Based on the assessment of the risk potential, Suva ranks downhill racing on the same level as base jumping or hydro speed. This classification can have serious consequences for gravity bikers in the event of an accident: Because according to the Accident Insurance Act (Art. 39 UVG and Art. 50 UVV), cash benefits are reduced by half in the case of non-occupational accidents that can be traced back to a risk and are refused in particularly serious cases. Risks are acts by which the insured person exposes himself to a particularly great danger without taking precautions to limit the risk to a reasonable level. A distinction is made between absolute and relative risks; Suva lists downhill races as an absolute risk, with the exact wording: "Downhill races with mountain bikes including training on the race track (so-called downhill biking)".

Downhill as an absolute risk

Angela Zobrist, media spokesperson for Suva, clarifies and explains the exact conditions that can lead to a reduction in benefits in downhill races: "Only races and training on the race track are considered an absolute risk in downhill biking. We want to make it clear that not every training session on a race track leads to a reduction in performance. Rather, only training on a downhill race track with a view to an upcoming race, because it can then be assumed that the limits will be tested and similar risks will be taken as in a race. The race itself is therefore naturally also considered an absolute risk."

Specific insurance cover for downhill professionals

Specific precautions are therefore taken for the insurance cover of downhill professionals: "With the license, every athlete receives subsidiary accident insurance that covers the costs that normal insurance may not cover. Regardless of whether it's a race, training or shopping trip. This insurance covers accidents that happen on the bike," reports Claudio Caluori, team manager of the Scott-11 downhill team.

Suva emphasizes that it makes no distinction between amateur and professional downhillers. The only decisive factor is that the risk of injury in downhill biking is significantly higher than in normal biking. Suva also makes it clear that reductions only affect cash benefits. Pension payments are one of the most important examples of cash benefits. Medical costs are not affected by reductions. Zobrist again specifies: "Accidents in which benefits are reduced are extremely rare in downhill biking. In the case of an absolute risk, the question of a reduction is not based on the specific individual case. On the other hand, relative risks are also conceivable in mountain biking due to the potential danger if the usual sporting rules or precautions are seriously disregarded. In these cases, the question of reduction would be examined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific circumstances."

Biking as a relative risk

What do these Suva conditions mean for normal bikers who don't ride downhill trails? According to Suva, "normal" mountain biking is a fully covered sport. However, if biking is associated with great risks in the individual case, for example when practicing the sport at high speed, on very difficult trails, in very unfavorable weather conditions, with inadequate equipment or little experience, biking can be classified as a relative risk, whereby a reduction in cash benefits of 50 percent is to be expected. A complete refusal of cash benefits is even conceivable in particularly serious cases. For example, if a heavily intoxicated biker has an accident while riding in the dark on very difficult trails despite warnings from experienced bike guides. However, according to several insurance companies, there have been no such cases to date.

One way for hobby downhillers and "normal bikers" to obtain cover for risky sports is, for example, to include so-called UVG differential cover as supplementary insurance through the employer or to take out private accident insurance. Swiss insurance companies also recommend that sports enthusiasts take out personal liability insurance to cover third-party damage. In some cases, gross negligence can also be excluded for an additional premium.
With this in mind, bikers are well advised to clarify their insurance cover in detail when the opportunity arises.Dangerous sports: Risk list on the Suva website