also incredibly demanding on both your mental and physical health. The most common form of injury is what is called ‘skiers thumb’ which is where you fall with the ski pole still in your hand. You can also experience bone breakages and fractures. You can also experience problems with the ligaments in the knees.

Ski Insurance

It is staggering to learn that many Brits go skiing without taking out special winter sports cover. Many simply rely on their EHIC card and normal travel insurance.

EHIC is the European Health Insurance Card. It used to be called the E111 and is a reciprocal health agreement between European countries including Switzerland. This gives you access to state provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European economic area. You can apply for EHIC through the EHIC online application form, this is free of charge, so do beware as unofficial websites will try and charge you.

You cannot however rely solely on this for a ski holiday let alone a holiday involving ski touring. The reason for this is that EHIC will not cover many of the things you may need should you have an accident on the slopes. So for example mountain rescue is not covered, nor is being flown back to the UK. Lost or stolen property is also not included. So for anyone skiing, EHIC alone may not cover you.

A normal travel insurance policy will also not cover you for a ski holiday. If you are unlucky enough to hurt yourself then those injuries can be quite serious. You may break a bone and need to be airlifted off the slopes which can run into thousands of pounds. Or you could cause a serious accident to another skier or boarder and be liable for their costs. Skiing and boarding are dangerous sports as is ski touring, you could endure life threatening injuries, so always make sure you take out specialist ski insurance.

Another consideration, if you are also skiing or boarding, is your equipment. The equipment you use for skiing and boarding is expensive. If someone steals your board or skis then that could set you back thousands of pounds. This may not be covered under most general travel insurance policies.

Ski Touring insurance

Because ski touring takes place off the main pistes away from the resort then insurers will view it as a high risk activity. The view is that you will be more exposed to injury and avalanche. You will often see it referred to as an extreme sport. It is essential that you have ski insurance that includes this activity. Do not assume that a standard ski insurance cover will cover you for ski touring.

What To Look For

Some insurers will expect you to always have a guide with you or at the least to always be with 3 other adults who have telecommunications between them. Do check out the small print in any ski touring policy.

Specialist Insurance Provider

Many providers of ski insurance do allow you to add ski touring onto your cover but do compare them with specialist ski touring insurance providers. The latter do understand the needs and requirements of those ski touring and can be worth checking out.

Safety Equipment

With some policies you will be expected to wear a helmet and also to follow any local advice in the resort. Some may also insist that you have on you essential safety equipment like a shovel, ropes and a safety helmet. You insurance could be invalid if you do not have the correct safety equipment.

Off Piste and Ski Touring

Do not confuse off piste ski insurance with ski touring. If you have ticked off piste that is not the same as ski touring, so do be careful.

Cover Required

Do look for cover that gives you up to £10m for ski touring accidents, personal liability up to £1m if you can get it and cancellation cover as if this is your only ski trip you want to get money back if it is cancelled. Also ensure that the value of your equipment is covered should you lose your skis.

Make sure you check the small print of any policy. What looks cheap may for example come with a high excess making a claim not cost effective. For example some cheaper policies set excess levels at £200, lose your gloves and the policy isn’t really worth it.