Kite Surfing Insurance

How does our kite surfing insurance work?

Getting covered with Rise & Shield is easy. Follow these simple steps to secure your trip:

Kite surfing insurance FAQs

What is kite surfing travel insurance?

Kite surfing travel insurance is travel insurance that includes eligible kite surfing alongside benefits such as emergency medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, cancellation, travel disruption and emergency assistance.

With Rise & Shield, kite surfing requires Adventure Plus.

Does travel insurance cover kite surfing?

It can. Rise & Shield specifically lists kite boarding, kite surfing on land or water and land surfing under Adventure Plus.

The appropriate add-on must be selected and the normal policy and activity conditions must still be met.

Is “kitesurfing” the same as “kite surfing” for insurance purposes?

For this page, yes. “Kitesurfing” is the common alternative spelling for the activity Rise & Shield lists as Kite surfing.

The important distinction is between kite surfing and similar but separately classified activities such as kite foiling, kite wing and snow kiting.

Do I need Adventure Plus for kite surfing?

Yes. Kite surfing requires Adventure Plus under the current activity classification.

Make sure you have paid the appropriate premium and that the required activity cover is included in your policy documents before taking part.

Is kite boarding covered?

Yes. Kite boarding is listed with kite surfing and land surfing and requires Adventure Plus.

Is land surfing covered?

Yes. Land surfing is included within the same current activity entry as kite boarding and kite surfing and requires Adventure Plus.

Is kite buggy covered?

Yes. Kite buggy is currently an Adventure Plus activity.

Can I kite surf on a lake or inland water?

Potentially, yes. The current kite surfing entry says “on land or water” and does not itself restrict the activity to coastal waters.

You must still comply with local laws, regulations and safety requirements, and unusual or specialist itineraries should be checked before travelling.

Is there a 12-nautical-mile coastal limit for kite surfing?

The current kite surfing activity entry does not state the 12-nautical-mile coastal restriction that appears against some other watersports.

That should not be treated as blanket cover for unusual offshore expeditions, however. Check any specialist or open-ocean itinerary before relying on cover.

Do I need an instructor or guide for kite surfing?

A professional instructor or guide is not listed as a specific special condition of the kite surfing activity entry.

The general Activities conditions still require you to follow local laws and safety rules and, where appropriate, use a professional, qualified and licensed guide, instructor or operator.

Do I need a kite surfing licence or certification?

The current kite surfing entry does not carry the specific certification or licence condition used for some other activities.

You must nevertheless comply with any local laws, regulations, operator rules or other requirements that apply where you are participating.

Can beginners get kite surfing travel insurance?

Potentially, yes. The kite surfing activity entry does not specify a minimum experience level.

Adventure Plus is still required, and beginners should follow all applicable safety requirements and use qualified instruction where appropriate.

Are kite surfing lessons covered?

Potentially, yes. Taking part in an eligible recreational kite surfing lesson can fall within the kite surfing activity when Adventure Plus is included and the relevant policy conditions are met.

Any separate cancellation claim for the cost of the lesson is subject to the policy's Cancellation and Curtailment rules.

Is hydro foiling or kite foiling covered?

Yes. Hydro foiling and kite foiling are currently included at the standard activity level, rather than requiring Adventure Plus.

They carry professional guide/instructor/operator and safety-equipment conditions, and jumping is excluded.

Do I need an instructor or guide for kite foiling?

Yes. Hydro foiling and kite foiling carry condition (a), which requires you to be with a professional, qualified and licensed guide, instructor or operator.

Are jumps covered while kite foiling or hydro foiling?

No. Jumping is specifically excluded from the current hydro foiling / kite foiling activity entry.

Are jumps or “big air” covered while kite surfing?

The current kite surfing entry does not contain a specific jumping exclusion, unlike the separate foiling entry.

That does not mean every specialist freestyle or big-air activity is automatically covered. Competitions, professional or semi-professional participation and activities outside the listed classification remain excluded, so check specialist itineraries before relying on cover.

Is freestyle kite surfing covered?

Freestyle kite surfing is not separately classified in the current activity table.

