East Hartford, CT (Vocus/PRWEB) December 1, 2011 - Last season brought renewed enthusiasm for ski travel thanks to a long season of natural snow after record snowfalls created a winter sports bonus. The onset of the 2011 year-end holiday season, combined with unusual pre-Thanksgiving storms in the Northeast, has inspired many winter sports fans to make plans soon to pick up their downhill momentum where they left off after last spring's final runs. Travel Insured International, a travel insurance leader in providing coverage for skiers since 1994, urges skiers to think safety first this winter season and to learn the terms and conditions of what may or may not be covered on their ski trips when they hit the slopes.

Think Ski Safety First to Prevent Injury, Save Money

• Wear a helmet to reduce chance of injury: The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) says 57 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets in the 2009-2010 season compared to 25 percent in 2002-2003. NSAA estimates helmets reduce minor head injuries by 30 to 50 percent, but will not prevent major injuries often due to reckless ski behavior. You still need to ski sensibly when wearing a helmet!
• Check state laws mandating child and teen ski helmets. New Jersey has a new mandatory child and youth helmet law, effective Nov. 1, 2011, requiring children and teens age 17 and under to wear ski helmets. California has introduced, but not yet passed, a similar measure. Check the state where you ski to learn any child and teen ski safety regulations.
• Ski off trail or back country at your own risk. Most travel insurance plans do not include coverage if you are injured or worse during extreme skiing. Remember that many ski area Search and Rescue (SAR) organizations require off-trail skiers to reimburse costs when they must be rescued due to extreme skiing, an uninsured service that can cost in the thousands of dollars.
• Ski with a buddy. Have a meeting point and carry a mobile phone in case you are separated or lost.
• Ski goggles are highly advisable for maintaining visibility, especially in white fog conditions.
• Basic travel insurance may not cover you when you join a ski race or other winter sports speed event. Travel Insured International® offers its Sports Coverage option to cover these activities.
• When you check your ski gear to fly and the airline misdirects the bag, you may be forced to rent skis in order to ski before it belatedly arrives. Travel Insured's Sports Coverage option can reimburse this rental.
• If your own arrival at the ski area is delayed due to a common carrier, including for weather, for a minimum number of hours specified in your coverage plan you can be reimbursed for prepaid, unused ski accommodations. With the Sports Coverage option you can also be reimbursed for prepaid, unused ski passes when they are non-refundable.

Snow Storms Are Only Great When You've Already Arrived

When your destination is ski country, remember that everyone will be partying and celebrating in the ski village when the big snow storm arrives to pile fresh powder onto your downhill slopes. However, if you are en route from home to the ski destination, a travel time when many winter storms occur, you may miss not only tonight's party but tomorrow's great skiing on newly covered trails as well. When weather prevents your arrival in ski country on schedule, only travel insurance will ease the pain of potentially losing the opening day or more of your vacation by reimbursing your added expenses that may go with that loss. Travel Insured International urges you to remember safety first so that your great winter vacation can lead to many more, maybe even this season!