Winter sports

A question about : Winter sports

I'm off snowboarding next month and for the first time I am planning to wear a helmet.

I have been trying to check with my insurance provider whether this is a requirement for them but I'm only getting a vague answer.

I'm insured with MSE recommended Holiday Safe but in live chat I'm getting the response you must wear appropriate safety equipment they won't commit to a clear policy on this. (How helpful!) Nowhere in the documentation can I find a clear answer either.

It might sound academic if I'm planning to wear one anyway but I'd like to know if it's an insurance requirement or just common sense and I'm surprised they don't have a clear policy on this as what else might constitute appropriate safety equipment?

Has anyone had any experience of this with Holiday Safe or another provider?

Many Thanks
Steve

Best answers:

• It's totally up to the individual provider what they will cover.
  My insurer insists on helmet for off piste, but not for on-piste.
  Not sure how that helps you though!
• Looking through their current policywording, for the Standard single trip version there is only a mention of helmets in connection with motorbikes. With a scan read I couldnt even see a generic "safety equipment" type provision. The only possible one is a very vague requirement "we expect that you take all possible care to safeguard against accident, injury,loss or damage". How well this would stand up against an FOS complaint is another matter
• Hi Steve jf,
  My name is Amber Howard and I am the Brand Manager for Holidaysafe.
  Sorry to interrupt your thread, but I spotted your comments and wanted to answer your question for you.
  There is nothing in our winter sports policy wordings which says you have to wear a helmet to be covered under our policies. We understand that there are very conflicting views about helmets among winter sports enthusiasts, so this is not one of our conditions of cover.
  The only time we would insist you wore a helmet, is if it was part of the safety rules and requirements of your resort. Basically, if the resort says you have to wear a helmet, then we would expect that you should have been wearing one to partake in activities.
  Thank you for bringing your live chat to my attention, and I have already spoken to our customer service managers for ongoing training purposes.
  I hope that makes sense, but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me directly via Holidaysafe@infinityinsurance.co.uk.
  Kind regards,
  Amber.
• I've noticed a real change in helmet wearing in ski resorts over the last few years. Now the majority of skiers and boarders wear helmets rather than the minority. It really makes sense to do this even if it isn't a requirement of the insurers.
  (I was resistant at first, having skied for nearly 30 years but soon got used to wearing one).
• Obviously our appointed claims team would look at every claim individually, however if a resort demands that you wear a helmet to ski on their slopes, then we would expect you to wear one, otherwise you shouldn't have been on the slopes.
  Most resorts do not have this rule, I was just using it as an example.
  Kind regards,
  Amber.