Winter Sports Insurance
Specialist cover for skiing, snowboarding and winter activity holidays
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Medical costs & repatriation
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Winter sports equipment cover
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Trip cancellation cover
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Recognised for our specialist approach
to sports and travel insurance.
Trusted by 75,000+ customers
Exceptional-rated cover from thousands of active travellers.
Backed by AXA XL
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underwritten by a leading insurer.
What does winter sports insurance cover?
Winter sports travel insurance is designed for skiers, snowboarders and winter activity travellers heading away for a ski or snowboarding holiday.
Our full travel policy combines specialist winter sports cover with essential travel protection. This can include cover for ski and snowboard equipment, activity fees such as lift passes, search and rescue, lack of snow and off-piste cover.
It also includes important travel benefits such as emergency medical treatment and repatriation, trip cancellation and curtailment, baggage, personal accident, personal liability and more.
If your current travel insurance excludes winter sports, you can opt for our winter sports bolt-on to add the activity cover you need for your time on the slopes.
Ensure you select all the activities you’re doing, when you get a quote.
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.
Sports equipment is excluded under our bolt‑on cover.
Only a summary of the policy’s coverage is presented on this page. Please refer to policy documents for full details of what is and what is not covered, when you get a quote.
How much does winter sports insurance cost?
Your winter sports insurance premium is based on factors such as your age, where you’re travelling (Europe, Worldwide, or Worldwide including USA & Canada), how long you’re away, and the level of cover you choose.
Higher sports equipment cover and increased cancellation limits will also influence the cost.
Review the winter sports travel insurance example and get a quote tailored to your trip.
Pricing example
£29.07**
Example quote is based on:
- Sport Selected Off-piste skiing, & Skiing
- Sports Group Group 5
- Package Bronze
- Policy Single Trip Travel Policy
- Duration 2 days
- Destination Europe
- Emergency Medical Treatment £10,000,000
- Trip Cancellation £1,000
- Sports Equipment Cover £200
- Search and rescue £15,000
- See more benefits when you get a quote
**This example is based on a real quote from our website on 26/08/2026 for a 2-day, single trip, adult policy. It is shown for illustrative purposes only. If your circumstances or requirements differ, your quote may be higher or lower. The quote you receive will be based on the information you provide about your activities. Get a quote for pricing tailored to your requirements.
Why you need winter sports travel insurance?
Unpredictable conditions can disrupt your plans
Weather related cancellations or delays can derail your plans fast.
Small problems become big costs in the mountains
Mountain rescue and hospital treatment can quickly run into thousands of pounds.
Damaged ski or snowboard equipment.
Accidental damage to specialist equipment requires unexpected costs to replace.
Hear from our experts
“Winter sports holidays come with risks that standard travel insurance may not always cover, so it’s important to check your policy includes the activities you have planned.
Whether you’re skiing, snowboarding or heading off-piste, good preparation, suitable equipment and local safety advice can help reduce the risks. However, accidents, severe weather and travel disruption can still happen.
Our winter sports travel insurance can help cover emergency medical treatment, cancellations, delays, search and rescue costs and other unexpected expenses, helping protect you from a potentially significant bill.
We’ve supported winter sports participants for more than 30 years, so you can enjoy the mountains knowing experienced help is there when you need it.”
Chris Trotman – Head of Sales & Underwriting at SportsCover Direct
Thousands rate how easy it is
We’ve refined our process to make buying sports insurance abroad simple but thorough, with cover designed around the activities you take part in, from training trips and competitions to active holidays overseas.
Our Claims Record
Average pay out for each insurance claim
£1,599.09*
How to make a claim
Choose your policy, find the forms you need
Download and complete forms
Submit your claims for review
A Recent Claim Example
“One of our policyholders was Off-Piste Skiing in France where they suffered a fall resulting in a knee injury. Because they had taken out our Skiing Insurance, they were covered to receive medical assistance for the injury to their ACL.”
Total Paid Out
£4,577.61
Claim Type
Medical Assistance
Policy Type
Off-Piste Skiing Insurance
Incident
Medical assistance
Policy Excess Applied
£90.00
Location
France
Disclaimer
*Data relates to all SportsCover Direct Insurance claims from Jan to Dec 2025 inclusive. Claim example from 2025.
