Loading Calculator
Skiing - Off Piste (with a Guide) Travel Insurance
If you are planning a ski trip and will be Off Piste Skiing or Snowboarding with a Guide within Resort Boundaries, you should have a Travel Insurance policy in place before you leave your home. As Skiing holidays become increasingly popular, you must have comprehensive cover for your ski trip. The importance of Travel Insurance cannot be overstated, especially if…
If you are planning a ski trip and will be Off Piste Skiing or Snowboarding with a Guide within Resort Boundaries, you should have a Travel Insurance policy in place before you leave your home.
As Skiing holidays become increasingly popular, you must have comprehensive cover for your ski trip.
The importance of Travel Insurance cannot be overstated, especially if you are planning to go Off Piste Skiing / Snowboarding with a Guide.
Highlights of our Off-Piste Skiing / Snowboarding Cover:
- Covered for Emergency Medical Expenses up to £10,000,000 including Repatriation back to the UK.
- Mountain Rescue and Air Ambulance are covered if medically deemed necessary.
- Ski Equipment Cover up to £500 - Single Article limit £250.
- Cover for Hired Ski Equipment up to £250 - £50 per 24 hours.
- Piste Closure cover up to £500 - £35 per 24 hours
- Avalanche Closure up to £500 - £35 per 24 hours
Please Note: This policy does not cover you if you are going Off Piste Skiing without a Guide outside of Resort Boundaries. If you require a quote for this, please visit our information page Off Piste Skiing (without a Guide) Travel Insurance.
To get a quote by telephone or email, contact us on 0800 043 0020 / 01273 092 757 / support@jsinsurance.co.uk
- Summary of Cover
- Top 10 Skiing Off-Piste (with a Guide) Travel Insurance FAQ
- Off Piste Skiing / Snowboarding (with a Guide)
- Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
- Covid-19 / Coronavirus Cover
Summary of Cover (per person)
| Section & Cover | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation or Curtailment | £1,500 | £3,000 | £7,500 |
| Medical Expenses and Repatriation | £10,000,000 | £10,000,000 | £10,000,000 |
| Personal Baggage | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,500 |
| Personal Money | £150 | £500 | £750 |
| Delayed Departure | £100 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Missed Departure | £250 | £500 | £1,000 |
| Legal Expenses | £25,000 | £25,000 | £25,000 |
| Scheduled Airline Failure | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Ski Equipment | £500 | £500 | £500 |
| Hire of Ski Equipment | £250 | £250 | £250 |
| Ski Pack | £400 | £400 | £400 |
| Piste Closure | £500 | £500 | £500 |
| Avalanche Closure | £500 | £500 | £500 |
| Standard Excess* | £100 | £50 | £35 |
*Excess payable does vary depending on the claim benefit.
Please read the Policy Wording of this policy provided by JS Travel Insurance
This Travel Insurance policy is underwritten by Red Sands Insurance Company (Europe) Limited, registered in Gibraltar under number 87598, registered office at Level 3, Ocean Village Business Centre, 23 Ocean Village Promenade, Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission is licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Act 2019 of Gibraltar.
Top 10 Skiing Off-Piste (with a Guide) Travel Insurance FAQs
1. What is the definition of Off-Piste Skiing / Snowboarding under this policy?
The definition is Skiing / Snowboarding on slopes that are unmarked and ungroomed within Resort Boundaries that are considered safe by Resort Management, where ski lifts and emergency services are easily accessible and end back at a ski area lift.
This does not cover the backcountry or areas marked as prohibited from entry.
2. Does your Travel Insurance cover me if I ski between or just over piste markings?
Yes, you will be covered for skiing piste to piste over markings as long as you are within ski area boundaries of a recognised Ski Resort that is patrolled.
3. How many days can I ski off-piste with a JS Travel Insurance policy on a single trip and annual multi-trip basis?
The maximum trip length of days you can ski/snowboard off-piste on a Single Trip is 90 days.
For an Annual Multi-Trip, it is 24 days throughout the year.
We do have a Provider who can offer unlimited Winter Sports cover on an Annual basis via Just Travel, please Get A Quote and select any scheme with AIG (Ready to Go).
4. What are Ski Resort Boundaries?
On a Piste map, the ski resort boundaries will show you where you are allowed to ski and the difficulty of each run for example:
- Green - Beginners
- Blue - Beginners
- Red - Intermediate
- Black - Expert
Off-Piste Runs are usually shown on a map as a Neon Yellow or Orange.
You would be covered to ski/snowboard on these runs as there is chair lift access and that ski patrols are in the area.
