Winter might not be the most popular season but it does have one redeeming feature - Winter Sports! There is something about skiing and snowboarding which can turn even the most docile person into a speed demon which might explain why one in seven skiers need medical care. Imagine you have now read your code of conduct and found that as a skier in the ski resorts, you are about to undertake a risky sport where injuries are very common! Ski Resort owners have insured themselves beforehand to fight against any unwanted calamity or any accident of that sort.But what about you?
During the peak skiing season, the vast majority of skiers do not come from professional skiing background and very few of them have prior experience of the treacherous slopes. In most cases what happens is that just after taking some initial lessons from instructors they board the ski lift and head out to the slopes. It is not that only the novices get injured, as an accident can occur to anybody, even to a professional. It only takes seconds to go back home with an unwanted injury. A ski lift accident can occur anytime, hurting a lot of people, even in a warmer winter but add to that some foul weather and the chances of accidents increase exponentially. But what do the farsighted skiers do to ensure they are properly covered? Apart from taking the game seriously, they also get themselves INSURED. Yes, the good news is that, insurance is available in the market to support you in such cases, known as ski insurance. Ski insurance coverage is normally intended for skiing (including mono-skiing), snowboarding, sledging, ice skating, and other winter sport activities. Most of these policies also cover "off-piste" for skiers and snowboarders. Ski insurance may cover emergency medical and other expenses along with personal liability and ski and snowboard equipment cover. It may also offer you cover for valuables, baggage or even for delayed baggage or loss of lift pass. So if you are looking for a stress free trip with your skis this winter, it will be worthwhile to consult an insurance advisor for ski insurance.
Do you get travel insurance when you go on vacation?
Most people do because their travel agent advises them to do this. In most cases travel insurance is a prudent move but the truth is that travel agents get good commission on travel insurance and thus they are motivated to recommend it. I would guess that the number of people getting travel insurance when they book their vacations over the Internet (or certainly their flights) is a lot lower than dealing with a travel agent. I think this is low because most people don't think anything will happen to them. And in 99% of the time they would be right. Have you ever claimed on your travel insurance ? I haven't. Having said this, I have always taken out skiing travel insurance. I've been on quite a lot of ski trips and vacations now and fortunately nothing has happened to me. I haven't broken my leg or even had any serious injury. I haven't lost equipment, had it stolen or broken it and my hotel booking has never been screwed up. Maybe I've just been lucky but I imagine most people are fortunate enough to have had this experience of their ski vacations. So why bother with the ski insurance ? Snow conditions can make or break a ski holiday. Some ski areas have reported a lack of snow in recent years and have had to close lifts and pistes. Equally, too much snow can lead to avalanche warnings and resort closures. A good ski insurance policy should cover you for transportation costs to take you to an alternative skiing area in the event that ALL skiing facilities in your pre-booked resort are closed due to lack of snow or avalanche. Please note that "Piste Closure" cover in most ski insurance policies only applies outside of the United Kingdom and between certain months of the year. Well, in my mind, if something is going to happen on a vacation, a ski vacation must be one of the prime candidates. Although I've never had a serious injury it seems that I have witnessed at least one accident during each trip. I have also seen people being taken down the slope on a ski bed and in a few cases being taken down by helicopter. I don't know how expensive these kinds of operations would be but I would be far happier if somebody else was paying for them - notably my insurance company. So it does happen, and medical costs could really mount up depending on how serious the injury is. If you have to spend a few days in hospital this would prove expensive. This is the major cause for concern on a ski vacation however you could also guard against things like theft or breaking or losing equipment. In my experience, ski resorts are generally pretty honest places. People leave their equipment outside at lunch or apres ski and it is always there when they come to pick it up. However I'm sure theft does happen from time to time. Ski insurance can also protect you from breaking or losing things like cameras or sunglasses which are easier to do on a ski vacation than many other trips away. Thus I think you would be mad not to get ski insurance. Too much could happen to turn your vacation from just bad to financially devastating. And this burden should be considered in the context that many insurance packages are not that expensive. However you should shop around before you get any insurance as they vary in terms of price and what they cover. Understand the terms and conditions because they can vary in terms of the benefits they give and make sure that they fit into what you will be doing over the vacation. Going "off-piste" is thrilling and enables you to access top-quality snow. Be sure to check that you are covered for this - many travel insurance policies exclude it altogether, or insist on taking a guide. That said, do not assume a standard travel insurance policy is enough, as most winter sports travel insurance cover has to be bought as an extra option and, even then, check the small print on your policy. It would be wise to check that the helicopter-skiing or freestyle skiing that you intend to do is covered, not to mention those 'off piste' activities you have planned as your ski travel insurance policy could very well exclude these and that could mean being saddled with an unexpected bill if you get injured.Top five tips before you hit the slopes:
1. Get Insurance: Obviously the most important thing to arrange before you leave is your insurance. It is extremely important that you arrange a policy which covers you for your trip and covers the type of activity you are planning to undertake. Medical and legal costs are usually adequately provided for but skiers should make sure that if they are travelling to Canada or the US that their limit is higher as medical and personal injury claims tend to cost more in these countries.2. Plan Well In Advance: If you have your holiday planned thoroughly it will make you less sensitive if some unwanted surprises do occur.
