Travel insurance for ski & winter sports
Simple and flexible travel insurance for skiers and snowboarders. Buy at home or while travelling, and claim online from anywhere in the world.
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Whether you're carving up the slopes, enjoying the crisp powder, or unwinding après-ski, mishaps can occur both on and off the mountain. Whether you're a newbie going to ski school or a seasoned enthusiast chasing winter thrills, World Nomads travel insurance can help if the unexpected interrupts your winter escapade.
- What does World Nomads travel insurance cover for snow sports?
- Choosing the right travel insurance policy for you
- What snow sports activities are covered?
- What’s not covered
- Tips for your winter sports adventures
- FAQs
What does World Nomads travel insurance cover for snow sports?
Depending on the plan and options you choose, our policies can protect you up to policy limits for benefits including:
- Medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation: if you suffer an injury while you’re shredding and need urgent medical assistance, our 24/7 emergency assistance team is here to help you organise treatment, evacuation and get home
- Trip cancellation: if you have to cancel your travel plans
- Baggage and equipment cover: if your gear is lost, stolen or damaged. We may even pay for you to hire replacement ski and snowboard gear depending on your policy.
- Cover for natural disasters: if you have to cancel or rearrange your travel plans due to a natural disaster such as an avalanche or severe weather event
- Activities and sports coverage: we can cover you for up to 150 sports, activities and experiences.
- Coverage for families: our policies can cover up to eight dependents, so you can take the whole family to a winter wonderland!
Choosing the right travel insurance policy for you
We offer two travel insurance plans – Standard and Explorer – each of which offers different levels of coverage and benefits for your winter adventures. It is up to you to choose which plan has the right level of coverage to meet your travel needs and matches your specific snow sports plans.
With World Nomads you can get a quote, make a claim, or extend your policy instantly online, anytime, from anywhere.
What snow sports activities are covered?
As passionate ski bums, we’ve designed our plans to offer cover for the winter activities that our Nomads love the most. We can cover:
- Skiing and boarding within resorts, including off-piste
- Backcountry Skiing and boarding
- Cross-country skiing on marked trails
- Terrain parks, heli-skiing & heli-boarding (some plans only, check yours carefully)
- Sledding and tobogganing
- Snowmobiling, ice skating, snow rafting and more.
It’s important to note that all plans are different and may require an upgrade and/or you to have a relevant licence, qualification or use the services of a qualified guide for cover to apply. Read the Policy Document carefully to choose the right plan and/or adventure sport option for your trip. If you’re not sure whether the snow sports you want to do are covered, contact us.
What’s not covered
While there are several things we can offer coverage for, there are also things we just won’t cover. These include, but are not limited to:
- Any competition, free-style skiing / free-style snowboarding, ski/ snowboard jumping, ski-flying, ski / snowboard acrobatics, ski / snowboard stunting, or ski racing or national squad training
- Any of your ski or winter sports items lost, stolen or damaged that are unsupervised or unattended, that are over 3 years old or while in use
- If you travel against medical advice or neglect to adhere to government ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings issued prior to departure
- Any adventure activities or sports that aren’t covered by our policies or where you don’t purchase the appropriate level upgrade
- Any existing medical conditions
- Any costs related to illegal activities or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Tips for your winter sports adventures
Whether you’re a pro skier or planning your first ever winter trip overseas, these tips may be helpful when planning your next winter getaway:
- It pays to be prepared: check the weather, check your equipment, and check the credentials of your ski instructor – if any seem unreliable then reconsider if it’s a smart move to go.
- Don’t get in over your head: be responsible when choosing a skiing or snowboarding destination or winter sports activity. Does it suit your experience level? Are you using an accredited tour operator?
- Keep an eye on your ski gear: don’t leave your expensive ski and winter sports gear or any other baggage unattended - those 'I spaced out” moments might not qualify for coverage.
- Proof of purchase: any claim you make will need supporting documents such as receipts of your purchases. Keep these with you in printed or digital form if you intend to make a claim.
- Be responsible: choose a ski tour operator that promotes responsible tourism, works as part of the local community, as well as actively helps to conserve the environment.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please contact us.
The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.
FAQ's
Here are our most frequently asked questions about skiing and snowboarding. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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Does World Nomads travel insurance cover skiing and snowboarding accidents overseas?
Our policies can cover skiing and snowboarding accidents overseas. There’s cover for emergency medical expenses, evacuation if required and even repatriation back home.
It’s important that you select the snow sports activities you intend to do when purchasing your policy. If you don’t declare the snow sports activities you intend to do, you may not be covered if you suffer an accident on the slopes. Restrictions apply to certain winter sport activities, so be aware of this so you’re covered if something goes wrong.
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Are winter sports equipment covered by World Nomads travel insurance?
We can cover your ski and snowboard equipment if it is damaged, lost, stolen or delayed. Our Explorer plan even covers you for hire of replacement equipment so your time on the slopes isn’t affected! Our travel insurance plans offer different limits of cover for baggage, so be sure to choose the plan that best meets your needs. Keep in mind that we can’t cover damage to sporting equipment while in use, loss, damage or theft of any sporting equipment left unattended or sporting equipment more than three years old. Terms and conditions apply.
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Do you cover trip cancellations due to adverse weather conditions on the slopes?
If your snow trip is cancelled, delayed or restricted due to a severe weather event or natural disaster, our policies provide cover for the value of your unused travel arrangements, less any refunds you receive, up to the benefit limit of your plan. If your trip is affected by adverse weather conditions, be sure to get supporting documents for your claim.
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Is snow sports cover just for medical expenses?
Snow sports cover provides cover for the unexpected, whether that’s a medical situation on the slopes, your gear is lost or delayed, or your trip is cancelled due to an avalanche. Our policies can help protect you against those unexpected situations.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Ski buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Overseas
Take the pain out of medical costs.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Slipped on ice?
- Tore your ACL or MCL?
- Popped a shoulder?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
We'll get you to hospital in a flash
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Road or air ambulance?
- Flight assistance?
- Medivac needed home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Go Pro stolen?
- Bags lost in transit?
- Luggage delayed?
Help starts here.
- Overseas Medical Expenses
- Emergency dental treatment
- 24 hour assistance
- Emergency medical transport & repatriation
- Cancellation costs
- Trip interruption costs
- Compassionate emergency visit home
- Resumption of trip
- Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
- Baggage delay over 12 hours
- Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
- Personal liability
24/7 emergency assistance
If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470 or
+61 2 8292 1470
(reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)
Within Australia (Free call): 1800 611 210
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.