Insurance question - definition of off-piste

SuprSi

I'm heading to Sauze d'Oulx in a couple of weeks. We were there last year and spent quite a bit of time zipping between the trees to the side of, or between designated slopes, and I'll more than likely be doing the same thing again but I wanted to be sure I get the right insurance.

How far off the beaten track do you have to be to be classed as off-piste? In most cases, we were merely taking shortcuts between the on-piste sections, or veering off the on-piste sections to enjoy the fresh snow. We won't be walking for a while to get to the side of an unmapped slope or anything.

Obviously it's better to be safe than sorry and I'll more than likely get insurance that covers off-piste without any major caveats, but I just wanted to be sure.

a148pro

You'll have to look at the definitions in your policy. You can rest assured though that insurers will do anything they can to avoid paying so if you are cutting between pistes and are hurt they won't pay.

There is a company that provides insurance for off piste, but I can't remember its name, I came across it on other forums. I'm sure if you look around online you'll find it.

FWIW I'm of the view that you're much more likely to be hurt on piste than off because an injury will prob come from hitting someone else (or them hitting you) and because you're more likely to relax and go faster and then come awry on a patch of ice or something.

Albeit if you hurt yourself off piste chances are you'll be in a lot more trouble, with avalanches in particular.

Fattes

Definition in Europe is easy!!

Once you leave a marked run by ANY DISTANCE!!!! So the little markers at the side of the piste with Numbers / Colours on them one you are outside them you are off Piste.

In North America it is slightly different as you have in and out of bouds as a general rule out of bounds is off piste but VHI Multi trip specify that once you are not on a groomed run in N.America you are off piste.

The risk of injury is huge off piste much higher than on, the number of variables from Tree wells, rocks, cliffs, Even More rocks is huge.

The only policy that cover off piste come with two conditions
- You are with a guide (Normally local)

- Or that a member of your party has an off piste qualification.

As below check your policy very important some have really weird clauses.

rjp123

OP what you are describing is off piste. Irrespective of the fact that you were just zipping between slopes and only a small bit to the side you were off piste.
Snowcard, dogtag do insurance.

SuprSi

Great, thanks all for the feedback. My current policy mentions about using a guide, so I think I'll look into extra cover with someone else.

Thanks again.

Fattes

SuprSiYou will be doing really well to find a policy that does not reqire one if not all of the below.

A Qualified Guide

Detaile Locan Knowledge (Very loose definition and easy to wiggle out of for insurance companies)

To be carrying full off piste kit - Shovel, Probe, Transciver.

One of the party to be qualified in off piste saftey and avalanch rescue. If you do let me know

SuprSi

I was just looking at the details on Dogtag and it seems pretty good...

Do you provide off-piste cover and what is the definition of off-piste?

The generally accepted understanding of off-piste (or backcountry) skiing or boarding means 'going out of bounds', i.e. outside the resort boundary (if there is a boundary) or simply off the marked pistes if within the resort area.

If you are going out of bounds or outside marked areas of the resort, we recommend you do so with a fully qualified local guide because, in our view, you will then be taken to the best areas and you'll have a higher degree of comfort concerning your safety. However, we do not insist that you take a guide, you are insured for off-piste without a guide provided that you are not going alone or going against advice. And remember, even some areas within a resort may be considered out of bounds because they are hazardous. In most parts of North America, going out of bounds contravenes local law and you may, at best have your lift pass confiscated or worse, face arrest and have an overnight stay courtesy of the Sherriff's office. Normally there is a physical fence with warning signs so you shouldn't be in any doubt.

It is your responsibility to ensure that on any particular day you are aware of and obey local advice, information and instructions given by the resort authorities and that you obey any signs and information you encounter on the mountain - the source of this information will vary resort to resort and country to country and it is your responsibility to find out. If a section is marked 'closed' there will be a very good reason for it (e.g. high avalanche danger) and ignoring such signs or advice may invalidate your cover. You should be aware that under the terms of cover, needless self-exposure to peril except in an endeavour to save human life may invalidate your cover.

So in other words you go off-piste as long as you're not stupid.

Fattes

SuprSi wrote: »

or going against advice

That is the important bit who's advice?

Dog tag are meant to be really good and all feedback I have heard about hem is super but that sentence highlighted above would make me think.

IMPORTANT just notice the location. Most Italian jurisdiction require any one skiing off piste requires full AVI kit there are fines for not obeying and I know an instructor that got done on the Dolmites.