Adventure Sports Insurance: What Does The EHIC Actually Cover?

Paul McWilliams    ash     Adventure Sports Insurance, Direct Line, ETHIC, European Health Insurance Card, Money Saving Voucher Codes, Travel Insurance

Get hurt in the UK and you might be covered by some form of adventure sports insurance, but what about if you’re going abroad? Well, if you’re an EU citizen then you’re also entitled to a European Health Insurance Card.

Going abroad? Get EHIC and adventure sports insurance. Image: Flickr/ Skistar Trysil

The EHIC was formerly known as an E111 until 2006 when the name was changed to come in line with wider European coverage. You can get an EHIC card for free by applying online here.

We’ve all had to wait six to eight frustrating weeks for a fairly routine appointment or sit for hours in A&E – especially if you like to indulge in sports toward the extreme end of the spectrum. But what happens when you are abroad?

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Kayaking Challenges: Paddling 1300km in handmade kayaks

Mark Pawlak    ash, New Adventure Travel Ideas     Adventure, canoeing, expeditions, handmade boats, Handmade kayaks, Help For Heroes, Kayak, Kayaking, kayaking holidays, kayaking in Gibraltar, Royal British Legion

Ever fancied taking on kayaking challenges way beyond what you’ve done before? Think you can paddle for days on end and live out of your boat? Great, now try it in handmade kayaks you’ve built yourself…

Lee and Rich in winter training

That’s exactly what ‘The Greenland Cowboys’, a two-man team of Richie Bracey and Lee Taylor are about to do. The intrepid pair will kayak 750 nautical miles (1300km) from Gibraltar to France along Spain’s Mediterranean coast in April.

After building their kayaks in UK, they’ll transport them to Gibraltar ahead of a marathon expedition Paddle de los Torros to help raise money for Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion.

Good effort! Here’s more…

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Child-Free Sports: Time to reclaim the wave?

Mark Pawlak    ash     Adventure Sports, adventure sports holidays, Brooke Raboutou, cheap flights, Child-Free Sports, Child-Free Zones, Family on Bikes, Flight Hub

The announcement that budget airline Air Asia X has introduced child-free zones is no surprise. Hotels have done it and some restaurants do it, but should we want to separate the kids from the adults in adventure sports destinations?

Taking your wave? Image: Flickr/ The Wandering Angel

After all, they just get in the way, right? Nothing worse than having to watch for the brat pack as it potters around your favourite spot, slows your progress and generally irritates.

But could you ever really separate children from adults in adventure sports? And would you want to in the first place?

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New Zealand: Spiritual Home of Adventure Sports

Mark Pawlak    ash     Adventure Sports, Auckland, bungy jumping, Flying Fox, great range of outdoor clothing, Jet Boating, New Zealand, Outdoor Clothing, Pūkaki, River Bugging, Te Anau, Tekapo, Wakatipu, Zalando, Zorbing

It’s on all of our must-visit lists and everyone I’ve met returned with rave reviews about New Zealand. But what makes it such a great place for adventure sports? And what is it that has lead Kiwis to pioneer so many new activities?

Jet boating in New Zealand! Image: Flickr/ Percita

First up, let’s get physical: New Zealand is two main landmasses, North and South Island – the visible parts of a submerged continent separated millions of years ago from the supercontinent of Godwana (great name!).

The country’s explosive beginnings have a lot to do with the sports that get pioneered. And Kiwis just embraced the array of natural challenges on their doorstep.

And got creative with them!

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5 Things Cyclists Never Do

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts, Cycling     Bike lights, cycling, Cycling Holidays, cycling safety, Cycling Tips, Safety tips for cycling

To say that there’s a tension on the road between cyclists and other road users is an understatement – at times it feels like Mad Max out there! For us cyclists the roads can be an intimidating place. It often feels as if it’s only a matter of time before someone drives too close, cuts us up, squeezes us in or vents some violence in our direction.

But to be fair, an equal amount of the blame lies on the cyclist. There will be plenty of whinges about this post, but as a cyclist trained to teach others to ride in the city, I can assure you cyclists need to wise up!

Here’s 5 things cyclists never do:

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Kevlar Swiss Socks that Rock!

Mark Pawlak    ash, Travel Gear     Adventure gear, adventure travel gear, Kevlar Swiss Socks, kitesurfing gear, Swiss Barefoot Sock, Swiss Protection Sock, travel gear

After years spent and millions invested, we thought we’d designed running shoes for every situation, sport and pronation. Then all of a sudden someone came up with barefoot running…

Climbing in Swiss Barefoot Socks.

Selling running shoes to help barefoot running? Makes no sense. Yet there’s a lot of support for the claim that we’re better running off the front of our feet, rather than striking hard on the heel each time – and barefoot shoes just aid this.

Now whether you go for it or not, there’s definitely a role in the adventure sports for this new barefoot influenced product, the Swiss Barefoot Sock.

Barefoot Sock? Just sounds ridiculous, but it’s not… and we’ve pairs you can win!

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Adventure Race Events: Trying the Toughest Challenges on Earth

Mark Pawlak    ash     Adventure 5 Races, Adventure Race Events, Adventure Racing World Series, France, Siberian Black Ice Race, Spa and beauty treatments, Spa and hotel breaks in the UK, the Hautes-Alpes, The Spartan Death Race

The word ‘extreme’ is bounded around a lot. But when it comes to adventure race events it’s appropriate. That said, adventure racing is by it’s nature extreme’ so there’s no need to put the two together – adventure race events will always be ‘extreme’!

Adventure racing on ice. Image: Flickr/ ilovegreenland

Events last days, include marathon distances in a number of disciplines, and commonly pit their masochistic competitors against the toughest natural obstacles and personal boundaries.

It’s a nutters only sport, but one that appeals to all adventure sports lovers in some way. And with so many to choose from, it is possible to find one you could try without risking life and limb. But beware: Around the world there are some fearful challenges to try, so don’t dare sign up without being prepared. Really prepared.

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