The snow has arrived: It's time to start skiing!

Good levels of snowfall across Europe and North America are promising to get this year's ski season off to a fantastic start.

The Whistler Ski Resort on Canada's west coast will open this weekend, 13 days ahead of schedule and heavy snowfall in October has also prompted European ski resorts to open early.

Cervinia in Italy opened for weekend skiing at the end of October, Obergurgl in Austria opened on Wednesday and even the Scotland's Caingorm Mountain opened last weekend.

With all the major ski resorts due to open over the next few weeks it look looks like a cracking start to the ski season.

Ski Insurance: Make sure you're covered

If the reports of early snowfall are tempting you to head off the mountains for fun in the snow remember to buy ski insurance first.

Appropriate travel insurance with cover for winter sports is vital if you are going on a ski or snowboard holiday. Most importantly it provides cover for emergency medical treatment if you are injured on the slopes, including recovery from the piste.

If you don't have any travel insurance at all, or only buy standard travel insurance you could find yourself facing large bills if you have an accident on the ski slopes; particularly if you need to be airlifted by helicopter from the piste.

It is important to remember that although ski insurance also provides cover for your ski equipment, lift pass and lessons, the most important reason to buy it is to protect you against the cost of medical treatment if you have an accident on the slopes.

Research published by ABTA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office suggests that as many as a third of skiers don't have the right travel insurance with cover for winter sports when they head for the slopes. Make sure you're not one of them.

Find out more about ski insurance >>

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