Winter Sports

Make sure you’re prepared before embarking on winter activity holidays

Winter sports can be exhilarating. Whether you plan to go skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, dog sledding or ice skating, if you’re heading for the snow it’s important to make sure you’re fully prepared so that you don’t have any slip ups along the way.

Build up your strength ahead of your trip

Do some physical preparation before you go, focusing on building up strength and flexibility. Squats, stretches and strength exercises will help protect your joints and ensure you max out your mountain time. If you can, try heading to an indoor ice skating rink or indoor ski centre so your body can get used to the movements before you hit the slopes.

Get the right insurance

We all think ‘it won’t happen to me’, but just in case it does… It’s essential to take out the right travel insurance.

Winter sport accidents can happen anywhere, to anyone.

• They might not even be your fault. You can be minding your own business and still get wiped out by a snowboarder or ski’d into.

• Ski and snowboarding accidents don’t always happen in the obviously ‘dangerous’ situations. So even if you’re steering clear of the double blacks and diamonds, you can get into an accident on a green run, getting off a chairlift, or even during ski school.

• Ski and snowboarding accidents are not dependent on your ability. Novice skiers and downhill experts alike get injured.

Most policies do not automatically cover winter sports so if you’re going skiing or snowboarding you’ll definitely need specialist insurance. Safer Tourism Foundation’s travel incident data shows ruptures, tears, dislocations broken bones, fractures and more, with plenty of hospitalisations and medical evacuations required every year.

While the new GHIC may help cover you for the basics but is insufficient for a ski holiday. Make sure you get a policy that covers you for all the winter sports you plan to do and provides adequate medical expenses cover (including mountain rescue services, helicopter and repatriation costs) if you have an accident. You can find out more about what to do if you have a medical emergency in our guide.

Staying safe on the slopes

Check weather forecasts and conditions before you set off on the slopes. The Foreign,  Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice website includes this sort of information for countries where winter sports are common such as Austria, Switzerland and France. You should also check the forecast and snow conditions at the lift company or tourist office where you plan to ski before hitting the slopes.

Make sure you are properly equipped with the right protective clothing, helmet and goggles. The Ski Club Great Britain has lots of useful information on what to wear and the equipment you’ll need. For ideas on keeping warm and what to do if you get too cold in cold climates see our guide.

You also need to wear high factor sunscreen as the sun is extremely strong and bright at altitude. You should apply this frequently including to your lips.

It sounds obvious but you should only go on slopes that are suitable for your abilities. If you are an experienced skier and decide to ski on your own without an instructor then make sure someone knows where you’re going and take a mobile phone and some money with you in case you get lost or stranded.

The government has also published a useful 3-page winter sports advice leaflet which you can download.

Keep the ‘après-ski’ to après!

Make sure your “après-ski” really is après. We all know that alcohol consumption or any other kind of ‘herbal’ refreshment impairs judgement. Too much booze at lunch can mean you are a hazard to yourself and others on the mountain. Don’t let yourself get carried away - and make sure you end the day as happily as you start it!

Accidents can happen anywhere

Of course not all accidents on winter sports holidays occur on the slopes. The most common holiday accidents are trips, slip and falls. Our guides on hotel safety and self-catering holidays have tips on how to stay safe in your accommodation.

And don’t forget to take care on cable cars and lifts and to make sure you know when the last ones are back to where you’re staying so you don’t lose your way.