Created in 2002 out of a one-car garage, Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery is North America’s first ski rental delivery service, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Black Tie operates 18 locations, serving 46 of the continent’s best resorts. Black Tie’s proven formula — premium, hand-selected equipment delivered to your doorstep and custom fit when it’s most convenient for you — allows for a hassle-free, seamless and safe equipment rental experience.
For Black Tie, the travel bounce back post-COVID led to an expansion into summer rental options at select locations.
Black Tie Adventure Rentals debuts this summer in Mammoth, Sun Valley, Telluride and Vail, with the possibility of additional locations coming on-board before the snow melts.
“Post-pandemic, we’re seeing visitors extend their stays, and demand for summer mountain vacations is expanding into the spring and fall,” said Black Tie co-founder Ian Prichard. “Those visitors are renting bikes and SUPs and 4x4s like they do ski and snowboard equipment, for days or weeks at a time, rather than a day here and there.”
The popularity of e-bikes has also contributed to demand for summer rental delivery options. “The evolution of e-bikes has opened up the opportunity, and the need, for a delivery option and longer rental timeframes,” Prichard said. “Guests love the convenience and ease of e-bikes, but the logistics – including pick-up and drop-off, as well as the nature of mountain resort topography – present challenges. Our rental delivery model addresses those issues.”
Black Tie Adventure Rentals gear options are custom to each location, which is a Black Tie feature. Winter rentals have always been hand-picked by individual location owners to best fit local terrain, conditions and preferences. Fair weather rental options will follow suit, ranging from mountain bikes and e-bikes, to SUPs, to motorcycles and dirt bikes, to Jeep 4x4s, to sunshades, coolers and festival chairs, depending upon location.
Here’s a peek at current options by participating Black Tie location:
Mammoth
· RAD Power Bikes (five models)
· ROC SUPs (incl. paddle, removable fin, safety leash, hand pump, waterproof bag)
· Kayak seat for SUP conversion to kayak
· Motorcycles (Yamaha, Royal Enfield, Kawasaki)
· Dirt Bikes (Yamaha)
· Toyota 4Runner
Sun Valley
· RAD Power Bikes
· Hybrid Jeep Rubicon 4×4
Telluride
· Marin mountain bikes
· Norco mountain bikes
· Yeti mountain bikes
· Giant mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes
· RAD Power Bikes
· SOL SUP (incl. PFD, paddle, safety leash and helmet)
· Jeep Rubicon 4×4
· Jeep Wrangler AEV
· Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
· Sunshades (large and small); camp coolers; festival chairs
Vail
· Rad Power Bikes
Some current Black Tie locations previously offered summer rentals through separate operations, including Mountain Adventure Equipment in Telluride and Play Big Outdoors in Mammoth. The consolidation under the Black Tie name provides recognition and the assurance of exceptional service and quality gear. “We’ve operated a summer rental program in Telluride for the past four years called Mountain Adventure Equipment. This summer, we’re looking forward to creating consistency with our winter business and benefitting from the Black Tie brand name,” said Black Tie Telluride co-owner Greg Carberry. “
Prichard acknowledges its finally time based upon the success of summer operations in Telluride – led by Carberry and Sam McNichols, and Mammoth – led by Colin Fernie and Jeremy Goico. “I’m grateful to our owners who have been willing to share their expertise in the summer rental space,” added Prichard. “Their success is the impetus for our expansion. From day-one we’ve been asked by customers about summer bike rentals because of the level of service we provide. Now is the time, and we don’t know of any other delivery service offering summer rentals of this caliber or with this level of customer care.”
Prichard is looking forward to a busy summer and anticipates more Black Tie owners will add summer operations at their locations. “We believe this will be a game-changer for our owners, as it allows them to retain staff and operate a year-round business. It’s always nice to have the lights on all year, not only for our guests, but for our communities, partners, owners and employees.”
Black Tie plans to implement its user-friendly online reservations system for all summer rentals, which will go live in early May. Black Tie Adventure Rentals locations will operate for the summer beginning in May and wrapping up in the fall, when rental options will shift back to ski and snowboard gear.
Visit www.blacktieskis.com/summer to learn more.
