Snowboard travel insurance

Even with a specialist snowboarding policy in place, make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully to understand any exclusions. Most policies won’t cover:

• off-piste snowboarding
• competitive snowboarding
• injuries while snowboarding under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• injury as a result of a pre-existing medical condition that you failed to disclose to your insurance provider

If you’d like extra cover for these things, they may be available as an add-on, but you may need a specialist policy with a higher level of cover.

Also be aware that some insurance providers will insist that you wear a helmet for your policy to be valid.

You’ll need to make sure you have the right level of cover for the destination you’re travelling to. Travel insurance for Europe tends to be cheaper than worldwide insurance. That’s because medical expenses are typically much higher in countries outside Europe, like the USA and Canada.

Although, as a UK resident, you might have a valid  European Health Insurance Card** (EHIC), the EHIC alone won’t be enough to cover you for snowboarding accidents in European destinations like Switzerland.

The EHIC/GHIC would only cover emergency medical care in a public hospital. It won’t cover:

• mountain rescues
• medical costs in a private hospital
• repatriation back to the UK if medically necessary

The right snowboard travel insurance could cover these costs in the event of a mountain-top accident.  

Travel insurance can also give you comprehensive cover for snowboarding in countries that aren’t in the EU such as the  USA  and Canada.

**After Brexit, and the UK officially left the EU with a deal in place, things have changed. You won’t be able to apply for an EHIC anymore, but, if you have one already, issued before the end of 2020, then it’ll still be valid until the expiry date.

However, the UK government has introduced a replacement called the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). If you don’t have an EHIC, or once yours expires, you can apply for a GHIC here, and it should arrive within 10 days. The GHIC will offer the same cover as the EHIC did in EU countries.

The cost of snowboarding travel insurance can depend on several factors, including:

• Your age. As you get older there’s more risk of injuring yourself – there’s also more chance of you having a pre-existing medical condition.
• Your destination. Higher medical costs in countries including the USA and Canada means you’re likely to pay more for your travel insurance to these countries.
• The length of your holiday. The longer you spend away, the higher the risk of you making a claim.

If you’re planning more than one snowboarding holiday over the year, an annual multi-trip policy may be better value than single trip insurance.

You may also be able to save money if you’re travelling as a family, as a couple or  as a group.

The best time to buy travel insurance is as soon as you’ve made your booking. That way, if your holiday has to be cancelled before you leave, you should be covered for flight and accommodation costs in line with your chosen policy.

Check the terms and conditions, as equipment hire costs might also be covered in the event of a cancellation.

Snowboarding is one of the most popular winter sports enjoyed by both learners and experts, but it can be dangerous in some situations.

These tips can help you to enjoy your snowboarding holiday to the full:

• As well as safety gear, such as helmets, goggles, elbow and knee pads, make sure you bring a high factor sunblock – the sun’s rays can be particularly intense on the mountains.
• Follow all advice from instructors and guides – they know what they’re talking about and your safety is their priority.
• It can be great to challenge yourself, but be aware of your limits, especially if you’re a learner. Stick to the easier slopes at first and gradually build up your confidence and experience.
• Don’t attempt to snowboard if you’ve been drinking. There’s more risk of behaving recklessly and injuring yourself if you have. Also, remember that your travel insurance won’t cover you for injuries that happen when you’re under the influence.
• Let other people know where you’re snowboarding – if you get into difficulties, they could be able to get you help.

If you’re planning on going on holiday to a ski resort, you’ll need a different type of winter sports policy. Ski insurance can cover your ski trip, your ski equipment, as well as other things like emergency healthcare etc. If you’re looking to take part in something more high-risk, like heli-skiing, you’ll probably need extra cover.

We offer a quick and easy way to compare travel insurance providers, helping you save time and money so you can concentrate on the fun parts of your snowboarding trip. You can easily click on each policy to check what you’re covered for before committing to one. 

Compare a range of snowboard travel insurance policies and find the right level of cover for your holiday needs.