Heli-Skiing Ski Insurance

Our heli-skiing insurance cover provides a great deal and the best part is you can add it to a base ski travel policy. There's not much in the way of refreshments, but who needs them when you can have this much fun!

Heli-skiing is popular in the Alps and North America so the heli skiing ski insurance policies need to be checked very carefully in order to ensure you are covered for every eventuality! Why not compare the prices and then you can book online.

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Tips on Getting the Right Heli Skiing Policy

As with everything there is a gold standard and a cheap way of doing it.

Heliskiing

Heliskiing and heliboarding is where you use a helicopter to access remote areas full of virgin snow. This takes you away from the groomed pistes of a resort and the advantage of using a helicopter is that you can quickly get to the top of these hard to access slopes. Another great benefit of heliskiing is that you also get to see awesome views of the mountain. The runs you will reach are typically set at 2000 feet.

The word heliskiing and heliboarding is simply an amalgamation of helicopter and then skiing or boarding. It started in Canada in the 1960’s but is also now very popular in New Zealand but also Italy and Switzerland. In some countries heliskiing has been restricted or even prohibited, as in France and Germany, as some believe it is a threat to the natural world.

If you are heliskiing or heliboarding you will probably be a confident skier or boarder. You do need to be clear when booking heliskiing however as to whether you need any mountaineering skills as some tours will drop you and then expect you to find your way back. As such you will require equipment like ice axes and ropes.

How Dangerous Is it?

Heli skiing tours are usually led by guides who will be able to assess how risky the conditions are. In this sense you don’t need to be an expert on avalanches as your guide will be doing this for you. However as you are going off piste there are all the risks associated with off piste skiing. You should always carry with you a shovel, probe and transceiver. It is also essential that you not only have this equipment but that you know how to use it.

Ski Insurance Needs

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 heliskiing. 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 heliskiing, 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.

Additional Heli Skiing Insurance

It is essential if you are heliskiing that you declare this and take out additional insurance. Most insurers will view it as more risky that skiing or boarding on groomed pistes. Do not assume that simple winter sports cover is enough. On most insurers web sites there is the option to tick heliskiing and add it onto your insurance.

Things To Look Out For

Guide Or No Guide?

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 heliskiing policy.

Specialist Insurance Provider

Many providers of ski insurance do allow you to add heliskiing onto your cover but do compare them with specialist heliskiing insurance providers. The latter do understand the needs and requirements of those heliskiing and boarding 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 Heli-skiing

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

Cover Required

Do look for cover that gives you up to £10m for heli-skiing 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 or board.

Finally, really really 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.