Half Of Skiers 'Avoiding Lessons'

A study which has found that over half of all skiers are hitting the slopes without proper training has warned that ill-prepared people are risking their safety, as well as leaving themselves open to liability claims.

Research by InsureandGo showed that 24% of skiers avoided taking lessons because they thought it cost too much, while 12% said they could learn it themselves and a further 12% did not consider training essential.

Of those polled, 8% dismissed the idea of tuition saying they "couldn't be bothered", while 2% had a low opinion of ski instructors. Also, 28% believed they did not need lessons because their skills were advanced enough.

Perry Wilson, founder of InsureandGo, said: "These are really concerning figures which suggest that there could be a huge number of injuries and accidents on the slopes this year as untrained skiers come unstuck.

"Apathy and arrogance are not good reasons to avoid taking lessons. If you're paying for a winter sports holiday, you really must ensure you've invested in proper training too.

"Untrained skiers also need to be aware they could be leaving themselves open to liability claims if they cause an accident or injure someone on the slopes"