by Joanna Hartman
Remember when renting skis meant waking up hours before the birds, standing in long lines to be uncomfortably fitted with a pair of beat-up boots and straight-edged skis before waiting in yet another line to purchase your lift ticket? Fortunately, those days are over.
In the new and improved world of ski and snowboard rental equipment, it’s all about preorders, streamlined fits, door-to-door deliveries, top-of-theline gear and stellar customer service.
At-Home Service
Black Tie Ski Rentals, with 11 locations across North America including one on each side of The Lake, is leading the way in home rental delivery. The first step is to make an online or phone reservation. Next, trained staff personally tailor the latest high-end equipment to individual requirements based on age, height, weight, ability and current snow conditions. Then, ski valets deliver the goods right to your doorstep.
“We bring everything and fit the boots right there in the comfort of their accommodation,” said Kat DeBacker, owner of the South Lake Tahoe branch.
But if the shoe doesn’t fit, Black Tie doesn’t make you wear it—the technicians keep a full back-stock of every style in every size. And if you’re short on hand warmers or forgot your favorite polarized goggles, the delivery vans are stocked with those, too.