This winter has been a tough one for Portland.
The snow conditions around us haven't been great, and honestly, that has had a real impact on the local ski industry—including us. When the mountains don't get enough snow, fewer people travel, fewer people ski, and businesses like ours feel it directly.
But one thing hasn't changed at all: the passion for learning how to ski.
Every week, we still see new faces walking into our shop—kids, adults, families—excited, a little nervous, and ready to learn something new. That energy is what keeps us going.
At PTO Ski & Snowboard, our mission has always been simple:
To teach skiing in a way that is safe, fun, and efficient. We want to help you learn this skill in the most ideal way possible—whether that means removing the stress of your first day on the mountain, or helping you refine your technique and gain more confidence.
Over the past few weeks, we've also learned a lot ourselves.
As our programs grow and our classes get busier, we've identified areas where our teaching and operations can improve. When issues came up, our leadership team made it a priority to communicate quickly and work directly with our customers to resolve them. We truly appreciate everyone's patience and understanding during this process.
We want to be very clear about one thing: we welcome feedback.
If something doesn't feel right, if you have a suggestion, or if there's an experience you want to share—please tell us. We listen carefully, we take it seriously, and we work hard to improve. Every piece of feedback helps us become better.
All of our staff members come from strong skiing and teaching backgrounds. We genuinely love this sport and believe in it deeply. That said, running a ski shop is something we are still learning every day. We are new to the business side of things, and we're growing alongside our community.
That's also why each time you visit PTO, things may feel a little different—in a good way. We're constantly refining our programs, improving our systems, and raising our standards.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
We hope you're enjoying this winter, wherever you are skiing—and we're all wishing for a bit more snow to fall soon. ❄️ Stay warm, stay safe, and we'll see you on the slope.
— PTO Ski & Snowboard Team
