J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andymol2

The EHIC card only covers you for the local country's "NHS type provision" - in some countries that's virtually non-existant, others you pay a fee even in the State funded clinics. Our NHS is free at the point of delivery - this is not the same across Europe.
The EHIC doesn't pay for repatriation - you need flying back it's your cost.
Some hospitals won't treat you unless you have insurance.

Ambulance chasers are everywhere - you have a collision - even if it's not your fault you may end up with a huge legal bill even if you win & even then you might not get your costs back. Do you want a £50,000 bill to prove you were innocent?

What if you get a £250k compensation award against you - It's goodbye house for most people.

Travel insurance is cheap and compared to the cost of a ski holiday is peanuts.

I think the Aldi ones went like hot cakes.

It's one of these arguable cases. Historically the drink-driving limit was set at a level beleow where the stats suggested that judgment was likely to be impaired for the average person. (which is why the arguments for reducing the drink-drive levels are not based on fact).

Insurance companies, naurally like to minimise their chances of paying out. If it came to a court case an English court is likely to use the already accepted level of the drink-drive limit for travel insurers who have an exclusion on alcohol related injuries. Intoxication levels are rather difficult to prove other than by blood or breath testing - not something that an orthopedic surgeon is likely to test whilst treating you for a broken wrist. If you are brough in unconscious then I guess alcohol levels may well be checked to distinuish between the possibilities.

In the end insurance premiums are affected by claims - not many of us want to pay extra so that someone else can ski whilst bladdered.

Smokey - I don't disagree with you re skiing - the risk of serious head injury skiing is not comparable to riding a motorbike or motor racing but is it fair to your family (& the state) to expect them to look after a nappy wearing 50 year old with the mental faculties of a 6 month old because they object to being made to wear a motor cycle helmet?

I don't have a problem with helmets (for motorcyclists)being made optional for those with insurance to fund life-long nursing care.

Raw numbers don't tell the whole story.
Were more people skiing?
Were more skiing faster?

It would be interesting to know how many more (if any) would have died without helmets? Obviously that can only be guessed at.

I have to say I've bitten the bullet & got myself a helmet for the first time.

I went to Les Arcs in late march and it was pretty slushy lower down on the cloudy days & was slushy high up on the sunny days. It seemed to rather catch the sun.

It was unusually warm but I doubt those coming out for Easter the next week had great conditions.

It's motion sickness - your brain doesn't like the conflict between the messages your ears are sending about your movement and what your eye is seeing - which is relatively little in a white out.

Skiing in the trees helps as you have still objects for your eyes to fix on and aid your balance.

It's essentially sea sickness - you could try one of the over the counter tablets (but they tend to make you drowsy). Getting used to trusting your ears for balance can help - sports such as badminton help by taking your eyes away from the horison so your balance is largely determined by your middle ear. Some find swimming crawl useful for the same reason. Specific exercises such as Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises help some deal with motion sickness (although they were designed for rehabbing those with inner ear balance problems). As such they may be beneficial to skiing in a white out.

Ebay? If you know the size it can work out just as cheap as hiring boots. If they don't fit and when they grow out of them you can sell them on again & all you'll be down is the postage.

Skis are abit more complicated - you'll have to get them serviced & fitted to the boots and set up properly. If you know what you are doing this can be a DIY option.

For an adult it's a different matter hire skis can be a mixed bag - in terms of wear & service standard. Hiring saves lugging skis with you and you get to try different types of skis but if you get a tatty pair of ski's that don't suite you it can spoil you week. Early in the season at the better shops you'll be fine - but at the end of the season in a small hire shop you may struggle if you have specific requirements.