If you are an adventurer or someone who is interested in the thrill of winter sports like skiing or snowboarding, you're not alone. Many Indians, like you, travel across the world to experience the thrill of adventure sports. But do you know that despite taking precautions, sometimes injuries are not uncommon and can result in financial burden or a negative travel experience? 

Whether you are planning a trip to take part in winter sports or just a leisure trip with your friends and loved ones, you should opt for travel insurance Canada to secure your trip to the Great White North. And remember, it's not something you should leave to the last minute. Here is all you need to know about getting travel insurance for Canada for winter sports in 2024. 

What Winter Sports are Covered by Travel Insurance?

Before going on a trip and purchasing travel insurance for Canada, it's crucial to understand that regular travel insurance does not cover adventure sports. In fact, taking part in adventure sports is often excluded from most travel insurance plans. This can lead to claim rejection unless the traveller explicitly chooses adventure sports coverage as an add-on. This knowledge empowers you to make the right choice and avoid any last-minute hassles when filing a claim.

Adventure sports are defined as any sport or activity potentially dangerous to the policyholder, whether they are trained or not. This is why, when availing adventure sports coverage as an add-on, the coverage might differ and offer different benefits. 

Here are a few adventure sports activities covered under travel insurance by a leading insurer like Niva Bupa:

a. Sky Sports: Sky Diving, Hang Gliding, Ballooning, Parasailing, Paragliding, Bungee Jumping, Bridge Swinging, Zip Lining, Zip Trekking

b. Mountain Sports: Skiing, Snowboarding, Rock Climbing, Rock Scrambling, Rappelling, Via Ferrata, Fell Running, Fell Walking, Gorge Walking, Indoor Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Cannoning, Mountaineering

c. Water Sports: Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Kite Surfing, Body Boarding, Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, Scuba Diving, Shark Diving, Swimming with Dolphins, Diving with Whales, Wakeboarding, Surfing, white water rafting, Snorkeling, Waterskiing, Whale Watching

d. Racing Sports: Auto (car) racing, Motor rallying, Motorcycle racing, Air racing, Kart racing, Boat racing, Hovercraft racing, Lawn, mower racing, Snowmobile racing, Truck race

Why is Specialised Travel Insurance Important for Winter Sports?

Sometimes, travel agents or the proprietor of the place where you will participate in winter sports either ask for a policy or try to sell one before allowing entry. Usually, these types of policies lack coverage and can result in significant financial loss, lacking healthcare, and a negative travel experience. This is why you must opt for specialised travel insurance for adventure sports, including winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, etc. 

What are Some Conditions for Availing Adventure Sports Coverage?

Various insurers often have different conditions for granting or not granting adventure sports coverage to policyholders. Here are two specific conditions to consider and to avoid any last-minute claim rejections:

1. Non-adherence to the guidelines/instructions of the organisers of adventure sports 

2. Participation in a professional capacity and without the supervision of a trained professional

If the traveller does not follow the guidelines and instructions or participates in adventure sports without a trained professional for supervision, they will be ineligible for claims under the adventure sports coverage.

How Does Travel Insurance Protect You During Winter Sports? 

While travel insurance for Canada cannot protect you from getting injured or becoming hospitalised due to this injury, opting for winter sports coverage has a safety net to fall back on and an option to get better treatment with the financial backing of insurance. What this means is that if you are injured and are hospitalised without insurance, this can result in significant expenses, mainly due to being in Canada. However, with travel insurance, you can avail yourself of quality healthcare without worrying about the medical costs you may incur. 

Conclusion

The thrill of adventure travel or taking part in adventure sports sometimes often overshadows the potential risk one can experience when taking part in these activities. Each of these activities is a lot of fun and can help you experience something unlike anything before, making them a part of many travellers' bucket lists. However, while it is a lot of fun, it is important to consider the risks and opt for reliable travel insurance in Canada to secure your trip as well as your health and financial well-being when taking part in adventure sports.