Political unrest has escalated this week, with political demonstrations and protests occurring in New Caledonia and a state of emergency being declared in New Caledonia on Wednesday, 15 May 2024. A curfew is in place for the Noumea metropolitan area between 6PM and 6AM and local authorities have advised to strictly limit movement throughout the day.
The La Tontouta International Airport has closed and flights have been cancelled until at least Friday 17 May 2024.
The Australian Government have now raised their warning level to ‘Exercise a high degree of caution’ in New Caledonia overall due to protests and travel disruptions and ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ in metropolitan Noumea and the RT1 road to La Tontouta Airport due to civil unrest, travel disruptions and limited essential services.
Are you overseas and need emergency help?
If you need emergency help, contact our Emergency Assistance team.
Phone: +61 2 8320 7999
E-mail: emergency@fastcover.com.au
The Australian Government also offers 24-Hour Consular Assistance for travellers overseas:
Phone: +61 2 6261 3305
SMS: +61 421 269 080
Travel Insurance for skiing, snowboarding & snow sports
Are you keen to carve up the slopes on a snowboard or skis? Skate on a frozen lake, glide across the arctic tundra behind a team of huskies, or zoom down an ice luge?
Whatever winter sports you're into, make sure you have travel insurance that covers all the skiing, snowboarding and snow activities you want to do.
Even if you're an experienced skier or have been carving up the same runs for years, you can never be sure something unexpected won't happen on your next trip.
A fellow thrill-seeker may make an unexpected move, you might hit a patch of ice or mogul the wrong way, or come off second best with an obstacle on the way down. You might not even make it out of the lodge if the weather closes in unexpectedly and shuts the lifts down completely!
A Fast Cover Snow Sports Plus policy provides cover for these types of scenarios, plus a range of other benefits.
Who can buy Snow Sports travel insurance?
Ski and snow sports holidays are generally riskier than a holiday spent relaxing on a beach somewhere, so it’s important to have good cover before you hit the slopes.
Taking out Snow Sports travel insurance is essential for any travellers who want to do any skiing, snowboarding or other winter sports, no matter where in the world you're headed.
Fast Cover can provide Snow Sports cover for travellers up to 69 years of age, even if you're a novice skier. This includes:
- Green run skiers or snowboarders taking a weekend break to Thredbo for their first time.
- Expert snowboarders hitting the black runs on Mount Buller or the terrain park at Perisher.
- Families taking the kids to the snow for the first time in Queenstown in New Zealand.
- IEC Program participants on working holidays in Canada who want to hit the slopes on their days off.
- Cross-country skiers and those who want to go off-piste, heli-skiing or cat-skiing.
- Back-country snowboarders heading out with a professional snow sport instructor.
- Travellers seeking the best conditions in top notch ski resorts in Japan, Europe or the United States for a week or two.
- And the endless winter chasers we’re all jealous of who will be on the mountain for the whole season!
Wherever you're planning your next white trip, don't forget to pack your ski travel insurance.
With a ski travel insurance policy, you’ll be able to jump on the lift with confidence knowing you've got great cover for your winter holiday.
Why do I need to buy Snow Sports travel insurance?
No matter where in the world you're headed, travelling always comes with a few risks. Winter sports holidays in particular have one of the highest potentials for injuries, as well as the same risks involved in travelling anywhere.
Medical expenses can quickly add up when you’re overseas, and unexpected travel delays or cancellation can quickly turn your dream holiday into a nightmare.
Some of the most common incidents travellers encounter on a winter holiday include:
- Broken bones, dislocations and internal injuries sustained on the slopes.
- Concussions and head injuries from colliding with objects or other skiers.
- Hypothermia, frostbite and other cold-related injuries.
- Unexpected cancellation of your ski holiday due to a family emergency or medical reason.
- Theft of belongings such as mobile phones, cameras, wallets and handbags.
- Damage to your rental vehicle in an accident on the icy roads.
- Damage, loss or theft of your snow gear and equipment.
- Piste closure due to bad weather conditions.
As well as providing cover in these scenarios, our Snow Sports Plus travel insurance can provide an allowance for equipment hire if yours is damaged or stolen so you don't miss out.
Compensation can also be claimed for your lift passes or the unused portion of your ski package if you have to cancel your trip early due to an injury or illness!
Why choose Fast Cover for your Snow Sports travel insurance?