3. Take Lessons: Despite the recent reduction in airfares, your holiday is still likely to cost a dollar or two. The best way to make full use of your time on the snow and reduce your chances of an accident is to either take a few lessons before you leave or make sure you seek out a qualified instructor when you are there.
4. Don't Drink and Ski: Turning up drunk to the slopes is not a great idea! Firstly you're increasing your chances of causing either yourself or someone else a serious injury, and secondly in most cases it will invalidate your insurance. This applies to illegal substances as well.
5. Get Informed in Weather and Avalanche Warnings: Avalanches can cause very serious ski related injuries and often lead to death. Make sure you avail yourself of any weather/avalanche information available to you.
If you follow these tips and prepare well in advance, there is no reason not to relax and enjoy your holiday.
Should I go to ski with a ski club?
Ski clubs, organizations, and resorts all have one common interest - the enjoyment of snow-sport activities, which involves skiing, snowboarding, cross country, and telemark skiing. Not all ski resorts have a ski club associated with it, but for those who do, year-around-activities are provided which can include ski instruction, racing programs, social activities, and inter-club trips. While skiing is what brings these groups together in the first place, it is not necessarily what keeps them together. As stated, their love of skiing and winter sports - with common interests and feeling of community - keeps them skiing together for years and years, many times forming long friendships. People who ski should join a ski club, regardless of the level of ski expertise. Beginners are almost always welcome, and this is a great way for beginners to quickly improve their skills and techniques out on the slopes. Ski clubs are better served through federal involvement, promoting improved communication, education and benefits, and influencing issues relevant to snow-sport and ski clubs. Ski club members meet with ski industry representatives, working together to develop resources for not only members, but also for the affiliated ski resort. One of the 2005 brainstorms was involving the recruitment of new members into ski clubs. Some ideas brought up were: bring in members that have talents the club can use, such as tech support or web designing; involve college or university ski clubs; bring a friend to the club, allow them to learn about skiing and the equipment; or combine a club/council and college ski trip. In order to reach new demographics, promoting families and family trips were brought up. Ski clubs are an exceptional way to learn some new things about skiing or snowboarding. Going on ski vacations with other ski club members at discounted rates, is occasionally offered on ski vacation packages involving ski resorts, ski areas, various mountains, and various countries. No matter where you live, there is a ski club near you. This is true even if you live in a place that does not ever get snowfall due to man made snow! Some are local clubs, meaning that the slopes that they ski on are within driving distance for the day, while others are more national or global, which means that if possible, they not only ski locally but they also plan ski trips. Arrangements are usually made through the club, so that everyone is eligible for the discounts. The money that is required from each member for the trip is usually paid to the club, and the club passes the funds onto pay for lodging, airfare, meals, lift tickets, and other perks that are included in the trip. Because arrangements are being made for a group of people - which is usually fairly large - discounts are given. This benefits all members of the club.Thanks for Reading and I personally Wish You a Very Pleasant Ski Experience!
Love The Snow!
Kind Regards,
Lightisneeded
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