Skiers warned of avalanche risks

While this Easter brings the ski season for 2005-06 to an end, consumers are being urged to increase their awareness of

Travel Insurance News - 04/04/2006

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While this Easter brings the ski season for 2005-06 to an end, consumers are being urged to increase their awareness of the risks from avalanches, with an increased number of incidents reported this year. Joanne Field, marketing manager for American Express Travel Insurance, says changes in temperature account for a lot of the problems, but skiers do take some share of the blame, rushing onto new slopes before the snow has settled.

She warned that "not all insurers offer off-piste cover as standard or cover search and rescue costs, which could be incurred as a result of an avalanche".

Currently, up to 20 per cent of those hitting the slopes this year are doing so without travel insurance, even though 15 per cent are seeing injuries bring an end to their holidays up to three days early.

With insurance companies varying in their provision for skiers who venture off-piste, travellers looking to make a last trip to the mountains should familiarise themselves with the best packages by looking online.

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