Invalid Ski insurance when avalanche level 3 or higher

I've just been shopping around for single trip insurance. I'm 71 years old experienced skier. Thought I'd found a good deal £40 to cover 5 days. However, when I checked the small print it stated insurance not valid if avalanche Level was 3 or above……. Any else ever come across that?

No, I assume it means invalid if skiing off piste above level 3.
But in general, finding good off piste insurance is getting trickier.

Yes. It's like having buildings insurance that says you're not covered if the Met Office issues a Amber weather warning. It effectively negates the whole policy for the majority of the season if you interpret it strictly. Pretty much a test of whether or not you have a duff insurer who doesn't understand the market or worse, is deliberately avoiding reasonable liability. Imagine the arguents you'll have if you make any sort of claim.

have you tried the ski clubs? They probably have a partner that offers a suitable policy
check here https://www.skiclub.co.uk/ski-club-travel-insurance
(I have no affiliation btw)

I've been curious about avalanche levels for a while - last year I notice the avalanche warning levels were displayed at Austrian main chair lifts with 3/5 being a typical level. I wondered then if it was up to me to decide if this was acceptable risk or if they would close the lifts if there was a serious risk to me of an avalanche.

This year I was in Andorra and the avalanche risk levels were shown on the TV channel I watched at breakfast. Some areas went as high 4/5 but were showing as still open. This danger level is not shown at the main lifts in Andorra so those not watching the TV channel or checking on line will have no idea of the hidden danger.

Does 4/5 mean an 80% chance there will be an avalanche as this sounds like an unacceptable risk? in fact 3/5 does too if it equates to 60%. Or is this risk only applicable to off-piste areas?

I would imagine them being culpable if they let you up a mountain on a lift when there was a high risk of avalanche on the pisted areas.

[incidentally I personally only ever ski on pisted areas except when I accidentally stray due to poor boundary markers]

Kowal.Ski wrote:I've been curious about avalanche levels for a while

Good questions! The posted Avalanche Risk Level in a resort refers only to off-piste areas.

The Risk Level applies to the general ski area (excluding the marked runs), and resorts will often have boards with information specific to particular slopes or areas at the foot of relevant lifts. And yes, in Europe, the Risk Level is posted for your information and the decision to go off-piste is yours to make.

You can find the meanings of the various levels here Avalanche Risk Levels

You will almost always be safe on the piste, but avalanches on (or more usually, onto or across) pistes can and do occasionally occur - but they are very rare.

When they perceive a risk, resorts will close any pistes* (and sometimes lifts) that may be under threat from avalanches on slopes above (or in the unlikely event that the pisted slope is itself unstable).

Risk Levels of 5 will often see entire ski areas closed until suspect slopes have been dealt with or conditions stabilise.

* This is probably the number one reason you should never ski a closed piste!

On that last point, and given this post is regarding insurance, it's worth noting that almost all winter sports insurance excludes "acting against resort advice"... so if you get avalanched skiing a closed piste and have to be rescued, you'll be getting a bill!