 Poster: A snowHead
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Is Carre Neige advisable to purchase for a 4 year old in toddler/pre-school ski classes if they are only using nursery slopes in Club Piou Piou or aiming for Ourson level?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Provided you have travel insurance which covers skiing I wouldn't think it's necessary.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Mo24, I think you can only buy Carre Neige with a lift pass. In Club Piou Piou will they even have one? .
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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ESF and tourist office website 'friendlyMenuires' says lift pass is free for under 5's but I've emailed the lift pass office to ask which lifts it covers - I think only the basic ones offered in the Easy Rider pass.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks Origen - that's what I thought. Last year in La Plagne I don't think I bought it for him as he was in Club Piou Piou and we just took him on gondolas to go higher up a few times. God forbid he'd need Carre Neige in the event of a lift or avalanche / freak accident occurrence.
Actually if we were all caught in some awful freak accident involving search and rescue would only those of us with Carre Neige be covered but not our 4 year old (if he didn't have it) who would also be with us? Even though we are his parents? Although we do all have UK insurance that includes skiiing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Actually if we were all caught in some awful freak accident involving search and rescue would only those of us with Carre Neige be covered but not our 4 year old (if he didn't have it) who would also be with us? Even though we are his parents? Although we do all have UK insurance that includes skiiing.
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Of course not. They will rescue first and ask questions later at which point your UK insurance will pay.
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And you don't HAVE to buy it with a pass - you can buy it if you've already got your pass, though then you need the separate receipt as it won't be shown on the pass. Though whether you can buy separately for a 4 year old, I don't know.
Either way, really no need to worry about it - the rescue services are brilliant!! Though if your 4 year old is going way off piste on his own, carré neige might be worthwhile.
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Yes johnE - when I said would the 4 yr old be covered, I meant I know he'll be rescued but assume that we'd have to pay for him, then claim it from our UK insurance later on. Whereas with Carre Neige I've heard that the rescue team ask for proof of Carre Neige when they first meet you - unless you're unconscious of course. Then you're covered for any helicopter/transport etc straight away with no claim required.
In fact I will check if our insurer actually does cover for the helicopter/search and rescue. If it doesn't then I might need to get Carre Neige for the 4 yr old too.
Last year I was able to add Carre Neige daily for my 6 year old, as required. So he didn't have it in Club Piou Piou the first three days, then I bought it for him when he went on the blue runs with me the last 3 days.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Origen -  ! He'll be better than me before long!
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assume that we'd have to pay for him, then claim it from our UK insurance later on.
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No, stories that you have to flash your card before being evacuated down the mountain are just scare-mongering.
The pisteurs decide whether to call in helicopter to evacuate a badly injured person.
Many UK travel insurers will NOT cover off piste without a local guide - and that's when the Carré Neige provides useful additional cover. For a 4 year old on piste, a family travel insurance should be fine and their maximum sums covered for medical treatment are likely to be a lot higher than those you get with Carré Neige. You should obviously have GHIC cards too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I have never heard of anyone getting Carre Neige for a 4 year old before, assuming you have ordinary family ski travel insurance and a GHIC for every member. I literally cannot imagine how a young family would need helicopter SAR and if they call in a medevac then you're into your normal travel insurance if it's even charged given the role of PGHM. I see far fewer heli rescues in France than in Austria where it almost seems to be standard practice for any lower limb injury.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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In Grand Massif, the cashiers tend to ask sheepishly if I want to add "insurance" when I get a "free" ski pass for our 6 yo. I always say No, but it's because I dislike insurances. My understanding is that the ESF's insurance is covering pupils during lessons, and she is knackered to go with us in the afternoon...
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I dislike insurances
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It certainly doesn't usually make financial sense to insure against risks you can afford to run. But sometimes there are good reasons of convenience.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks All - for your helpful thoughts and advice. I didn't get the Carre Neige for my four year old in the end. However I was grateful you mentioned the GHIC cards which I didn't have - thanks to @Origen, @Dave of the Marmottes, for mentioning this - or I wouldn't have thought of them! I managed to apply for them online before we went skiing and the cards arrived in the post whilst we were away but we were still covered as we'd got an acceptance email from nhsbsa before we went. 
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