Mike Bartasuis, Ira Riklis’ friend and former ski instructor, weren’t business partners when Mike bought his first ski shop in Vail. While that shop was a successful first effort, Mike wanted something more. And the group who invested in that shop with Mike couldn’t really support his ambitions for growth.
So when an opportunity came to purchase another shop, Mike and Ira Riklis formed a partnership. The new shop was located in Beaver Creek, about twenty minutes from Lionshead. Since the shop was in the Charter Hotel and Resort, they named it Charter Sports. Slowly but surely, the shop became a great success and they expanded their enterprise to include eleven locations in Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon and Breckenridge. They also now operate a premium ski delivery service they call Premier which caters to celebrities and others who don’t want to come into a ski shop to get fitted for equipment.