Don’t Let It All Go Downhill! The risks of racing

Since October, the Universal Sports Network has been presenting widespread coverage of the 2013-2014 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season on air and online. It began with the women’s slalom and will continue to showcase more than 60 international alpine competitions, including the World Cup final. All eyes this year were set on Lindsey Vonn who looked to return from a knee injury in order to defend her Olympic gold medal in the women’s downhill. The U.S star has suffered on the sideline since her crash in February, along with a fellow American World Cup champion, Bode Miller, whose knee injury also meant he was out for most of last season.

However, Lindsey has reportedly withdrawn from next week’s World Cup race in the U.S after damaging her knee again in a training crash. Although a continuing course of therapy means that Lindsay should be able to race again in a few weeks, her accident speaks volumes for the potential risks involved with alpine sports, particularly downhill skiing. Lindsey partially tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and suffered a mild strain to her right knee in her recent crash; last February she tore multiple ligaments in the same knee. Since then, she has been wearing a protective knee brace and following an appropriate course of rehab after an MRI scan was able to reveal the damage.

Lindsey’s injuries and her ability to return to the sport demonstrate the fact that downhill racing – or any sport for that matter – is to be avoided because of the potential risks. However, the treatment incurred, namely the MRI scans and the extensive courses of therapy, does highlight the necessity of having a comprehensive sports insurance policy to cover you. Lindsey’s speedy recovery will be enabled by the advice and care of her orthopaedic surgeon, attentive treatments and regular check-ups, all of which can be financially ruining particularly when abroad. At SportsCover Direct, we offer a huge range of specialist sports insurance policies that can prevent the damaging consequences of physical injury. Our winter sports cover ranges from cross country skiing to heli-skiing to ski racing to ski acrobatics…find out more and get a quote today on our website:

https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/sports-travel-insurance/

The broadcast schedule for the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events can be found here: http://www.powdermag.com/latest-news/full-2013-14-f-i-s-world-cup-schedule/

Better off than on - the importance of kit

Sport is a brilliant way to not only get into shape, but also to have fun and meet like-minded people; friendships forged through team sports can last a lifetime. In order to enjoy your sport to the maximum with minimum worries, it is essential to have a well-equipped kit bag, not only with protective sports equipment but also an appropriate insurance policy that can protect you and your bank account in the case of an accident.

Firstly however, possessing the gear to suit your sport will not only aid high level performance, but also reduce the chance of sustaining injury. Playing badminton with a poorly strung racquet and in worn-out shoes can be just as dangerous as playing hockey without a mouthguard. It is not uncommon for sports players to use equipment that is either inappropriate for the sport they’re playing, or simply does not fit correctly and this can prove dangerous. A helmet is an essential item of protective gear in many sports including horse-riding, biking, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, skating and baseball with softer helmets being more suitable for hockey, football and rugby among others. It is crucial to ensure that the helmet you choose to purchase is suitable for your sport and meets the necessary safety standards such as those set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Eye protection; mouthguards; wrist, knee and elbow guards; and pads for contact sports are other items of protective gear which are designed for a reason and have the ability to make a huge difference in the event of an accident. With so many products now on the market, both in shops and online, there is little excuse to play your sport ill-equipped!

Secondly, your kit bag should also contain an insurance policy to protect you. There is an inextricable link between playing sport and risk – although often low and not to be overly worried about, the very nature of sport involves physical risk which can also result in financial risk. Millions of sports related injuries occur worldwide, 2-3 million in the US alone, and therefore it is important to not be cavalier when it comes to choosing an insurance policy. SportsCover Direct covers 400 sports and prides itself on the specialist cover it can offer, setting it apart from other insurance providers. With 20 years of experience in the field, we know what a beneficial policy should provide from repatriation to medical expenses to legal bills. It is all too easy to adopt the optimistic ‘it will never happen to me’ mentality but this is could prove ruinous to both your physical and financial health!

Find out more about the sports we cover and get a quote here: https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/sports-accident-insurance/

Travel Insurance Packages

We provide a range of travel insurance packages designed to cover active holidays and competitive sport abroad. Doing sport significantly increases the risk of injury and the likelihood of requiring medical attention whilst abroad, so travelers should thoroughly research their insurance to make sure they are fully covered for their chosen activity!

Sports Insurance

Over the last few years the number of people actively participating in a broad range of sports has risen and people are no longer just spectating. This is probably because individuals are becoming more aware of the need to keep physically fit and healthy. In turn, this has had a big impact on the demand for sports insurance and it should be noted just how important sports insurance is to anyone participating in sports. 

Unfortunately accidents in sports happen all the time, whether it be in amateur sports or professional sports. If an accident does occur and the individual or team isn't covered by a suitable sports insurance policy, then they can incur expensive medical costs and more. At SportsCover Direct we can offer a number of sports insurance policies that include sports insurance for coaches, sports insurance for teams, sports travel insurance and personal injury sports insurance and more. For more details visit us online now.http://www.sportscoverdirect.com/

Adventure Travel Insurance

If you would like to find out more about our Adventure Travel Insurance check out our latest video!

Life Is an Adventure: Achieve Your Sporting & Adventure Goals With Peace of Mind

Many people are starting to adopt a more active lifestyle, with regular exercise routines and healthy eating plans firmly in place. Fitness regimes have become a huge part of our life and daily routines and therefore can often become quite laborious. For a growing number of us a trip to the gym or a jog before work just isn’t enough anymore!

For those of us that have a real passion for sports and adventure, this is just far too mundane, we welcome the idea of breaking away from our day to day routine and to feel like we are living life to the full, by achieving goals that many would class as unobtainable. So when we get the opportunity to take part in adventure holidays or extreme sports activities most of us like to grab the opportunity with both hands without worrying about the “what if’s?”

