The Insurance Minefield ~ Chapter 2

Dunno, Bandit, not sure if 43 years qualifies as "experienced". Might have to wait another 10 years!
I certainly would not want to have a couple of the qualified ski instructors I have skied with looking after my off-piste welfare!

„Akute Lawinengefahr" / "ACUTE AVALANCHE DANGER" – I wonder why they don't use the European avalanche hazard scale danger levels as agreed by the alpine countries in 1993?

In Valais fully qualified (ISIA card) ski instructors are allowed to instruct clients off piste provided that the area chosen is accessible from the top lift, does not involve crossing a glacier and does not require any special equipment for the descent. They may also guide clients off piste (if necessary using skins) for the purposes of instruction and to provide variety, in terrain that does not contain any alpine dangers, glaciers, extremely steep slopes and that is easily accessible from the lifts.

On the Facebook page Jason Cleverly posted a reply from Direct Travel: "If the avalanche warnings do not indicate that there is a significant risk then you will be covered." He goes on to quantify this as meaning level 4, however "erheblich," the German word for level 3 / considerable, can also be translated as significant whereas "gross" level 4 cannot.

How often are the avalanche warnings at a 3 or 4 as compared with a 1 or 2?

Obviously this depends on the weather conditions, but on average the danger level here is forecasted to be at: level 1 for about 20% of the winter, level 2 for 50% of the winter, level 3 for 33% of the winter and level 4 only on a few days. Level 5 is rarely forecasted, on average only for one day a season.

Approximately 7% of recreational avalanche fatalities occur at level 1, 34% at level 2, 47% at level 3 and 12% at level 4. There are normally no recreational fatalities at level 5.

Hello to everyone on here that I know already, and hi to anyone else as well of course. If any of you are ever coming to Les Arcs, please do drop me a line in advance and we can meet up for a beer or even a ski. I can be found in George's Wine bar in Arc 1950 most days after skiing for a bit of apres.

I hear I have created quite an interest.

I am pleased as this subject is very near to my heart right now having seen how easily someone can get seriously hurt off piste on easy terrain and end up needing an op. Read the discription on my facebook group page if you are wondering what I am refering to. It is quite long, but I think you will find it worth while to read.

I will continue with the help of my friends to post all the details that we get from brokers and underwriters on my facebook Les Arcs group Info page until all have replied to there enquiries.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134900026541300&ref=ts

You are welcome to go there and read what is written any time. Please remember we are all posting there giving feedback which has NO professional backround or commercial interest, so once you have read something please check out the insurance for yourself and read the small print. Do not just take what we have said as correct.

Plus I will continue to post what heads of piste security and other authorities say regarding this matter.

I was very interested to see that Henry has been using very similar wording to what is written on my page and links to my page as well. I shall be interested to see how this all pans out.

I hope this continues to prove of interest to everyone. Enjoy.

(Just started a new Les Arcs and La Plagne Seasoon thread over in the France section. Pop over and join in the chat if you are out in these areas this winter for a holiday or the season.)

SwingBeep wrote:Obviously this depends on the weather conditions, but on average the danger level here is forecasted to be at: level 1 for about 20% of the winter, level 2 for 50% of the winter, level 3 for 33% of the winter and level 4 only on a few days. Level 5 is rarely forecasted, on average only for one day a season.

Approximately 7% of recreational avalanche fatalities occur at level 1, 34% at level 2, 47% at level 3 and 12% at level 4. There are normally no recreational fatalities at level 5.

Thanks very much SwingBeep,
Presumably far more people go off piste with an avalanche risk of 1, than at a risk of 4, which is why there are so many fatalities even at 1? Does anyone have the figures for how many people go off piste for each warning level?
The insurers must be getting statistics from somewhere.

Ally

Swingbeep, where did you get these details from, are they just for Switzerland? From personal experience last season, I would say there were a lot more than only a few (depending on what you mean by a few) level 4 days last season. I skied almost everyday last season, mainly off piste and we always check the risk levels and weather etc before we go out.

This season I might keep a record of these details, could be interesting to study later.

Swingbeep, you also make an interesting point re. language and what different levels mean. This for me is why Insurance underwriters need to be specific. Often something is lost in translation. Remember what Jason has posted has been written by the underwriters not him or his friends. I wonder, could it not be possible for all the undrewriters to agree on a simple wording for these policies. Would be nice, but??

Regarding Ski Instructors, to be a 'fully qualified Instructor' with Swiss snowport you have to have completed the full avalanche and off piste units. This according to BASI is the same as the level 2 off piste option which you can only do if you have all the other section for the full Diploma first. I also hear that the Swiss are thinking of making there modules even tougher in the future. So unless my understanding of the regulations are incorrect, you have to be an experienced Instructor not just newly qualified to be allowed to teach off piste there, similar to France. If you are an Instructor, or any other Instructors in Swizterland are reading this, it would be good to have your impot. How is your personal and liablity Insurance effected depending on the avalanche level at the time when you are skiing off piste with clients?