Though snow sports are among some of the greatest activities out there, they inevitably come with risks.
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of waking up on a bluebird day atop a mountain after there’s been an overnight dump of fresh snow.
You pull on your daggy thermal underwear, slurp up a bowl of something hearty and rush outside to be among the first up the lift so you can carve dreamy S-turns in the soft powder.
But while snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding are among some of the greatest activities you can do in winter, they do inevitably come with risks.
Our travel insurance experts have been helping travellers with snow-related claims for years now. With their experience and know-how, we’ve compiled a list of handy tips on how to keep safe on the slopes and avoid having to make an insurance claim.
Lessons from a proper instructor are a must when you’re starting out on the mountain – not only to ensure the safety of yourself and other riders, but also so that you learn the correct technique (pizza, French fries!).
It’s also not a bad idea to have a refresher if you’ve been away from the slopes for some time, as it’s easy to fall back into old bad habits with your movements that can increase the risk of strain or injury.
If you’ve ever learned to snowboard, you’ll be familiar with how painful the process can be – with even things like opening door handles proving difficult when your wrists are sore from breaking your fall with your hands so much!
Broken wrists are actually a very common injury for snowboarders, so to avoid unnecessary pain, it’s a great idea to wear wrist guards, especially when you’re starting out.
Helmets also never go astray, especially if you are riding in the park or off-piste – and considering the average skier and border clock around 40km/h on the slopes, a helmet might just save your life if you have a collision.
Even if you’ve done loads of skiing and boarding before, if your stuff has been in storage, your bindings could have moved around.
You also might be a different weight to the last time you were on the slopes, which is another serious cause for getting your gear adjusted.
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