However, you would not be covered if you decided to ski off-piste outside of resort boundaries where there are no markings on the piste map or that there is no accessible lift and it is unpatrolled.
Piste maps also show you types of lifts, restaurants, mountain rescue services, and much more.
5. Do I need to ski/snowboard off piste with a Guide or Instructor?
Yes, if you are skiing/ snowboarding off-piste then you will need to always be with a professional guide/instructor within recognised resort areas.
6. What is the difference between off-piste and backcountry?
This all depends on where you will be skiing/snowboarding, either in Europe or USA / Canada as all resorts are different due to terrain and resort boundaries.
Off-Piste: Skiing on slopes which are un-marked and ungroomed within resort boundaries that are considered safe by resort management, where ski lifts and emergency services are easily accessible and end back at a ski area lift (covered under the JS Travel Insurance policy).
Backcountry: Skiing on unmarked and unpatrolled terrain, outside of resort boundaries where there are no ski lifts at present and the snowpack is typically not monitored, Ski Touring and Heli skiing fall under the backcountry skiing category (not covered under this policy).
7. If I am doing an Avalanche Safety Course does this policy cover my prepaid activity course fees if I have to cancel my trip due to sickness and health?
No, this policy would not cover any pre-paid activity course fees, however, our provider Adventures can cover this under the cancellation section of their policy up to £5,000, Part B only, Get a Quote.
Looking at taking part in Avalanche Safety Courses?
8. Will I be covered for Ski Touring on this policy?
No, this will not be covered by this policy, Ski Touring is Skiing / Snowboarding in the backcountry on unmarked and unpatrolled runs outside of resort boundaries.
If you plan on ski touring then please Get A Quote.9. Will I be covered if I go off-piste without any Avalanche Safety Equipment?
It is advised that you follow proper safety guidelines and regulations of the guides and instructors at all times.
Most reputable guides/instructors will go through an avalanche briefing on the morning of your off-piste day (s) which will include the following:
- Weather Conditions
- Terrain
- Resort update - Piste closures
- Avalanche equipment
- And much more.
Here are 5 main Avalanche Safety Products you should always carry/wear when skiing off-piste:
- Avalanche Transceiver
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Avalanche Airbag or Technical Ski Backpack
- Recco Reflectors
You can purchase these items through our website www.snowsafe.co.uk
10. Does this policy cover my ski equipment in transit or use?
Yes, this policy will cover your ski equipment whilst it is in transit or storage for theft or damage. All schemes will cover you for Winter Sports Equipment up to £500 with a Single Article Limit (pair of) up to £250.
11. Will local Mountain Rescue Services retrieve you if you go off-piste?
Mountain Rescue and Air Ambulance are covered under this policy as long as you are with a guide/instructor and you have been located.
You will not be covered for mountain rescue if you choose to not ski the piste.
12. If I am already in the ski resort, can I purchase Off-piste insurance while I am there?
Yes, if you plan on going off-piste skiing whilst you are already away then we can cover you via our provider Adventures as long as you can confirm you have no claims pending.
Off Piste Skiing / Snowboarding (with a Guide)
It is important before you go Off Piste Skiing or Snowboarding with a Guide that you research this and check with the Resort website for further details.
This type of Skiing or Snowboarding is done with an experienced Guide in the backcountry in unmarked or usually unpatrolled areas, there are no groomed trails, which adds an aspect of adventure to the descent.
This also makes it much more dangerous, for there may be hidden rocks, patches of trees and other obstacles that should be avoided
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
If you have pre-existing medical conditions and you plan to go Off Piste Skiing / Snowboarding with a Guide whilst travelling abroad, we can provide you with a policy.
On the quote page, you need to select Hazardous Activity Pack C.
Please check the Policy Wording for any Restrictions or Exclusions.
Covid-19 / Coronavirus Cover
Our JS Travel Insurance policy for Skiing - Off PIste (with a Guide) can cover you provided the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is not advising against all but essential travel to your destination.
All customers must follow the advice of the FCDO at the time of travel and for the duration of their trip. This includes returning to the UK if the FCDO changes their travel advice based on the risks presented at the time. www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- Medical Expenses and Repatriation - when medically necessary, if you or anyone on this policy contracts COVID-19 whilst abroad.
- Cancellation Cover - if you or anyone on this policy are unable to travel because you have contracted COVID-19 within 14 days of your departure date. This includes a positive pre-travel test.
- Curtailment Cover - if your trip is cut short if you or anyone on this policy becomes ill with Covid-19.
- Overseas Return Quarantine - additional accommodation & transport costs (limits apply) if you or anyone on this policy are unable to return home due to contracting Covid-19 and being told to self-isolate abroad.
