In a study of 60 other UK providers – a significant part of the market – ski insurance specialists MPI Brokers found that:

• 42 providers exclude ski racing outright
• 18 others cover ski racing, but with restrictions.

Michael Pettifer, Managing Director of MPI Brokers, which offers some of the most inclusive ski insurance policies in the UK, says both competitive and social skiers could be caught in the ski racing trap if they have inadequate insurance.

He says: “Many skiers are getting involved in charity endurance events –for example, skiing 150km in two days – and now use GPS timing equipment on smart phones to ‘race’ their friends. Using the Oxford Dictionary definition of a race – ‘a contest of speed’ – this may be excluded under many policies.

“Skiers who think they are covered should check their policies carefully. We found some interesting restrictions such as ‘recreational ski racing only’, ‘not competitive’, ‘Non FIS’, ‘no timed events’ and ‘ski school and training only’.

“Skiers without adequate cover could face serious problems if they are injured during an organised race – and may even be disqualified if it is found they are not insured.

“All competitors who enter a ski race which is run under FIS rules must have ski insurance that covers that activity for – at least – mountain rescue, medical expenses, ambulance costs, repatriation and third party liability (often expressed as Personal Liability) and should therefore have their insurance policies available for inspection.

“Most providers in our survey don’t seem to understand skiing with the result that policies often exclude ‘normal’ behaviour that in our view is not particularly high risk. These providers appear to focus on volume, offering policies to a mass market instead of a quality specialist insurance.

"MPI’s award-winning Wintersports insurance – developed over half a century by skiers for skiers – is more responsive to real market conditions. Our main ski and snowboard insurance covers racing, competitions, practice and training for events with an entry age of under 16, as well as The Masters, Inferno and inter-club races at no extra charge and also includes racing for events (any age) that are not national or international races.”