For recreational participation, the kite surfing entry itself has no specific freestyle exclusion, but competitions and professional or semi-professional participation are excluded. Specialist freestyle or big-air trips should therefore be checked before travelling. This is a cautious interpretation of the current activity wording.

Are kite surfing competitions covered?

No. All activities are covered on an amateur basis only, and competitions and tournaments are excluded.

Can professional or semi-professional kite surfers use this cover?

Not for professional or semi-professional participation.

The Activities section specifically excludes participation in activities on a professional or semi-professional basis.

Is kite wing covered?

No. Kite wing on land, water or snow is currently listed among the activities not covered.

Do not assume kite wing follows the same classification as kite surfing or kite foiling.

Is snow kiting covered?

No. Snow kiting is currently listed as an activity not covered.

Is ordinary kite flying covered?

Yes. Recreational kite flying is currently included at the standard activity level.

Can one policy cover kite surfing and other adventure activities?

Potentially, yes. Kite surfing can be covered with Adventure Plus while other activities on the same trip may be standard, Adventure Plus, Adventure Extreme or require another optional cover.

Check each planned activity separately because similar-looking sports can have very different classifications and conditions.

Does kite surfing travel insurance cover emergency medical treatment?

Eligible emergency medical expenses following a sudden and unforeseen illness or injury may be covered, subject to your selected plan, policy limits, exclusions and excesses.

The kite surfing activity must also meet the applicable Adventure Plus and general Activities conditions.

What happens if I am injured while kite surfing abroad?

Seek appropriate emergency medical treatment and contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre promptly for a serious emergency.

The policy requires the Emergency Assistance Centre to be contacted for inpatient treatment, MRI or CT scans, medical evacuation or repatriation.

Will Rise & Shield pay the hospital directly?

In most cases involving hospitalisation, direct payments will be made locally.

Minor illnesses or accidents may need to be paid by you first and reclaimed afterwards, subject to the policy terms.

Is medical evacuation and repatriation covered?

Eligible medical evacuation and repatriation may be covered where the medical advisers consider it necessary.

The Emergency Assistance Centre must be contacted, and the method of repatriation is determined by the medical assistance provider in consultation with the attending doctor.

Is helicopter rescue covered after a kite surfing accident?

An eligible helicopter evacuation may be covered where it is medically necessary and approved through the Emergency Assistance Centre.

The exact evacuation arrangements depend on the medical circumstances, weather, aircraft availability and the assessment of the 24-hour assistance team.

Is there an excess for medical helicopter rescue?

Yes. The current separate medical helicopter-rescue excess is £1,000 / $1,250 / €1,200.

Is 24/7 emergency assistance included?

Yes. Emergency medical assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

For policies purchased after 13 March 2026, the Emergency Assistance Centre is provided by Compass Point Assist.

Does kite surfing travel insurance include cancellation and curtailment cover?

Eligible unrecoverable travel and accommodation costs may be covered where an insured event makes cancellation or curtailment necessary and unavoidable, subject to the selected plan and the applicable conditions and exclusions.

Can I cancel my kite surfing holiday because there is too little or too much wind?

Not simply because the wind or weather conditions are unsuitable for kite surfing.

Cancellation and Curtailment specifically excludes loss arising directly or indirectly from adverse weather conditions.

What if my kite surfing operator cancels my session?

There is no general cancellation benefit simply because an activity provider fails to supply a booked service.

The Cancellation section excludes failure by a provider to supply part of the booked trip and costs recoverable from another source, so you should first seek any available refund or remedy from the operator.

Is a cancelled one-day kite surfing lesson or excursion covered?

The Cancellation and Curtailment wording excludes the cost of one-day tours, excursions, rental vehicles or activities booked separately from your main trip arrangements.

That exclusion does not apply in the same way to qualifying multi-day activities that form a material part of the trip and were booked before departure.

Does kite surfing insurance cover travel delay or a missed departure?

Depending on your selected plan and circumstances, benefits may apply for outward delay, missed departure or connection and abandonment.

Those benefits have specific qualifying events, waiting periods, evidence requirements and limits.

What if a storm or hurricane affects my kite surfing destination?

Catastrophe Cover may apply if a qualifying event such as a storm, tempest, flood, hurricane, earthquake or fire forces you to move accommodation.

