Door-to-door ski delivery service offers ‘extra level’ of convenience

Though the name conveys sophistication and refinery, Blacktie Skis are for everyone.

John Kiraly and Zack Churchill launched the rental service to provide a competitive and convenient way for skiers to rent gear in Whitefish.

“The whole thing is skipping the lines,” Kiraly said. “It takes that stress out.”

The new Whitefish business works when skiers place a rental order 48 hours before they plan to hit the slopes. Patrons indicate when and where they’d like their skis to be delivered. Kiraly and Churchill drive all of the gear directly to the customer, whether the destination is the Whitefish Mountain Resort Base Lodge, a local hotel, or the front door of an Airbnb.

At the end of the ski trip, customers can simply leave their rentals at their place of lodging and the Blacktie Skis crew will pick it up. To Kiraly, Blacktie Skis is all about the “convenience factor.”

“It’s an extra level of service,” he said.

Door-to-door ski delivery is a new degree of simplicity in Whitefish, but the idea behind Blacktie Skis has been honed for years in other areas.

The Blacktie Skis brand started in 2002, and it has grown to include 18 locations nationwide. All of the rental outposts are independently owned and operated, not franchised. The proven track record of success is what drew Kiraly and Churchill to the Blacktie model.

Whitefish and Boone, North Carolina, are Blacktie’s two newest locations debuting this year.

“Whitefish was ready for a service like this,” Kiraly said.

“It’s definitely a niche ready to be filled here in town,” Churchill agreed.

The convenience of delivery is the highlight of the Blacktie Skis experience, but Kiraly and Churchill are also proud of the product quality they offer.

They currently carry 110 pairs of adult skis, mostly in the demo category instead of the lower-tier performance category.

Their brand menu includes Salomon, Nordica and Black Crows. As the business gets underway, they plan to update their inventory regularly, so no rental will ever be more than two or three years old.

They also carry approximately 40 pairs of children’s skis and 30 snowboards, along with Pret helmets, poles and premium boots. One unique offering at Blacktie Skis are heated boots.

Kiraly said Blacktie Skis is a rental service with products that don’t feel like they’re rentals. “We have the nicest gear possible,” he added.

Kiraly and Churchill know nice gear when they see it, since each of them has worked in the ski industry for years. The pair began working as ski instructors at Whitefish Mountain Resort, and they met while coaching the Whitefish Freestyle Team together.

They transitioned to Blacktie Skis when the Covid-19 pandemic put them out of jobs.

Even though they offer high-end brands, they’re able to keep pricing competitive because the business model doesn’t require a brick-and-mortar building. That’s an important aspect for Kiraly and Churchill, because they envision catering to all types of skiers.

“We’re not trying to price out the average family,” Kiraly stressed.

To rent from Blacktie Skis, go to Blacktieskis.com or call 866-360-6433.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.