Take cover, or you're heading for a nasty fall; If you're going

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Jan 26, 2003

It is also surprisingly important to ensure your equipment is covered for damage while in use. A surprising number of policies pay out only for theft or damage in transit or in storage. Many will not pay out if your skis are stolen while you are having lunch or a drink either, unless they are secured with special ski locks.

A good tip here is to separate your skis. Put one on one side of a bar and the other elsewhere. Thieves normally prefer pairs. Also bear in mind that many insurers will refuse to pay out if they are stolen from an unattended roof rack.

You can also insure against not enough snow, too much snow, the wrong sort of snow or avalanches that keep you off the slopes.

When it comes to exclusions, most policies will not pay out for accidents off-piste, even with a mountain guide. Unfortunately the definition of "off-piste" is not always clear. Some will consider claims where the traveller is accompanied by a guide, but warn strongly against going alone.

So what might you expect to pay? A basic British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba) policy starts at around (pounds) 44 per person, for instance, and Options charge (pounds) 38 for a family for 10 days in Europe. The Travel Protection Group provides annual cover for exotic winter sports for (pounds) 142. Absolutely everything is covered except for extreme skiing. You can ski off-piste, para-ski, ski-race, ski-jump, bobsleigh and even do ski acrobatics.

For further details, contact Options on 0870 876 7878, the Travel Protection Group on 0800 413 474 or Brunsdon & Co on 0117 942 6877