Theft in ski resorts
One in eight people have had their ski or snowboard equipment stolen or lost whilst on holiday, according to the Ski Club of Great Britain.
In a recent survey of its members, 72% said they owned their own kit but 61% make no attempt to mark or identify it.
And the survey found that 28% don’t take security precautions when leaving their skis or snowboards unattended, for example when having lunch or apres ski drinks.
Only one in 20 use secure facilities to store their equipment, meaning the majority of equipment is an easy target for thieves.
In a bid to promote better security on the slopes, the Ski Club is offering some tips to help prevent theft:
- Mark your equipment with your details – initials, phone number, or the hotel/chalet you are staying at. This will make sure your equipment is recognisable, and if lost, can be easily returned to you.
- Take a picture or keep a record of any serial number on skis and snowboards so that items can easily be reported to the police, and returned if they are found.
- Where possible, use secure ski lockers or boot rooms in hotels and other accommodation.
- If there are no secure storage options, swap one of your skis with a partner and separate the odd pairs far away from each other.
- Take a picture or make a note of where you left your equipment.
- Place any ski poles over your skis to prevent an accidental mix-up with other skiers and to make it harder for poles to be stolen.
- If you hire your equipment, take a picture or note the serial number of the skis or the number on the hire shop bar code sticker.
- Investing in good quality ski and snowboard locks can help deter thieves.
Frank McCusker, CEO of Ski Club of Great Britain, said: "The value of snow sports equipment and the current laissez-faire approach to security most skiers take means easy pickings for thieves. Theft of skis and snowboards is a real problem.
"Not only is it distressing when you have your items stolen, it also impacts your precious time on the slopes and can ruin a holiday.
"It’s relatively simple to minimise your chances of becoming a victim of theft, but the risk is ever present. I would urge anyone planning their next trip to take out a specialist winter sports insurance policy to make sure all your equipment is covered.
"The Ski Club can offer this cover, and our standard policy covers up to £750 for loss or damage to winter sports equipment and increases up to £2000 with our platinum policy.
"Remember to keep proof of purchase or rental receipt of your equipment as it is usually needed when making a claim. Our specialist winter sports insurance also covers you for sports that standard holiday insurance may not cover, such as touring, cat skiing, heli-skiing and off piste skiing, even without a guide.
"The insurance policy is an annual one and supports many other sporting activities, notjust snow sports.
"Always check what your policy covers you for before heading on holiday."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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