Eligible irrecoverable travel and accommodation costs may then be covered to continue the trip or, where necessary, return home.

Can I claim Catastrophe Cover simply because the weather is bad?

Not automatically. Catastrophe Cover requires a qualifying event to force you to move accommodation.

Bad wind, poor kite surfing conditions or deciding not to use accommodation that remains safe are not, by themselves, the trigger described by this benefit.

Is my kite, kiteboard or harness automatically covered?

There is no separate blanket kite-surfing-equipment benefit in the current policy wording.

Eligible owned belongings may fall within the general Personal Luggage section, subject to its definitions, single-item limits, depreciation, conditions and exclusions.

Is my kite surfing equipment covered if I damage it while riding?

No. The Personal Luggage section specifically excludes breakage of or damage to sports equipment while in use.

Is hired or rented kite surfing equipment covered?

The activity of kite surfing may still be eligible, but Personal Luggage specifically excludes items loaned, hired or entrusted to you.

You should therefore not rely on the policy to reimburse loss of or damage to rented kite surfing equipment.

What if an airline loses or damages my kite surfing equipment?

Potentially, where the item qualifies as eligible Personal Luggage and no exclusion applies.

Transit loss or damage must be reported to the carrier and a written report obtained. Single-item limits and other baggage conditions apply, and items carried as freight or under a bill of lading are excluded.

Can the High-Value Items add-on cover my GoPro or action camera?

Potentially, yes. The optional High-Value Items add-on is intended for eligible cameras, laptops, mobile phones and other personal electronics when the item is properly listed and the applicable conditions are met.

It is not described as a specialist kiteboard or kite-equipment extension.

Does Personal Accident or Public Liability cover apply while I am kite surfing?

No. The policy states that Personal Accident and Public Liability do not apply while participating in Adventure, Adventure Plus or Adventure Extreme activities.

Other applicable sections, such as emergency medical expenses, may still apply subject to their terms.

Does kite surfing travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?

Claims arising from conditions that meet the policy definition of a pre-existing medical condition are excluded.

Being medically fit to kite surf does not override the policy's medical exclusions.

Can I buy kite surfing travel insurance after my trip has already started?

Potentially, yes. Optional Already Departed cover is available to eligible travellers who have already left home, provided nothing happened before purchasing the policy that could lead to a claim.

It requires an additional premium and is not available with Annual Multi-Trip policies.

How does the 48-hour waiting period for Already Departed cover work?

Full Already Departed cover begins after a 48-hour waiting period.

During those first 48 hours, cover is limited to sudden accidental injuries that can be independently verified. Illnesses and other injuries occurring during the waiting period are excluded.

Can I buy Annual Multi-Trip insurance for several kite surfing holidays?

Potentially, yes, provided Adventure Plus is included and each activity and trip meets the applicable policy requirements.

Each Annual Multi-Trip journey can currently last up to 30 days with Travel Essentials and 45 days with Travel Classic or Travel Elite.

Can Rise & Shield cover a long kite surfing trip?

Potentially, within the policy duration limits.

The current wording limits a Single Trip to 30 days. Annual Multi-Trip journeys can last up to 30 days with Travel Essentials and up to 45 days with Travel Classic or Travel Elite.

What should I look for in the best kite surfing travel insurance?

Look beyond a policy simply saying that “watersports” are covered. Check whether kite surfing itself is specifically included, which activity add-on is required, emergency medical and evacuation cover, instructor or safety requirements, competition exclusions, equipment limitations, cancellation rules and trip-duration limits.

Also check separately for similar activities such as kite foiling, kite wing and snow kiting, because they are not classified in the same way.

When should I buy kite surfing travel insurance?

It is generally sensible to arrange your policy once your trip is booked so that any eligible pre-departure cancellation protection can begin.

If you buy after departure, the separate Already Departed conditions and 48-hour waiting period apply.

How do I check whether my exact kite or board sport is covered?

Use the current Rise & Shield Activity Checker to search for each activity you plan to undertake.

Kite surfing, kite boarding, kite foiling, kite wing, snow kiting and other similar-looking activities can have completely different classifications, conditions or exclusions, so your quote and issued policy documents remain the final basis of cover.