How winter sports insurance protects you from the unexpected

From zipping down the powder-white slopes to playing in the snow with your friends or family, there’s nothing more exhilarating than a winter sports holiday. Winter sports are hugely popular as many find them exciting, fun and a great way to boost fitness. 

Studies show that around 60 million Europeans are regular skiers and European slopes represent 62% of skier visits worldwide. There’s no doubt that skiing and other winter sports are seen as prime holiday experiences for many. 

Some winter sports vacationers may not be aware of the specific insurance products that are available as effective cover for these kinds of leisure activities. However, it’s essential that before you venture on to the slopes, you have the right insurance in place to protect you should something unexpected occur.  

In this article, we explore why winter sports insurance is necessary, what to look out for in the right policy, and why standard insurance may not properly safeguard your interests on a winter vacation. 

Contents

• What are the unique risks of winter sports holidays? 
• Why doesn’t standard insurance work for winter sports?
• How does specialist winter sports insurance protect you?
• Choosing the right winter sports holiday insurance protection.  

What are the unique risks of winter sports holidays? 

Any kind of energetic sports activity on a holiday or trip comes with its own risks. No matter how experienced you are at skiing or snowboarding, there’s always a chance that an accident or unforeseen incident could take place. 

Speeding down a snowy mountain has the potential to be hazardous. Nonetheless, where there is exertion and ice, there’s the chance of injury. You could fall, collide with someone or feel unwell due to extreme cold weather exposure. 

Winter sports enthusiasts also have to consider the possibility of travel delays or cancellations, particularly in areas that endure heavy snowfall. Plus, there could be damage to equipment or loss of belongings in the snow. 

In order to provide adequate protection, it makes sense to take out a beneficial travel insurance policy before your trip so that, if anything does happen, you have the support you need to resolve issues. 

Why doesn’t standard insurance work for winter sports?

You may not be aware that many snow sports and activities are not covered by standard travel insurance due to the fact that there is an association with greater risk and injury. Some travellers may think that, because they have an annual travel insurance policy, it covers any trips they take in that year. 

In this specific case, it really does pay to talk to your insurance provider and review travel insurance documents carefully to see what is covered and what is not by your policy. Many providers offer a winter sports add-on to existing insurance cover so that you can be safeguarded during a winter sports vacation. 

How does specialist winter sports insurance protect you?

A specialist winter sports insurance policy protects you in important and specific ways, including:

Accident and personal injury cover

Winter sports travel insurance should offer a certified amount of compensation if you suffer bodily injury during the period of insurance caused by accidental and external means.

Emergency medical expenses

Your insurance premium should provide an approved amount in the event of you requiring emergency medical treatment, including reasonable expenses incurred, if you suffer accidental bodily injury or illness during your winter sports trip. 

Equipment damage

If you lose or damage your winter sports equipment, a good winter sports travel insurance policy should deliver a level of compensation for this situation. 

Piste closure

If all of the pistes at your resort are closed for a defined period of time, your winter sports travel insurance policy should outline how much compensation is available if you have booked time on these pistes. 

It’s also notable that GasanMamo winter sports travel insurance provides ski pack cover. This entails up to €500 for the cost of your nonrefundable ski pack if you are medically certified as being unable to ski or board.

Choosing the right winter sports insurance protection

The most important aspect of any personal travel insurance policy is personal protection. It makes good sense to ensure that any policy you purchase has personal accident and medical expenses cover included. 

When you book your winter sports vacation, take a few moments to create a list of 5 key insurance priorities. This could include lost baggage cover, ski equipment replacement, or piste closure protection. When you have your priority list, match this to your policy to make sure you’re getting what you need from your insurance. 

One major benefit when you take out GasanMamo insurance is that our team is filled with insurance experts who have decades of experience in insurance provision. We listen carefully to your needs and make sure you have the correct protection in place before you go away on your trip. 

Feel free to get in contact with our customer service team to talk through your insurance options. Plus, you can take a look at our competitive and comprehensive benefits, extra add-ons, and annual offer on our travel insurance page.

GasanMamo Insurance is authorised under the Insurance Business Act and regulated by the MFSA.