Hitting the slopes on your holiday? Here are some fast facts about this popular winter sport:
Keep reading to find out what travel insurance can help you with if you’re planning to go heli-skiing on your holiday.
If you're taking part in any snow activities, you have to purchase our Winter Sports Pack to be covered.
The Winter Sports Pack covers you for emergency evaluation from the ski slopes, as well as cover for cancellations, piste closure, rental ski gear excess. We can also provide:
You won’t be covered for anything arising from your heli-skiing if:
There’s a mistake a lot of people make when it comes to heli-skiing. It’s got nothing to do with the actual skiing or snowboarding, with the thrilling journeys down mountains of untouched powder, those pristine slopes accessible only after setting down at the top under whirring rotors. It’s got nothing to do with getting into or out of the chopper. Nothing to do with the price people pay. Nothing to do with the locations selected.
The most common mistake people make is a conceptual one: believing that heli-skiing is only for experts, that you can only enjoy this pursuit if you’re seriously good at skiing or snowboarding. This thing is double-black-diamond only. Narrow chutes and unexpected cliff drops. Thick trees. Waist-deep powder. Vertical terrain.
Heli-skiing can, of course, be all of those things. If you want the experience to be hardcore, it can be seriously hardcore. But it doesn’t have to be. There are heli-skiing options – particularly in New Zealand – for skiers and snowboarders of many different levels. This adventure is suitable for a whole range of participants.
NZ is the place to go if you’re just finding your heli-skiing feet, just getting into the thrill of riding a helicopter to the top of an untouched, untracked ski slope. In the Southern Alps – around Queenstown, Cardrona, Wanaka way – there’s plenty of treeless terrain that does feature its fair share of steep bowls and badass chutes, but there are also gentle, rolling hills for those who would only be comfortable tackling blue runs on regular ski slopes. Here you’ll find that most people are ready to go heli-skiing right now.
Another benefit of choosing New Zealand is that the prices aren’t prohibitively, stupidly high. Sure, this experience will cost you more than a bite to eat at Fergburger in Queenstown – but you won’t need to take out another mortgage on the house. When it comes to heli-skiing that’s a welcome change.
Many ski injuries result from ill fitted or outdated equipment. Try not to borrow gear that you’re not familiar with, and if in doubt look for ski shops that have a decent rental supply.
Warming up and down, before and after you ski are important, but so is getting in shape before you set foot on the snow. When you’re in good shape you’ll have less chance of injuring yourself and also find you’ll have more fun once you get out there.
Tiredness is a large contributor to snow injuries. Don’t be afraid to take regular breaks when you’re skiing. Take little ones in-between runs, or larger ones for lunchtimes or afternoon snack stops. This will also get you to slow down and appreciate the beautiful surroundings that you are in, instead of whizzing pass them, and taking them for granted.
If you are not entirely confident about tackling something, be it a more difficult run, or a larger than normal cliff drop, then don’t be afraid to give it a miss. It’s always better to be able to ski for your whole holiday rather than injure yourself during and miss out.
Whether you’re skiing in resort, or taking a once in a lifetime heli-skiing holiday always respect the rules. If a run is closed off, it's usually for good reason. Similarly, if a guide tells you to do something, make sure you follow their instructions.
You would have a provision to claim if you have a Winter Sports Pack for unused travel arrangements if you have to cancel your trip or your trip is shortened due to claimable events such as your injury or illness and the fees cannot be recouped from the provider.
We would not be able to provide medical cover for you if you are going against medical advice.
Provided you have a Winter Sports Pack, and are within the parameters stated in the PDS, and you don’t have a Domestic or Frequent Traveller Domestic policy, then the benefit we offer is unlimited. Terms and conditions apply. Please note that we don't cover for Search and Rescue.
In an emergency, get yourself to hospital. As soon as it's possible, we advise that you or a member of your travelling party call our medical assistance team who will be able to liaise with you or the hospital.
Yes, our Winter Sports Pack includes cover for Rental Ski Equipment Hire Excess. Terms and conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Please refer to the PDS for further information.
We do not directly provide cover for rental gear. However, we provide cover for Rental Ski Equipment Hire Excess. Terms and conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Please refer to the PDS for further information.
Yes, we provide cover for equipment that you own under our standard Luggage and Personal Effects benefit. Please note that this cover does not extend to when the equipment is in use. Limits apply. Please refer to the PDS for further information.
We cover 100+ activities. Find out all information you need about what’s covered and what’s not before you go adventuring.
Going to the US, New Zealand/Australia, or Japan? Or somewhere in Europe? Then find out all about travel insurance for these different destinations.
Have a pre-existing medical condition that might affect your trip? Pregnant? Or want to know about repatriation? Find out everything you need to know here.
If you have any other questions or queries, please visit our Contact Us page.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please use the details on our Emergency Assistance page.
1Cover ® is a registered trademark of 1Cover Pty Ltd. 1Cover Pty Ltd ABN 91 105 954 265, is an authorised representative of Coffre-Fort Pty Limited ABN 66 125 358 518, AFS Licence No. 472457. Before you buy, please read the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination. Any information contained on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider these having regard to the Product Disclosure Statement (‘PDS’). Before you purchase, please note in particular, the eligibility criteria, travel warnings in place and limitations to claim under multiple policy sections.
This insurance is underwritten by HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia, principal place of business at Level 19, 20 Martin Place, Sydney NSW, 2000. 1Cover's postal address is PO Box 6798, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153, Australia.
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