Award-Winning, Flexible
Off-Piste Skiing Insurance
- Trusted by 75,000+ customers annually
- Off-Piste Skiing travel insurance
- Ski equipment cover
Underwritten by
Our Off-Piste Skiing Insurance policy options
Put simply, we offer two different policy options…
Travel Insurance
Our Sport Travel Insurance policy provides cover for 500 different sports, including cover for off-piste skiing. The policy provides cover for medical and repatriation costs, trip cancellation, lost or damaged ski equipment, cost of hiring replacement ski equipment, and much more.
Travel Insurance Bolt-On
If you have an existing travel insurance policy in place with another provider (such as your bank), but it does not include cover for off-piste skiing, we can provide a bolt-on style of protection for your trip. The policy, called "Activity TopUp", is designed to cover your medical costs should you have an accident whilst off-piste skiing during your trip.
Our claims record
HIGHEST PAID CLAIM
£174,984.64
FOR AN INSURANCE CLAIM**
AVERAGE PAY OUT
£1,295.07
FOR EACH INSURANCE CLAIM**
OUR AVERAGE CLAIMS RATING
4.9/5
ACCORDING TO OUR FEEFO SCORE***
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Why choose us
30 Years Experience
We have been providing tailored Sports Insurance policies for over 30 years, and today protect more than 75,000 customers a year.
Professional Claims Handling
We work with leading claims handlers to make sure our customers experience a prompt and professional service when making a claim.
Underwritten by Experts
We’re pleased to offer tailored cover from AXA XL, a leading provider of insurance in the sports and leisure industry.
UK Based Customer Service Team
Our highly experienced Sales team are available to help support you with any questions that you might have.
5-Star Customer Service Rating
Thousands of happy customers have awarded us a 5-star customer service score on the independent feedback platform, Feefo.
500+ Sports Covered
Being a specialist in Sports Insurance, we provide cover for over 500 different sports & activities, far more than other providers.
What is off piste skiing insurance?
Off piste skiing typically refers to any skiing near, adjacent to, or between controlled trails and slopes. This type of skiing allows skiers to leave the marked runs and explore the open mountains without boundaries.
Our policy includes the following features:
- Off piste without a guide (provided not against local advice and not alone).
- Search and rescue if you require assistance on the mountain, this can include the use of sledges and helicopters if required.
- Reimbursement of costs of transportation to another site due to lack of snow or natural disaster such as avalanche which closes your resort.
What's covered with Off-Piste Skiing Travel Insurance?
Off-piste adventures bring high thrills, taking you beyond the standard piste, but doing so does come with risks. You’ll need standard travel cover as well as specific winter sports extras to secure the best protection.
That’s why our policy begins with essential travel protection – from medical costs and trip cancellations to delays and baggage.
On top of this, our dedicated winter sports protection comes included. Pick from bronze, silver or gold levels to suit your plans, whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, racing, or heading off-piste into new terrain.
When you get a quote, simply tick off the activities you’ll be doing to make sure you’re fully covered.
Off-piste ski travel insurance
Your travel is covered under these essential benefits, Gold cover being the highest level. Whilst unexpected incidents can’t always be avoided, with SportsCover Direct, you can be prepared and protected if they do.
- Emergency Medical Expenses & Repatriation – up to £10 million
- Cancellation & Curtailment – up to £5000
- Personal Accident cover – up to £25,000
- Personal Liability – up to £2 million
- Travel Delay, Abandonment and Missed Departure – up to £5000
- Baggage & personal effects – up to £2500
- Money & Documents (including passport) – up to £500
- 24 Hour medical helpline
Our policies provide three different types of cover: Sports travel insurance, Sports accident, and Activity Top-Up. Please ensure you select the most suitable cover for your activity, when you get a quote and always review your policy documents.
Specialist winter sports cover
Off-Piste Ski Equipment Cover
Your own or hired equipment is covered if it’s stolen or damaged during your trip, up to the value you select. We’ll pay for repairs, replacement, or hire of alternative kit so you don’t miss out on your holiday.
