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Home > Travel Insurance > Going Skiing? Remember to Stretch and Take Out Ski Insurance Going Skiing? Remember to Stretch and Take Out Ski InsuranceAuthor: Jean Andrews Every ski season it is the same story - thousands of skiers and boarders sustain injuries on the slopes. Sadly, many skiers find themselves having to stretch their holiday budget to pay for unexpected medical care and bitterly regret not having bothered to take out ski insurance! No matter how good a skier you are, or think you are, accidents can and do happen.One important fact many skiers are not aware of is that claims on their ski insurance may be denied (by any company) if intoxication is found to be a contributing factor. Although it is important to be relaxed and loose when skiing, it is not wise to try to achieve this by consuming alcohol or other substances. Save the hot toddies for apres ski! It is crazy to do a nine-to-five desk job and then expect your body to adjust to a week or two of hurling yourself down ski slopes without some preparation. Just as with most things in life, it takes effort, preparation and lots of practice to become proficient. Stretching, strengthening, and toning your ski muscles well before your ski holiday could mean the difference between a week of pulse-racing fun or a week of hobbling about in pain - from either stiffness or an injury. Any unfamiliar activity is likely to leave you stiff and sore for a few days afterwards unless you do some preparation. For example, think of times in the past when you have done something unusual, such as an extended bicycle ride, or riding a horse. You may have been barely able to walk for the next few days. We have all experienced that feeling of discomfort at some point in our lives. During skiing and snowboarding we use entirely different sets of muscles to those we use in our normal daily lives. Abuse those muscles and they will let you know about it! Statistics show that about one-third of ski injuries involve the knees. Many skiers may not be familiar with the following terms until they have a problem, but knee injuries usually involve a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and/or the meniscus (cartilage). Thousands of people go skiing without any problems, of course, and with any luck you will not become a statistic. However, at least have the peace of mind and benefit of ski insurance to avoid having to stretch your wallet. Following a ligament injury, a skier will normally experience pain at the site of the injury (which is sometimes delayed) as well as swelling and bruising. If the injury is very severe it may leave the skier feeling that the knee is unstable or about to give way any minute. Whatever the symptoms, or severity, it is likely to mean an end to skiing activities for the season. The knees are very vulnerable during winter sports activities, so strengthening and stretching the muscles that support them can only help. Having strong, toned muscles can also aid recovery after an injury - as well as enhance the entire skiing experience. It is especially important for beginners to prepare for their first skiing or boarding experience by targeting and working the ski muscles. Join a gym, take exercise classes, or purchase a workout DVD and follow along. One advantage to joining a gym is the advice and assistance of the trainers and professionals who can provide guidance on the best exercise machines to prepare and strengthen your muscles for the slopes. Skiing and boarding injuries are not just confined to the knees. The wrists, shoulders, thumbs and ankles are often involved - and in more serious cases there may be broken limbs, as well as head, neck or back injuries. In their enthusiasm and haste to get on the ski lift and be whisked uphill to where the fun starts, many skiers forget to warm-up and stretch first. Professional skiers and athletes know the importance of warming up the muscles before any physical exercise, and to stretch and cool down when finished. Medical costs in North America can be truly astronomical without ski insurance. The cost of a broken leg could set you back many thousands, and if you need an air ambulance to bring you home the cost will run into tens of thousands! Be sure to take out travel insurance with adequate ski insurance cover because no one else is going to stretch to pay those costs for you, including your Embassy! Jean Andrews is a freelance writer living in the UK. She regularly contributes articles for Travel Insurance Agencies Ltd who offer great deals on Ski Insurance for UK residents and residents of Eire. Other Recent Insurance Smart Book Articles:
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