Travel insurance for surfers

It’s a good idea to insure every kind of trip, but perhaps even more so for surfing holidays since you run a higher risk of injury.

You need to consider whether you can afford to pay for medical treatment if you suffer an injury overseas, far from your country of residence, where medical bills could be much more expensive. Or if you can afford the cost of replacing your prized surfboard if it’s stolen from your hotel room.

Getting travel insurance for surfers could help provide you with financial protection when the unexpected happens.

Depending on your level of travel insurance, you can be covered for things like:

• Overseas emergency medical expenses if you get injured on your trip and need medical care.
• Medical evacuations and transfers for when the remote island you’re surfing near doesn’t have medical facilities or if a medical emergency requires you to need evacuation or repatriation to Australia.
• Trip cancellations if, for example, you fall ill or get injured before you leave for your trip or a family emergency prevents you from going.
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage and belongings (often including surfboards, but some providers may require you to specify your board as an item for cover or add an optional extra for sports equipment).
• Dental expenses if, for instance, you wipeout and get hit in the mouth by your board.
• Accidental death, loss of income and disability resulting from an injury or illness.
• Personal liability if you cause injury or death to another person or damage their belongings.

If you’re a backpacker travelling with your surfboard, you might be on a budget. In this case, a basic medical-only policy can cover you against medical mishaps, both on land and at sea, up to the limits of your policy.

Remember to check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to learn the specific inclusions and exclusions of a policy, and read the Target Market Determination (TMD) to learn if the policy is suitable to your circumstances.

Knowing what’s excluded in your policy is just as important as knowing what you’re covered for. Some general exclusions you may find in your travel insurance policy for surfers can include:

• If you were surfing professionally or as part of a competition
• If you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol when a loss occurred
• Theft if you left your luggage, cash or valuables unattended in a public place
• Pre-existing medical conditions that you did not declare to your insurer and your insurer did not agree to cover
• If your claim is the result of you breaking the law or acting recklessly
• Pandemic or epidemic related losses (however, some insurers offer limited cover for specific types of financial loss related to COVID-19 with their comprehensive policy)
• Travelling to a country with an active ‘Do Not Travel’ warning from Smartraveller
• Failing to follow instructions or advice (e.g. disobeying your doctor’s orders not to travel or not adhering to your surfing instructor’s directions).

You also won’t be covered for any incidents that happened before you took out cover.

Exclusions, restrictions and limits can vary between policies and providers, so always read the PDS before taking out cover.

The first thing you should do after an incident is call emergency services or similar relevant authorities, or your provider’s emergency assistance team (if available).

You can typically submit your claim and supporting documentation through your provider’s website, via email, through the post or by phone. Check whether your provider has a time limit on the claim period (e.g. no later than 30 days after your return to Australia).

Learn more about how to make a travel insurance claim here.

Surfboards are often covered for theft and damage with travel insurance for surfers. Some providers may require you to specify your board as an item for cover or add an optional extra for sports equipment.

Furthermore, surfboards can usually be specified as a ‘high-value item’ (if your policy offers this option). You can sometimes get optional extras that provide additional cover for your board (e.g. cover to a higher limit than the standard policy).

There may be some limitations, such as providers not covering damages to your board while it was in use or general wear and tear. Be sure to check your PDS to find out.

Generally, any damage or loss you cause to your rented surfboard won’t be covered by your travel insurance policy for surfers. However, any injuries you sustain while riding a rented surfboard may still be covered.

A basic or comprehensive travel insurance policy may cover a number of water activities as standard, including surfing, snorkelling and water polo. Riskier activities such as jet skiing, wakeboarding and tubing may require you to purchase an adventure sports add-on to be covered.

Covered sports and activities vary between providers and policies. Read the PDS of a policy before purchasing to ensure you’re covered for the activities in your itinerary.

Looking for inspiration for your next surf trip? Some of the best surf spots include:

• Peʻahi, Hawaii, USA
• Gold Coast, Australia
• Tamarindo, Costa Rica
• Bali, Indonesia
• Raglan, New Zealand
• Mamanuca Islands, Fiji