Insurance for the A...
 

[Closed] Insurance for the Alps - Who do you use?

 Rik
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Usually go with Snowcard, but the have increased the level needed for biking in the Alps from level 3 last year to level 4 this year. Which means that the cost has gone up by a big chunk.

Only after medical - not bothered about personal belongings etc.

So i'm looking for alternatives - Who do you use?

Cheers


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 2:48 pm
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sta travel, i have i think the gold policy yearly because i travel quite alot, covers most sports (including mountain biking and climbing). never had to claim so no experience of that.


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 2:49 pm
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are you sure? I think that DH is 4 and mtb (general) is 2.


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 2:50 pm
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dogtag


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 3:01 pm
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When I took out mountain biking cover for the TMB with Snowcard last year they said if you were using ski-lifts to access trails then you needed DH cover even if you were just trail riding. The lifts weren't open when I went so I got them, relunctantly, to sell me level 2 cover but afterwards it did leave me wondering whether I had adequate cover should anything go wrong at altitude. Best err on the side of caution.


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 3:03 pm
 Rik
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what would you call the riding in Les Arcs?

When you are using an extensive lift system, and spend all day coming downhill in a full face helmet on runs in the forest and on ski runs.

Just because your on a trail bike rather than a dh bike. I would say that you are doing a downhill holiday.

Do people think otherwise. I would of thought the insurance companies would think its downhill if you tried to claim.


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 3:04 pm
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I can confirm that Alps riding with Snowcard is level 4. I had a similar query and asked them directly. Tell me about the cost! I went with Snowcard in the end though. I just did not want to find myself with no cover/payout in the event of needing to claim. Some of the cheaper policies seemed to really ramp up the excess IME so be warned would be my advice.


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 3:08 pm
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Ours - Direct Travel - doesn't include "riding on vertical tracks".


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 4:10 pm
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i'm going out to the alps this year when the lifts are shut.

I bought level 2.

if you click on the link for mountain biking in europe it sets you up a level 2 cover.

[url= http://www.snowcard.co.uk/pages/mountain-sports-insurance.asp ]here[/url]

downhill is riding downhill courses not goat tracks imo.

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downhill_mountain_biking ]downhill[/url]


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 4:26 pm
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tomthumb

downhill is riding downhill courses not goat tracks imo

unfortunately it's snowcard's opinion that counts, not yours

Get the right level of cover fer chrissakes


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 5:43 pm
 Rik
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Just checked DogTag - half the price of Snowcard.

They will be getting my business this year.


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 5:49 pm
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We used Direct Travel for a recent skiing trip, nearly £50 cheaper than Direct Line for the same cover. Wouldn't know about MTB cover tho', sorry


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 5:49 pm
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That is kind of where I was coming from. Yes I though that what I would be doing was covered under "mountain biking" on level 2 but as you say it does not really care what I think when they are the ones who are paying..

Any reason for the insurer not to pay out will be explored for sure.


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 5:50 pm
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Snowcard quote was £50, DogTag was £30. But anyone know what level i would need on DogTag? out of Sport, sport+ and Extreme?

Just going to the Alpes d Huez region for a week - on a trail bike.


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 6:31 pm
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I use dogtags, they have a number of different levels of cover - of which the alps should be covered 🙂


 
Posted : 08/06/2010 6:36 pm
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Anyone had to use dogtag or direct travel in anger?
I am aware of direct travel being super cheap but despite ringing twice last year I have little idea what is meant by "vertical paths".
was going to use snowcard but after realising the price dogtag is looking like the way to go!


 
Posted : 09/06/2010 1:17 pm
 MS
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Go travel insurance level 2 (have to phone them)

Won't be using lifts (I'm sad and like to bike uphill!) but riding in Les Arcs.

£18.96 😀


 
Posted : 09/06/2010 1:22 pm
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I used snowcard level 3 last year at deux alpes, dislocated elbow and cracked radial head, had to pay up front but got claim forms sent out and within 3 weeks had cheque in hand, good service I thought


 
Posted : 09/06/2010 1:50 pm
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insure and go...


 
Posted : 09/06/2010 1:58 pm
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unfortunately it's snowcard's opinion that counts, not yours

Get the right level of cover fer chrissakes

i don't want to bang on but i'm sure that advertising cover for tracks or downhill is massively misleading, if i'm not covered for riding tracks.

I am riding tracks on an xc bike.

downhill is a specific part of mtb and well defined, you are on a DH track on a DH bike, neither of which i will be.

If i find that i am riding downhill i will be somewhat surprised!


 
Posted : 09/06/2010 2:09 pm
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I use OeAV (Austrian Alpine Club UK branch), £41 covers me for 1 year for climbing, mountaineering and MTB - Search and Rescue, helicopter costs, medical treatment and repratriation, liability and legal costs.


 
Posted : 09/06/2010 2:46 pm