Holiday Valley, like many other high-volume rental shops, has adopted a reduced-sole-length system, in this case, the Elan/Dalbello system. While that speeds the process, it also allows Holiday Valley to decide how much customer service to provide.

Mammoth has recently redone its rental shops to make flow easier, and to make time in rental more enjoyable for the customer. Formerly, guests arrived at the entry station, then moved to the cashier station, then the boot room, and the ski window, and finally to the benches where techs adjusted bindings. Guests waited in four or five lines.

Now, guests enter and input their info at one station, then proceed to a cashier/boot station, where they also get their skis. Everything takes place in that one area, and that speeds the process.

Stratton uses a combination of efficient layout and personal attention to provide a more upscale and service-oriented rental experience. To avoid bottlenecks, Stratton emphasizes advance online reservations and employs a square layout that rotates guests through the shop, with lots of assistance for those who need it, and an expedited routine for repeat customers and those with reservations.

Ski dispatch counters at Pats Peak. All are on wheels, to allow flexibility in layout.

Pats Peak goes heavy on customer service. Staff greet renters, help them sign up, point out the shortest lines, and generally explain the entire process.

2012 10 UNDER 30 WINNERS