Once you have taken part in an adventure holiday or achieved your sporting or thrill seeking goals, there’s no better feeling and you are usually eager to share your experiences with others. With the advancement in modern technology and the trend of social media sharing, memories of exciting experiences are becoming much easier to document and show to the world! So be sure to upload lots of pictures and video footage of your adventure holiday or sporting event.

Who could forget Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic space jump that took him to the edge of space? He shared his footage with the world and many people took great pleasure in watching the video, the amount of hits his video received showed just how many potential thrill seekers there are out there.  (You can view the footage by clicking on the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHtvDA0W34I ) He inspired thousands and you never know, documenting you’re sporting and thrill seeking experiences could inspire others too! 

Although it is practically impossible to duplicate Felix Baugmgartners feat, it shows just how many people out there are interested in thrill seeking sports and adventures. The team at SportsCover Direct are here to support you and help you to achieve your goals by providing adventure cover and extreme sports insurance that will cover you for almost all eventualities should you need it.

We pride ourselves on being able to ensure our clients can enjoy taking part in adventure holidays and extreme sports without worrying about the “what if’s?”  So if the worst does happen and you are involved in an accident or injured whilst enjoying an adventure holiday or sporting event, you can feel completely reassured and confident that we have you completely covered! The only thing we want you to worry about is your speedy recovery! So go ahead, book your flights, and make your plans, whether it be sky diving or an adventure holiday we are here to ensure you achieve your goals with complete peace of mind! 

Visit us at http://www.sportscoverdirect.com/ or call us on 0845 1206400 to find out which of our insurance packages will suit your needs best. You can also book your required cover directly online now.

photo credit: Tal777 via photopin cc

Booking Your Next Sports Adventure Travel Can Be As Easy As 1..2..3

2012 has been a significant year for everything travel-related. Groupon offers have been very popular, offering some fantastic deals on flights.It’s not only Groupons that have provided great low cost flights, 2012 saw discounted flights become even more accessible than ever before. Many people have taken advantage of some of the price drops in flights and online travel offers. 

You can also find some great offers online for adventure travel packages. Adventure travel holidays have become accessible for people from many different walks of life; The internet and the online world of social media, means that you are able to quite easily get a recommendation for a holiday or sports travel adventure from friends via social media, book a break, then go on to purchase your break all online; here’s an example break down...

1. You plan to go on an adventure ski-ing break with a group of friends
2. You are responsible for finding a great deal on the accommodation, so you jump on your computer, smart phone or tablet and you get off to a good start and find a great late deal, ie...http://www.neilson.co.uk/ski/late-deals
3. Through Facebook you share the deal that you find ...https://www.facebook.com/
4. You or another friend then go on to find a deal on the flights ie...http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flight-guide-to-Les-Deux-Alpes/
5. You consolidate these two offers and again communicate this with the group through social media. As a group you have managed to make some great savings.
6. All that’s left now is to get a great deal on your adventure travel insurance, ie...http://www.sportscoverdirect.com/sports-travel-insurance/ 
7. Final communication is made with the group, (again through social media) and your adventure break is all booked and confirmed with all parties.

The above can be considered a typical procedure for many individuals booking an adventure break and it can be booked and paid for, all within 10-15 minutes, often the need for verbal communication about the break details is unnecessary and 2013 looks set for it to become an even more popular way of booking your adventure break.

Point six is a very significant part of the process and it is the part where at SportsCover Direct we are able to offer lots of assistance.

SportsCover Direct offer the more “adventurous” type of insurance for those who want to live life on the edge. Whether it be mountain biking in Scotland, ski-ing in the French Alps or Rock Climbing in Africa, with SportsCover Direct, we want you to enjoy every second of your holiday and have a worry-free experience. Great memories are easier to create with an unburdened mind. If you are planning a sports adventure break or you are participating in an exciting sporting activity for the first time, the last thing you should be concerned about is whether you are insured for the activities you will be doing. 

SportsCover Direct caters for those who like to explore and push themselves to the extreme, those individuals who crave the thrill. From bungee jumping to cliff diving, SportsCover Direct will cover you all the way.

So have fun and chase the excitement, but be sure to plan for any eventuality; lack of adequate insurance cover can often be costly. We can provide you with the right kind of adventure travel insurance for your next adventure.

Be sure to cover yourself for every eventuality, visit us at www.sportscoverdirect.com whereby you can get a FREE, no obligation adventure cover quote, as well as purchase full sports insurance cover, alternatively please feel free to call us on 0845 120 6400 and we will ensure your peace of mind and security while you tighten up your harness for your next adventure.

Extreme Sports Travel Insurance

Take a look at our latest video regarding extreme sports travel insurance.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of our clients who are looking forward to an adventure filled sporty Christmas this year!

Its winter sports time!

Many of our clients are enjoying Snowboard and Skiing this winter, both abroad and in the UK! What’s your favorite winter sport?

Does Your Travel Insurance Cover You For Sports Related Injuries?

When travelling abroad for recreational sports activities, many people believe that their travel insurance will cover them for any injuries sustained abroad. Unfortunately more often than not this isn't necessarily the case and specific sports travel insurance is required. So if you are planning a trip abroad with a focus on recreational sports we highly recommend that you check your travel insurance policy to ensure it will cover all of your needs should the worst happen! If your travel insurance plan does not cover you for sports related injuries, ie if you are unable to work due to an accident, please feel free to contact us online at http://www.sportscoverdirect.com/ we will provide you with all of the help and advice you need regarding sports travel insurance, and if required we can offer you with a FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE!