Powder snow in Australia? Who would have thought it’s possible. Yet across the Australian Alps, snow resorts are reporting conditions more commonly experienced in North America and Europe.
But, having shivered through the coldest July in almost 20 years in both Melbourne and Sydney, thousands of skiers and boarders are packing their bags for what could be some epic conditions this weekend.
As with all adventure activities, winter sports come with risks.
For every 1000 people who visit the slopes, about two to three will end up with an injury. If you’re a bloke you have a greater risk, with two out of three snow sports-related hospitalisations being for male patients. And young people don’t fare too well either, with half of all snow sports-related hospitalisations being for patients aged 15 to 29.
Research from Monash University shows though skiers are twice as likely to end up in hospital, snowboarders are much more likely to end up with a serious injury.
The same research also showed that the polarising decision to ski or snowboard may come down to the limb you need most for your daily life – the most common injury for skiers is a dislocated knee, while for snowboarders it’s a fractured forearm or wrist.
But who are we kidding? For snow lovers, the appeal of fresh powder on a crisp winter’s day is worth the risks, and though there are some risks you can’t control (like being clipped by a sketchy skier or cut off by a boisterous boarder) you can protect yourself from financial risks.
Few Australians think about buying insurance for travel within their own country, but costs and expenses can quickly mount up if things go wrong. Domestic travel insurance usually provides cover for delays, cancellations, loss of or damage to luggage and personal effects, and personal liability.
If you were to injure yourself on the slopes, for example, and have to cut short your winter weekend, you may be covered for the cost of your unused accommodation, lift tickets, equipment hire, and even damage to your skis or snowboard. You may also be covered for rental vehicle insurance excess for unexpected scrapes in rental cars and emergency accommodation if your injury means you can’t get home.
Most travel insurers require you to pay an additional premium if you’re going skiing or snowboarding – it is a risky activity, after all – and some activities such as racing or snowmobiling may be excluded. So it’s important to choose the right policy for you and compare policy features rather than buy on price alone. Be aware that comparison websites do not list the full range of policies and insurers that offer products in Australia.
So, if you’re heading to one of Australia’s beautiful snow resorts this weekend, make sure you pick up the phone or look on the internet to organise travel insurance before you pack up your skis or snowboard. Our Find An Insurer service can help. It’s often worth buying travel insurance as soon as you have paid for your trip.
We know nobody expects to get injured at the slopes, but it is a very real risk and at least with insurance you can avoid the pain in your hip pocket. As for the pain in your glutes, abs, quads and just about everywhere after a solid session on the slopes – a nice long bath and a trip to a massage therapist should help with that.
Happy skiing and boarding!
