The Christy Sports Rental Network launched last week by offering ski rental services through more than 50 ski and snow board shops coast to coast, including more than a dozen affiliate shops in nine states.
The network is already serving Colorado, Utah, California, Washington, Idaho, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Maine and adding affiliate shops on a daily basis. Based in Lakewood, CO, privately-held Christy Sports operates more than 40 ski and snowboard shops at locations throughout Colorado and Utah as well as the rental delivery service Door 2 Door (D2D).
“By establishing this rental network, our customers will be able to have access to quality ski rental packages practically anywhere they want to ski or snowboard, using one booking source,” said Gordon Wade, director of Internet commerce at Christy Sports. “We have handpicked ski and snowboard shops from California to Maine.”
The venture allows independent ski shops to expand their ski rental business, which has been thriving since airlines began charging skiers higher baggage fees to carry their gear on planes.
In late September, Vail Resorts Inc.’s Rentskis.com unit began offering door-to-door deliveries at Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Telluride, and Winter Park, Colorado as well as in Park City, Utah. The Mark Travel Corporation, Ski.com, Travelocity, and Expedia all use rentskis.com as their preferred equipment provider.
“We did a massive expansion this year and we have all the bases covered,” said Tapio Niskanen, national sales manager for Rentskis.com.
