The Insurance Minefield ~ Chapter 2

I don't know whether my instructor will be taking me in the Snow Park, well, the Boarder Cross actually, but I was taken in it several times last year by two different instructors in group lessons so I should think it is quite likely.

I have been very careful each time I've been in there (using a snowplough to cut down my speed at the start) and so far I haven't fallen, but it is quite likely.

I am going to ask my insurers about it because worrying that I'm not insured whilst following my instructor over the jumps and up the wall is not likely to improve my performance :lol:

I'm sure the instructors realize we're quite likely to fall because they make us keep a large gap between each other so that if we fall we won't get flattened by the person behind.

If and when I get an answer from the insurers I will post it up. I am sure the search and rescue is covered but it would be nice to have it confirmed in writing. I will, in any case, also be paying a few extra euros for the carre neige insurance on my lift pass - just in case!

Ally

My Amex policy does cover search and rescue up to £150,000.00 which is not that much but have a read.
What you are covered for:
If you suffer bodily injury, illness or die while on your trip
outside the United Kingdom area we will pay the cost of:
i) all reasonable and necessary expenses which arise as a result
of a medical emergency (excluding search and rescue)
involving you. This includes doctors' fees, hospital
expenses, medical treatment and all the costs of transporting
you to the nearest suitable hospital.
The most we will pay you under this section per trip, for
any one claim in total is £10,000,000.
ii) search and rescue costs including emergency transfer to a
hospital effected by local organisations, are covered for up to
£150,000 where such costs are not met by local authorities.
This does not apply to United Kingdom area trips.
iii) in the event of death:

Special Conditions applying to off-piste skiing
and off-piste snowboardingOff-piste is defined as any skiing or snowboarding which does
not take place on any normally marked public open pistes.
For your protection and to ensure continuity of cover under
this Policy, you must adhere to the following conditions when
you are intending to ski or snowboard off-piste:
1. You must observe the rules of your resort or Winter Sports
area. If in any doubt you should follow specialist local advice.
2. If you are an inexperienced skier or snowboarder you must not
under any circumstances attempt off-piste skiing or off-piste
snowboarding unless you are under the supervision of a guide.
3. Your guide's advice and instructions must be strictly
followed at all times.
4. As a general rule you should exercise common sense and
follow sensible local practices.
Hope this is usefull
Dale

If you are an inexperienced skier or snowboarder you must not
under any circumstances attempt off-piste skiing or off-piste
snowboarding unless you are under the supervision of a guide.

Love this statement :lol:

Just who is experienced, when there is always something new. Of course it also depends on who you are measured against, and what the criteria is :mrgreen:

Perhaps AMEX would do well to publish a set of standards, but that would then remove their flexibility in interpretation )

I like the 'you should exercise common sense' bit :lol:

I thought the whole point was that it's very difficult to predict which slope is okay and which is dangerous and likely to avalanche, because there are many variables to consider.

I don't think I'd feel comfortable ski-ing off-piste with this insurance unless I was accompanied by an instructor or guide, or I was an expert skier/boarder with many years of experience ski-ing/boarding off piste.

Ally

AllyG, if you were off piste with an Instructor, this insurance would not cover you in the event of an accident.
Mind you, they are not specifying what sort of guide either :roll:

I'm thinking that this is a great example of a Bucket & Spade Policy class of Travel Insurance. They would rather not have to deal with skiers, if at all possible.

The Facebook Page, which was the reason I started the original thread, has been updated with details of a claim made on Carte(Carre) Neige, and includes some useful tips on managing the paperwork.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=134900026541300&topic=150#topic_top

I am slightly further forwards in relation to Direct Travel. The Tirol reginal tourist boards I contacted, either direct me towards generic avalanche avoidance websites or do not respond. My reading of this~ there is no local authority guidance, and the tourist boards don't want to go there.
Hence, I am not concerned about DT's boundaries, (unless Bandit fires an unthought of broadside), since I know that I am experienced, and that I have checked out the local authorities. I will always take cognisence of the Lift Company avalanche warnings.
So, as things stand, I am still headed at remaining with DT, for my requirements. That is not an endorsement for DT for anyone else, purely for my circumstances.

Forgot to say thank you to Bandit resurrecting the thread. It is an important subject to most J2skiers, and one that is often lightly glossed over.
Also thanks for the link.