You should know this before your ski trip to the Alps

Winter is here and the ski resorts at home and abroad are already full of ski-loving Norwegians.

– For the vast majority of people, it will be fine, but some will be sent home with a “quick bone,” says Arne Wohl, communications director at Gjensidige.

Briefly

Insurance company Gjensidige is warning ski-loving Norwegians about injuries and high costs during ski holidays abroad.

Many Norwegians overestimate their skiing skills, especially with alcohol, and end up with injuries.

The company highly recommends taking out travel insurance, as health services and medical transportation abroad are often private and can cost tens of thousands of kroner.

They also encourage the use of a helmet and back brace, and being considerate of others on the ski slope.

Every winter, infected Norwegians have to return home injured after skiing trips in the Alps, often by plane from Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Geneva. In the travel insurance industry, this is called a “quick bone.”

Attractions: Dnb believes that the areas marked on the map could be linked to illegal transactions. Source: DNP.
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Exaggerated

Some Norwegians with minimal skiing skills, often accompanied by drinking alcohol, believe they are “world champions” on the slopes. Some top it all off with a “wet” après-ski party. Not everyone goes home alone.

Last winter, Gjensidige and Gouda Forsikring had several ski-related claims for Norwegian tourists abroad. 1 out of every 3 injuries suffered by ski tourists is a knee injury.

Take it easy: After skiing is fun, but take it easy if you're skiing back to your hotel. Photo: Odd Rohr Lange
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Some injuries are of the strangest kind.

Arne Foll tells, among other things, about a Norwegian ski guest who ended up with a five-figure bill, part of which he had to cover:

– The Norwegian was on holiday in the Alps. Later in the day, he fainted on the ski slope and was taken away by helicopter. In the explanation, the client said that he became ill after eating lunch. The doctor's report showed that the client had a blood alcohol level of more than 2. The helicopter and doctor's visit cost over NOK 50,000, part of which the customer had to pay himself.

He lies on the ground: – What the hell?!

Great conditions and complete trips

Alpine resorts reported a record amount of snow and high coverage on the slopes. The insurance industry is well aware of this and has already received many claims from unlucky ski enthusiasts. In addition, airlines have already announced several full aircraft.

– This is usually fine for the vast majority, but not everyone is so lucky, says Arne Wohl. He says it can be very expensive if you are on a ski holiday abroad and have an accident.

Norwegian Favorites: Ischgl is one of Norwegians' favorite ski resorts. Photo: Odd Rohr Lange
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Abroad, health services and medical transportation are often private and must be covered by the individual. Even small damages can amount to several tens of thousands of kroner.

Remember insurance

– We highly recommend taking out travel insurance, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also made clear. This doesn't cost the world, says Bean, and is a good guarantee of a safe vacation for you and your family.

Mutton

Every year, Gjensidige and Gouda Forsikring must reserve several flight seats on the relevant departures from airports close to the main infection destinations in the Alps in order to transport injured Scandinavians home using “knokkelexpresssen”.

Après ski activities in moderation

– For many, après-ski is an obligatory way to end a good day. Not everyone can limit their alcohol intake, and Jensedig has recorded several incidents after such parties. Skiing on your feet and high blood alcohol levels is something you should stay away from, is Bean's opinion.

Not everything is covered by the insurance company

A client was recently at a ski course in the Alps. He had some old skis with him that he had kept in storage for a long time. The sleds turned out to be repetitive and poorly functioning, something the customer thought he could not have known beforehand. Therefore the ski course was not as expected and the client wanted compensation for the expenses. The client was rejected.
The Norwegian was on his way home on skis from a wet party a little further up the slope. He did not see that the underground was covered with sand and devoid of snow. The skiers went straight on their noses and severely injured themselves. I got a discount on insurance.
The Norwegian ski guest participated in après-ski activities on the ski slope outside. After consuming a significant amount of alcohol, he stood up and skied back to civilization. All the way, the Norwegian was unable to stop, instead crashing straight into the road and crashing into a parked car. The person concerned had to cover the damages he incurred himself.
(Source: Gensidigi)

remember this
– In our home country Norway, we are very lucky because we will be able to get good help regardless of whether someone is injured on the ski slopes. Abroad, this can be more demanding. We have examples where someone has injured themselves and been taken by helicopter and taken to hospital and is then presented with a hefty bill. Even small injuries can cost a lot, says Arne Wohl, and ends with an appeal:

– Wear a helmet and back brace and be considerate of those around you. If you want to challenge yourself and go as fast as you can, you should stay away from the usual slalom slopes. It is also important not to overestimate your own capabilities. If you walk on your nose at high speed, the path to crutches is short.

Hello, my name is Odd Roar Lange and I am a travel expert and journalist for DinSide and Dagbladet. Do you have advice about skis and sheetrock for Norway's largest consumer website DinSide.no? Or do you have an experience, question or clever suggestion that others should hear about?

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