Medical cover explained
We provide cover that considers your medical circumstances. Complete a medical declaration to ensure you’re properly protected, as part of the quotation process.*
*Please note, just because you’ve declared a medical condition or injury doesn’t mean it is automatically covered. The insurer needs to assess it first and will inform you by email if any terms apply.
Medical conditions must be declared
All pre-existing conditions considered
Cover available up to age 74
We'll review your details
Most declarations don't mean exclusion
Any terms will be confirmed by email
Browse covered sports and activities
You’ll find a wide range of winter sports disciplines covered, you can add multiple activities to your policy, we cover over 500. Browse our extensive list.
- Cross Country Skiing Insurance
- Curling Insurance
- Dog Sledding Insurance
- Glacier Walking Insurance
- Heli Skiing Insurance
- Ice Hockey Insurance
- Ice Skating Insurance
- Lapland Travel Insurance
- Off Piste Skiing Insurance
- Ski Insurance
- Ski Racing Insurance
- Ski Touring Insurance
- Snow Shoeing Insurance
- Snowboarding Insurance
- Snowmobiling Insurance
- Winter Sports Insurance
Why choose us
SportsCover Direct is a specialist insurance provider focused entirely on sport. For over 30 years, we’ve helped athletes, teams and organisations get the protection they need, whether they’re travelling, competing, or training abroad or in the UK.
Covering 500+ sports
Fast online quotes
Established over 30 years
UK-based support team
FAQs
Yes, if you select an annual policy you are covered for multiple trips, for winter sports our policy allows you up to 60 days with our gold cover.
Yes, if you select your activity with competitions, you are covered. For example, ski racing or snowboard racing. However, we cannot cover professional athletes.
Our policy can cover a wide range of different winter sports including but not limited to: Skiing (on and off-piste), Snowboarding (on and off-piste), Snowshoeing, Cross-country skiing, Ski Touring, Snowmobiling, ice climbing, heliskiing, Sledding/tobogganing. Some activities will be subject to a larger premium, you can add your activities, when you request a quote.
These costs can be covered, for example if you sustain an injury and are no longer able to participate in the activity.
Yes, when you get a quote, you can specify the number of people you need on your policy.
No, we cannot cover professional athletes, we deem a professional to be anyone who makes over £5,000 a year from taking part in a sport or activity. Things like free or discounted accommodation, entry fees, or clothing don’t count as income. Also, anyone who has an employment contract (paid or unpaid), a sports scholarship, or whose main job is doing the sport or activity full-time.
Yes, our Winter Sports Travel 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.
If you only need winter sports cover for a few days, you can opt for 2 different polices.
- Single trip cover – Sports travel insurance for the dates you need.
- Activity TopUp cover – If you already have travel insurance but need to add winter sports activities, you can purchase a bolt-on policy to cover you.
Standard travel insurance policies do not always cover winter sports and activities. Our Winter Sports Travel Insurance is specifically designed to cover over 500 high risk activities such as skiing, dog sledding and ice climbing.
Yes, you are covered for your sports equipment and personal effects for theft and damage up to the value you select for your policy.
It’s best to purchase winter sports insurance once you’ve booked your holiday to have full cover for your booking. Otherwise, you should purchase the policy before you travel.
Yes, search and rescue is included in your travel policy.
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.
You can select wither Europe, worldwide excluding the USA and Canada or Worldwide
If you sustain an injury, whilst participating in a winter sport abroad and require medical treatment, this can be covered under medical expenses.
Our Winters Sports Travel Insurance policy provides up to £5,600 worth of equipment cover. This add-on not only protects your own winters sports equipment, but also any gear you hire during your trip. It also covers your winter sports equipment in transit to and from your destination.
A specialist winter sports policy offers additional protection for the unique risks associated with activities like skiing and snowboarding, both on and off-piste. These types of activities are not always covered, or fully covered, by standard travel insurance.
Get specialist cover in minutes
Covering over 500 sports with quick online quotes and UK- based support, if you need it.
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