What is classed as 'off-piste' skiing?
For the seasoned skier, the lure of the off-piste experience can be a powerful attraction. Before you dive off the beaten track however, here's the low down on what you need to know about off-piste ski insurance
Firstly, it would be a good idea to clarify exactly what most travel insurance companies define as 'off-piste' skiing.
Simply put, skiing off-piste is skiing outside the marked boundaries laid down by the resort. While winter sports insurance packages can cover you for off-piste skiing, this does not mean that you will be automatically covered for any and all forms of skiing activity beyond the resort boundaries. It's always worth checking the policy wording before travelling, as insurers may have varying cover descriptions.
Here are a few handy hints and considerations to help you choose the right level of cover and avoid invalidating any claims you may need to make.
Consider the level of skiing risk
As mentioned, most standard winter sports insurance policies will not cover you for all off-piste skiing activities. If you plan on heli-skiing or ski mountaineering, you will more than likely need to invest in an extreme sports or adventure insurance.
Read up on local skiing regulations
Regardless of the level of risk your policy covers you for, where an activity directly contravenes local law, all levels of policies are rendered useless. For example, in most parts of North America, all forms of skiing activity off-piste are against the law. Consequences for breaching resort regulations can range from having your lift pass confiscated to, in some cases, arrest. Make sure you read up on local ski laws and regulations.
Pre-existing medical conditions
As with applying for any type of insurance policy, you always need to declare any pre-existing medical conditions you may have.
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 828848.
Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is provided by Taurus Insurance Services, an insurance intermediary licenced and authorised in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission under Permission Number 5566 and authorised to passport general insurance intermediary services into the UK and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK under registration number 444830.
The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE. Great Lakes Insurance SE is a German insurance company with its headquarters at Königinstrasse 107, 80802 Munich. UK Branch office: 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, EC3M 5BN, company number SE000083. Great Lakes Insurance SE, UK Branch, is authorised and regulated by Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht. Deemed authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number: 769884. Subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details of the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the Financial Conduct Authority’s website.