With Gold cover you can upgrade protection for higher-value items, up to £5,600.
Single Trip policies protect your equipment for the duration of your holiday; Annual policies cover it only while you’re away.
Restrictions: Normal wear and tear, unsecured theft, and losses by airlines or carriers aren’t covered. You’ll also pay the first 10% of each claim (before any excess).
Activity Fees
If you are unable to take part in your chosen activities due to accident, illness or injury, we will reimburse the unused portion of your pre-paid costs. This includes lift passes, permits, tuition, registration or entry fees, and equipment hire. *This can include lift passes, ski lessons, ski hire and race fees if applicable.
Search and Rescue
If you require help in the mountains, we can cover the cost of official search and rescue services, including the use of sledges, helicopters and aircraft by civil or police teams.
Lack of Snow
If your resort is forced to close because of lack of snow or a natural disaster, such as an avalanche, you will be covered for additional expenses to move to another resort. If relocation is not possible, you can receive compensation. The maximum you can receive is listed; limits and daily and transport benefits will apply.
*See our Catastrophe benefit, when you get a quote, for further details.
Discover the full extent of our cover
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Why you need specialist off-piste ski cover?
Although not all off-piste skiing is necessarily on difficult terrain, the nature of skiing on an uncontrolled and open mountain means that you might encounter varying gradients or snow conditions at any time. The risk to incidents and injuries, therefore, is going to be higher.
Having a specialist off piste ski travel insurance cover can protect you from expensive bills if you need medical attention, search and rescue and replacements for damaged sports equipment.
What’s not covered with off-piste skiing insurance?
There are some crucial safety guidelines to follow to ensure you don’t invalidate your insurance, when skiing off-piste.
- Skiing alone. When off-piste you should be accompanied by at least one person (this does NOT have to be a guide).
- Ignoring avalanche warnings and closed piste signs.
- Do not ski in areas designated as unsafe by local authorities.
For further details on exclusions, please refer to policy documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Sports Travel Insurance policy provides up to £5,600 worth of equipment cover as an optional add-on. This not only protects your equipment but also any gear you hire during your trip. It also covers your skiing equipment in transit to and from your destination.
Yes, our Off Piste Skiing Insurance can generally be taken out even if you have a medical condition. We can almost always offer cover at no extra cost, but occasionally our underwriters may apply special terms if you subsequently needed to make a claim relating to your condition.
Our policies will cover anyone up to the age of 74 at the time of purchase. An applicant aged 75 or over cannot be covered.
Off piste skiing is to ski on terrain sitting outside of the piste markers and therefore ‘off track’.
You do not need a guide to be covered under our off-piste ski insurance, however we do require you to be following local advice and information provided by the resort authorities and be accompanied by another person who can raise the alarm in the event of an accident (this does not need to be a guide).
Our ski insurance for off piste activities will cover you in the event of an avalanche for search & rescue and emergency medical expenses and repatriation costs providing you are following local advice and information provided by the resort authorities and are accompanied by another person.
Yes, our off-piste skiing insurance includes the use of helicopters and aircrafts in emergency medical situations, for search & rescue and repatriation where necessary.
However, we limit this up to £5000 for a helicopter call-out, and an applicable excess of £750 will be applied.
Yes, specialist sports equipment is covered under our off-piste ski insurance for loss or damage to your own equipment or equipment hired to you.
We cover over 500 different sports. Simply add the additional sports you want to include on your policy when you request a quote.
No, to be covered under our off-piste ski insurance policy while you are off piste you must be accompanied by another person who can raise the alarm in the event of an accident (this does not need to be a guide).
Our policy covers you in the event you need search and rescue teams, provided you have taken reasonable precautions. However, we limit this up to £5000 for a helicopter call-out, and an applicable excess of £750 will be applied.
* 10% online discount applies to our Sports Travel Insurance and Activity TopUp policies only.
** Data relates to all SportsCover Direct Insurance claims from Jan 2010 to Dec 2024 inclusive.
*** Feefo rating relates to all SportsCover Direct Insurance claims review score from Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 inclusive. Feefo score rounded up to 1 decimal place.
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