As ski racers get faster and more daring, athletes, clubs and event organizers take solace in knowing they have protection – not only in the form of body armor, but also with a reliable insurance program.

Of the long list of athletic pursuits covered at SportsInsurance.com, skiing – even its most dangerous varieties – has a safe and protected place.

“About 20 years ago, my brother and I followed our passion for all things sports to explore two big ideas – 1), a fully automated, end-to-end, online insurance platform and 2), a way to fill a gap in the industry for sports insurance products,” says Mark Di Perno, President of SportsInsurance.com. “The result is a fully integrated online insurance solution exclusively targeting sports. Ultimately, it means less time spent on paperwork by our clients and more time for sports, in our case, skiing.”

Both experienced general insurance brokers, the Di Perno brothers grew up skiing Whiteface Mountain in New York, where they became familiar with the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF), an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to young athletes through snow sports and which would grow to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of ski racing across the Adirondacks and beyond. It is also what inspired the Alpine Ski School Program (ASSP).

“As I was growing up, so was the New York Ski Educational Foundation. From a little shack at the base of the mountain to the major operation it is today at multiple resorts and Olympic venues. They were and still are our first member in this insurance program,” Di Perno says. “It was the blue print we used for the ASSP, which we developed around 15 years ago and has been growing every year since. This program was custom-built for ski clubs, teams and schools, addressing the specific needs and general liability requirements of resorts and venues. If we can keep ski club members on the hill by having the proper coverage, then I think we are helping every ski racer.”

While many such broad reaching ski club/team insurance policies come with liability deductibles that reach up to $100,000, the ASSP program through SportsInsurance.com comes with zero deductible on general liability claims. There are also no penalties or late fees, no national governing body memberships required, no roster reporting or club member verification. Coverage includes equipment and facilities with a facilities maximum of $3 million.

SportsInsurance.com also extends similar customized programs to major events and competitions.

“Somewhere around 2008 or 2009 I received a call from the VP of Operations of a large foundation that produces World Cup ski races in Colorado. They needed coverage for their upcoming event and were not able to get that coverage from their insurance broker. We were able to provide the exact coverage contracts. The resort as well as the national and international governing bodies were satisfied. We took care of that account for 12 years,” Di Perno says. “Another great client we have and have worked with for 20 years developed the Extreme Skiing Championships, referred to today as Big Mountain, as well as the skier cross discipline. We were with them every step of the way right down to being on site to help with risk management.”

The company also has the ability to seamlessly add and change coverage as events and organizations evolve to ensure that all disciplines and facets of the competition are covered.

“Certain other programs will not allow Big Mountain training in their programs, but we understand what is involved from our previous events,” Di Perno says. “When Mark Gadomsky from the Aspen Valley Ski Club called and said, can we do that? the answer was yes. We added Big Mountain to their policy. Now we’re waiting for the next development in skiing so we can add that to the program also. We really have a lot of experience in the ski industry and understand the risks involved and the coverages needed.”

The simplicity of setting up a coverage program through SportsInsurance.com often means that clubs and teams receive paperwork and certification instantly. This means that athletes, team managers and event organizers are not the only ones who seek coverage here. Even outside insurance brokers gravitate to SportsInsurance.com to land the particular coverage needed for a client’s unique event.

“When other insurance brokers need a specialized sports program or coverage for an event, team or league, they come to us. We have multiple markets and the ability to write most files in-house, so not a lot of waiting. With our system, if a file fits in our program without any special needs, the process is instant,” Di Perno says. “We provide the opportunity to buy your policy directly online and receive your paperwork instantly, including your insurance certificates. In the case of an issue, there is always someone available to help via phone or email. We won’t leave you hanging.”

Lastly, while most insurance rates are famous for fluctuating dramatically, the ASSP programs have remained reliably fixed over the last decade.

“Our rates have been steady for the last 10 years and we renew 96 percent of our clients every year,” Di Perno says. “I am very proud of that. It shows we are doing a good job and our clients are happy.”