Skiset should become a familiar brand name for ski rentals at North American ski resorts like it is in Europe.

Skiset, Europe’s largest ski and snowboard rental company, has expanded to North America and plans to open over 70 stores at major resorts in the United States and Canada this winter ski season.

Skiset is a ski and snowboard rental store chain with more than 700 stores in over 350 European ski resorts. The company plans to sell directly to the consumer and work with third party vendors such as tour operators and online travel websites in North America. Third party vendors are offered a one-stop shop solution for their rental needs for the entire North American continent.

“What differentiates Skiset is that we prepare the customer for skiing and snowboarding to maximize their enjoyment of the mountains. We don’t just rent skis,” said Philippe Koiransky, President of Skiset North America.

Skiset has developed their North America network by recruiting independently owned ski and snowboard rental stores. They benefit from increased exposure to the consumer and travel trade through Skiset’s brand recognition and strategic partnerships around the world. Skiset also undertakes extensive marketing initiatives. Moreover, Skiset will act as a buying group for its partner rental stores to create volume orders to leverage discounted rates with ski and snowboard equipment manufacturers.

“We’ve had a phenomenal response from independent ski shop owners who recognize the value of being part of Skiset,” said Tony Lyle, Vice President North America for Skiset and former Head of International Sales & Marketing for Vail Resorts. “We plan to have more than 150 partner stores for the 2010-2011 winter season and over 400 by 2012-2013.”

Skiset was founded in 1994 by a group of former world champion skiers and independent ski rental store owners including Annie Famose, Patrick Lepeudry and Leo Lacroix. It has locations in France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Andorra, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, and Slovenia. During the 2008-2009 winter season Skiset served nearly two million customers with a turnover of $520 million U.S. (€350m).

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