Skiing: Looking good a risk without insurance
Ski bling theft risk alert
Monday, 29 Oct 2007 11:05
British skiers are taking outfits and equipment worth some £1,200 onto the pistes, as dressing to impress becomes as important as keeping warm.
Taking their lead from Victoria Beckham, snapped on the Pyrenees earlier this year with £1,300 Chanel skis and an estimated £8,000 worth of designer good, Brits are spending £1.4 billion on skiing clothes and equipment, increasingly making sure style is a priority on the slopes.
However, with the bling comes the risk of theft.
"With the influx of new gadgets, expensive accessories, and state of the art ski and snow-board equipment, skiers and boarders need to think about the consequences of flashing their pricey designer gear to thieves," said Chris Price, spokesperson for Direct Line Travel Insurance.
"Winter sports holidays are not cheap and the last thing people want is the added cost of replacing their clothing and accessories for next season.
"As snow sports enthusiasts hit the slopes this year, it is vital that they make sure they have appropriate insurance to cover all their ski and snowboarding gear."
Figures from Direct Line show the most common travel insurance claim for skiers is loss of ski pass, followed by theft of skis or snowboards and sunglasses or goggles.
The next most common insurance claims were for camera theft or damage, specialist ski clothes and gadget such as MP3 players.
Skiers are advised to keep their valuables close to them with secure pockets for cash and gadgets and buy a sturdy ski or snowboard lock.
Over lunch, skis should be kept in sight and preferably mixed with friends' equipment, making it harder for thieves to find a matching pair.