The cost a skier may face for a mountain rescue can reach €8,000

According to security forces, most accidents occur due to a lack of physical preparation and planning.

InterMundial, an insurance broker specializing in travel and sports insurance, has produced the Mountain Rescue Report. This study compares the costs associated with mountain rescues related to snow sports in Spain and other countries, while also identifying the most common accidents requiring rescue, average response times, and the operational protocols in Spain. The report also profiles the typical skier who purchases ski insurance in Spain, a country that has seen a significant increase in awareness among athletes and snow sports enthusiasts regarding the importance of such coverage in recent years.

According to the report, while a rescue carried out by ski patrol in Spain can range from €200 to €300, the figure rises to between €400 and €500 in countries like Switzerland or France. If a helicopter is required for transport to a medical center, costs can climb to €5,000 for on-piste incidents, or up to €8,000 if the rescue takes place outside the ski resort boundaries.

In Spain, mountain rescues are the responsibility of each autonomous community. In most cases, this duty is handled by the Civil Guard Mountain Rescue Service, though it may also be performed by fire departments or other bodies, such as the Ertzaintza in the Basque Country; in Castilla y León, for example, the service has been privatized. Because they are managed by public authorities, costs and response times in Spain are much more controlled. Conversely, in countries like Switzerland or France, failure to pay at the time of rescue can lead to the confiscation of passports or equipment. In countries like the U.S. or Nepal, where a helicopter rescue can cost as much as €10,000, the terms of the rescue depend on the negotiating power of the insurer—or the skier, if they are uninsured.

In Spain, ski insurance is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. "The costs of a rescue are far too high for an individual athlete to cover, especially when traveling abroad," says Carlos Uceda, Product Analyst at InterMundial. "While this isn't the only reason to have good ski insurance, it is certainly one of the most significant. That is why it is essential to carefully review the coverage included in your policy and ensure it is appropriate for the specific sport you are practicing and the destination you are visiting."

The Mountain Rescue Report was compiled using mountain assistance data from InterMundial's Claims Department for 2014 and 2015, as well as current legislation and testimony from the Civil Guard Mountain Rescue Service, the Madrid Special Height Rescue Group (GERA), and the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation.

According to data from InterMundial's Sales and Marketing departments, the average profile of a Spanish skier who purchases ski insurance before heading to the slopes is a man between the ages of 38 and 56. In terms of geographic origin, the provinces with the highest sales volume are: A Coruña, Álava, Alicante, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Burgos, Girona, Gipuzkoa, Huesca, Las Palmas, León, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, Valencia, Valladolid, Biscay, and Zaragoza.