Unlike many other ski travel insurance policies, Fast Cover’s snow policies cover off-piste skiing and snowboarding (with a licensed instructor), cross-country skiing and snowboarding, glacier skiing and snowboarding, back-country skiing and snowboarding (with a licensed instructor), heli-skiing and snowboarding, cat-skiing and snowboarding, terrain park skiing and snowboarding and other sports like snowmobiling, sledding and tobogganing.
Know you've got cover when you head off piste with a professional instructor/guide to find a powder stash.6
Cover for adventurous skiers & snowboarders.
Cover for skiers and snowboarders seeking an epic experience.
Cover for the advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Cover for those who are keen to experience everything in the snow.
As specialists in the travel insurance market, Fast Cover snow sports and ski travel insurance is designed to offer excellent benefits for skiers and snowboarders at a great price.
We've made buying travel insurance faster and easier and eliminated the need to fill out any boring medical assessment forms by covering 43 Pre-Existing Medical Conditions on all our policies.
Add the Adventure Pack option to your policy if you want to compliment your snow trip with some other sports and activities like tandem skydiving, white water rafting or abseiling. And the Motorcycle Pack option is available if you're planning to ride a moped, scooter or motorcycle in the off season.
As well as essential cover for overseas medical emergencies and other unexpected expenses, Fast Cover travel insurance also includes unlimited access to a 24 hour Emergency Assistance helpline.
The emergency team can provide advice and assistance, manage your medical care, liaise with hospital staff, arrange special event transport, notify family members or next of kin if something happens to you, or even coordinate emergency evacuation and transport from anywhere in the world.
Check out the table below to see all the benefits we can offer you on your next big white adventure:
Medical Benefits |
Basics | Domestic Plus | Standard Saver | Comprehensive | Snow Sports Plus | Frequent Traveller Saver |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overseas 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance^ sub-limits: |
Unlimited | ––– | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Funeral/cremation Overseas and/or bringing your remains home (per person) |
$20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | |
Overseas Emergency Medical & Hospital Expenses^ |
Unlimited | ––– | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Overseas Emergency Dental |
$500 | ––– | $750 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Overseas Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation |
Unlimited | ––– | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Overseas Hospital Cash Payment^ sub-limits: |
––– | ––– | ––– | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Daily Limit (per person) |
$50 | $50 | $50 | |||
Accidental Death Travellers Aged 80 to 89: |
––– | $25,000 $20,000 |
––– | $25,000 $20,000 |
$25,000 $20,000 |
$25,000 $20,000 |
Accidental Death for travellers up to age 79 |
$25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
Accidental Death for travellers aged 80 - 89 |
$20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | ||
Accidental Death of a Dependant (per Dependant) |
$5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
Permanent Disability^ Travellers Aged 80 to 89: |
––– | ––– | ––– | $50,000 $20,000 |
$50,000 $20,000 |
$25,000 $20,000 |
Permanent Disability for travellers up to age 79 |
$50,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | |||
Permanent Disability for travellers aged 80 - 89 |
$20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | |||
Permanent Disability of a Dependant (per Dependant) |
$5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | |||
Loss of Income^ sub-limits: |
––– | ––– | ––– | $10,400 | $10,400 | $10,400 |
Weekly Limit (per person) - up to 26 weeks |
$400 | $400 | $400 |
Financial Benefits |
Basics | Domestic Plus | Standard Saver | Comprehensive | Snow Sports Plus | Frequent Traveller Saver |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trip Cancellation Expenses sub-limits: |
––– | Unlimited | $25,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Travel Agents Cancellation Fees |
$1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
Close Relatives that do not meet Close relative conditions |
$2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | |
Personal Liability |
$1,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $2,500,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
Trip Disruption Expenses sub-limits: |
––– | $50,000 | $30,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
Close Relatives with a Pre-existing Medical Condition |
$2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | |
Trip Resumption Expenses |
––– | $3,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
Luggage & Personal Effects sub-limits: |
Optional | $7,500 | $5,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 |
Personal computers,video recorders or cameras (per item) |
$3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
Mobile phones (per item) |
$1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
Tablets (per item) |
$1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
