Another week has passed here in Verbier. The village has now quietened after the peak season holiday period and the slopes and bars are relatively peaceful. By day, though we have not received any large snowfalls for over a week, the snow cannons are out and the slopes are still a joy to ride. As the weather has turned pretty cold again, the wind chill increased and the temperature decreased, it's advisable to wrap up warm. The chilliness, combined with the lack of snowfall, has made the snow compact and become very hard so tumbling is particularly painful but no pain no gain!

Winter sports travel insurance including repatriation cover for snowboarders and skiers

The slopes have emptied leaving plentiful space for skiers/boarders to learn, practice or just enjoy the sport, perhaps with a little added speed, without the worry of crashing or wasting the day waiting in ski lift queues! For me, the feeling of boarding (or skiing if you are that way inclined) on peaceful slopes with the beautiful, dominating landscape of snowy mountains surrounding you is indescribable, something I'm sure fellow boarders/skiers will understand!

Unfortunately, last week I dislocated my thumb whilst on the slopes (one of those infuriating accidents occurring within the last minutes of a successful days riding!). The ease of gaining medical treatment out here is a welcome relief. I could gain an appointment with the doctor at one of the numerous surgeries within hours and the doctors I met were all kind, patient and spoke very good English. With much experience in mountain accidents, the doctors have a great knowledge of bones, joints, and ligaments and, after a visit to the x-ray machine, I was diagnosed, patched up in a plastic thumb cast, and sent home to rest! Thankfully, the price of my treatment was covered by my work insurance but of the tourists I spoke to in the surgery, most were covered by their holiday insurance.

Ski and snowboarding insurance for winter sports enthusiasts travelling on holiday.Insurance for ski holidays is understandably more than an average holiday as the chance of an accident is so much higher. However, as was the case of those I met in the surgery, the extra cost was worth the nuisance. Being left with the full price of treatment in Switzerland would not be an added bonus to your holiday. I would also advise getting the Air Glacier helicopter rescue service insurance. This, in the unfortunate event of a serious accident could be a lifesaver, however, very expensive if one is not insured. If you have planned or are planning a trip to the slopes, which of course I fully encourage, don't get worked up about insurance, just ensure you have the correct cover before you leave and come and let your hair down in the mountains.