There is nothing more annoying than standing in line at a ski and snowboard rental shop. These outfits invariably feel like sweat lodges, and everyone, including the family of 12 ahead of you, needs to be fitted for boots. But help is at hand: To jump to the front of the queue -- heck, to skip it altogether -- visit breezeski.com.
Lowdown
On-line ski and snowboard rental reservations are this site's bread and butter, and are delivered using a five-step process.
First, renters choose from dozens of North American locations -- either a ski resort such as Jackson Hole, Wyo., or an urban centre such as Banff or Salt Lake City.
Next, contact information on the pickup location is listed (including a map), followed by a section in which rental details, such as pickup and return times, and personal details, such as name, skiing ability and shoe size, are entered. The site also allows customers to reserve gear for groups. At this point, renters select from a variety of packages, and can view descriptions of the equipment provided.
Step three confirms the rental information and provides a price. A three-day "Demo" ski package in Banff, for example, costs $120. Billing information is then entered, and to complete the process the site summarizes rental details and sends a confirmation number to the customer's e-mail account.
The process then enters the real world: Customers present the confirmation number at the rental shop listed in step one, and pick up the gear they reserved. Payment is processed when the skis are picked up, not when the reservation is made. There is a no-show fee of one rental day per person, and bookings must be made 24 hours before pickup.
The site will also provide rental quotes by e-mail, and even offers show shoes, helmets and skiboards (short, twin-tipped skis).
Design
Breezeski.com's slick graphics and professional design should help persuade first-time on-line renters that the service is dependable.
Navigability
The reservation process is straightforward, and provides reassuring confirmations at every step.
High point
Any uncertainty customers may feel about reserving ski gear on-line is quelled by an efficient, friendly process that delivers real-world contact information on the pickup point, and lets renters see the gear they're getting. There's also a toll-free number to check on orders.
Low point
While dozens of ski areas are covered, many regions, such as Eastern Canada, are not. A spokeswoman for the site says it plans to expand its coverage as soon as agreements with more rental outlets can be arranged.
Bottom line
It's hard to find fault in a professionally designed site that aims to help skiers spend more time on the slopes.