All other unspecified items (per item) |
$750 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 |
Luggage and Personal Effects stolen from a Locked Storage Compartment of an unattended vehicle during daylight hours. We will pay up to $200 for each item and $2,000 in total for all stolen items. |
$2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
Passports, Credit Cards & Credit Card Fraud^ |
––– | ––– | $2,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Special Event Transport Expenses |
––– | $5,000 | ––– | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Rental Vehicle Excess sub-limits: |
––– | $5,000 | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Return of Rental Vehicle |
$500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | |
Travel Delay Expenses sub-limits: |
––– | $2,000 | ––– | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
Daily Limit (per person) (we will pay up to $200 for each full 24 hours beyond the initial 6 hour delay) |
$200 | $200 | $200 | $200 | ||
Delay of Luggage and Personal Effects^ |
––– | ––– | ––– | $750 | $750 | $750 |
Theft of Cash^ |
––– | ––– | ––– | $250 | $250 | $250 |
Snow Sports Benefits |
Basics | Domestic Plus | Standard Saver | Comprehensive | Snow Sports Plus | Frequent Traveller Saver |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Snow Sport Equipment |
––– | $1,500 | ––– | ––– | $1,500 | ––– |
Snow Equipment Replacement Hire |
––– | $1,500 | ––– | ––– | $1,500 | ––– |
Snow Prepaid Expenses |
––– | $750 | ––– | ––– | $750 | ––– |
Snow Resort Closure sub-limits: |
––– | $1,000 | ––– | ––– | $1,000 | ––– |
Daily Limit (per person) |
$100 | $100 |
COVID-19 Benefits |
Basics | Domestic Plus | Standard Saver | Comprehensive | Snow Sports Plus | Frequent Traveller Saver |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COVID-19 Overseas Emergency Medical, Hospital & Medical Evacuation Expenses |
Unlimited | ––– | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Funeral/cremation Overseas and/or bringing your remains home (per person) |
$20,000 | ––– | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
COVID-19 Trip Cancellation & Disruption |
––– | $3,500 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Please note: This is only a summary of benefits. Policy terms, conditions, limits, sub limits and exclusions apply to each cover type. Benefit limits shown are for Single and Duo (per person) policies. Pooled Benefits mean that Family policy benefit limits apply for the whole family and are double the corresponding benefit limit under a Single policy, except for certain benefits - please refer to the Product Disclosure Statement for full details. ^Cover under these Benefits are excluded while travelling within Australia.
Example Incidents~
Hannah's Hospital Shock Hannah, an 18-year-old snowboarder from Coffs Harbour, was on a 12 month working holiday in Canada when she was admitted to hospital with severe abdominal pain. Tests found she had an inflammatory bowel disease which required immediate treatment. The Fast Cover emergency assistance team liaised with hospital staff to manage Hannah's medical care and acted as a guarantor for the costs of her treatment. Hannah's travel insurance policy, which provided cover for the whole year including skiing and snowboarding, set her back just over $1,000 but covered $48,000 AUD worth of medical treatment and her recovery in hospital. |
Tom's Terrible Tumble 18-year-old Tom from Byron Bay needed over $41,000 AUD worth of overseas medical assistance after he injured himself while skiing in the French Alps. He suffered serious injuries including internal bleeding and needed to be medically evacuated from the ski resort. Tom and his travelling companion’s insurance policy cost just over $500 AUD for both of them. It covered the cost of Tom's emergency medical transport, surgery and hospital expenses, as well as accommodation for his friend to stay nearby while he recovered, and even their return flights to Australia in Business Class. |
Traveller Testimonials
Purchased without issues
Super easy to purchase and understand what was included. If you are looking for snow sports cover this is the place to go. I rang around to a few companies and most didn't offer the range that fast cover does. Customer service was amazing! A Campbell – Productreview.com.au |
Easy, great rates and excellent service
Used Fast Cover many times and very good value for money. Very easy to get a quote and policy online and excellent customer service. Have had to claim twice without any hassles. Alitas – Productreview.com.au |
The best after trying the rest
My wife and I travel overseas every year and use Fast Cover for our travel insurance. The cost was very competitive, easy to purchase online and comprehensibly explained in the PDS. I had a medical claim in both of the years of travel and both were handled with personal professionalism. Settlement was very prompt and hassle free. Les – Productreview.com.au |
~Traveller details have been changed to protect their privacy. Claims examples are from Fast Cover travel insurance customers from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2016.
Skiing & Snow Boarding Related Articles
^ Price as at 20/03/2024 compared to the price calculated today for this policy.
* See Product Disclosure Statement for full terms and conditions and exclusions and limits that apply.