Our Mission

Our mission is to allow winter sports enthusiasts to maximize their potential by bringing them the best products and services in the industry.

Our Story

The Pro Ski and Ride was founded in Hunter, New York in 1993 by Keith Holmquist and Robert "Bob" Briody. Keith was a veteran of the ski industry, spending years on the road as a sales representative for major brands including The North Face, Scott, and Pre skis. Bob brought strong business experience from IBM and Century Sports, a sporting goods store he owned in Kingston, NY.

When Keith had his first child, life on the road no longer made sense. Rather than step away from the industry he loved, he and Bob saw an opportunity: Hunter Mountain was drawing serious skiers, the town needed a real ski shop, and between the two of them, they had exactly the right combination of industry knowledge and business experience to build one. They opened what was originally known as The Pro Ski N' Sports less than a quarter mile from where the shop stands today, near the former Numero Uno pizza.

In the early years, the shop carried ski equipment in the winter and bikes in the summer. Over time, it evolved into a winter sports specialty shop — narrowing its focus to skiing, snowboarding, equipment rentals, professional tuning, boot fitting, mounting, and expert service. That focus is still at the core of everything we do.

In the mid-2000s, Keith's life partner, Anita Ayres, took over Bob's portion of the business, keeping it tightly in the hands of people who cared deeply about the shop and the community around it. In 2022, Keith's son, Giovanni "Gio" Holmquist, took over Keith's shares and became General Manager, bringing a new generation of leadership while carrying forward the same values the shop was built on. Today, The Pro Ski and Ride continues as a family-owned ski and snowboard shop rooted in Hunter, NY.

Why We Are Called “The Pro”

The name “The Pro” reflects how we approach everything we do.

We are skiers and snowboarders selling ski and snowboard equipment. We test most of the equipment we bring into the store, train annually on our specialty services, and care deeply about every customer’s experience. We strive to be true professionals in every product and service we offer.

If we do not feel we are a pro at something, we do not sell it or service it.

A Ski Shop Built Around Expertise

The Pro Ski and Ride is located approximately half a mile from Hunter Mountain. We do not just sell ski and snowboard equipment in Hunter. We live, work, and play here.

Our shop works with first-time skiers, families, local skiers, visitors, junior racers, advanced racers, coaches, instructors, patrollers, and ski clubs. We want every customer to feel like they are in good hands, whether they are stepping onto snow for the first time or looking for precise equipment adjustments after 40 years of skiing.

Our approach is down to earth. We believe in being experts, but we also believe in explaining important information in plain language.

Carefully Selected Ski and Snowboard Equipment

We curate our product selection from some of the best brands in the ski and snowboard industry. Instead of trying to carry everything, we focus on building a strong, thoughtful selection of skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, apparel, and accessories.

Our buyers personally test almost every ski and snowboard we bring in, try on every ski boot, and carefully evaluate bindings and other gear before adding them to our store. We prioritize quality, performance, and suitability over simply chasing the highest-margin products.

Because we have relationships with many major ski and snowboard brands, we can also special order equipment to help customers find the right product beyond what is currently on the wall.

Service That Adds Real Value

More people are buying equipment online, where the competition is often based mostly on price. At The Pro Ski and Ride, we believe service and expertise create real value that cannot be easily replicated.

Boot fitting, ski tuning, snowboard tuning, binding mounting, rentals, stance alignment, and equipment setup all matter. The difference between great service and poor service can be the difference between a great day on the mountain and a miserable one.

We sweat the small stuff when setting up equipment so you do not have to.

Professional Boot Fitting, Tuning, and Rentals

Our physical shop in Hunter, NY focuses heavily on services that support skiers and riders of all ability levels.

We offer in-depth boot fitting, custom footbeds, ski and snowboard rentals, binding services, and professional tuning. Our workshop includes advanced equipment, including a Wintersteiger Jupiter tuning machine capable of producing high-level tuning results for skiers of all levels.

While we have the tools and experience to provide race-level and World Cup-level service, we also scale that expertise appropriately for beginners, intermediates, families, and recreational skiers.

Serving Customers In Store and Online

Our Hunter, NY shop is home base — it's where our staff skis and rides, where we test the gear we sell, and where we do our best work fitting boots, tuning skis, and setting up equipment for skiers and riders of all levels. But our reach extends well beyond the Catskills.

Our online store ships ski and snowboard equipment to customers across the United States and Canada. As a specialty retailer, we often carry products that larger retailers overlook, and our online inventory is backed by the same careful evaluation and testing that guides what goes on our shop floor. Buying online from a specialty shop shouldn't mean giving up expertise — if you have questions about skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, or any other gear, our team is available by email to help you make a more informed decision before you buy.

What Makes The Pro Ski and Ride Different

The Pro Ski and Ride is different because we combine a real ski shop, experienced staff, carefully selected equipment, and professional services under one roof.

We test and evaluate gear before we sell it. We invest in modern boot fitting and tuning equipment. We work with beginners, families, racers, instructors, coaches, patrollers, and lifelong skiers. We focus on service, setup, and honest guidance instead of simply pushing products.

Our goal is simple: help every skier and snowboarder leave with equipment that fits better, performs better, and makes their time on snow more enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was The Pro Ski and Ride founded?
The Pro Ski and Ride was founded in Hunter, NY in 1993.

Who founded The Pro Ski and Ride?
The shop was founded by Keith Holmquist and Robert “Bob” Briody.

Where is The Pro Ski and Ride located?
The Pro Ski and Ride is located at 7535 Main St, Hunter, New York, approximately half a mile from Hunter Mountain.

What does The Pro Ski and Ride specialize in?
The shop specializes in ski and snowboard retail, boot fitting, ski and snowboard rentals, binding services, professional tuning, and expert equipment setup.

Does The Pro Ski and Ride sell online?
Yes. The Pro Ski and Ride sells ski and snowboard equipment online and ships to customers across the United States and Canada.

Who does The Pro Ski and Ride serve?
The shop serves beginners, families, recreational skiers, snowboarders, junior racers, advanced racers, coaches, instructors, patrollers, local skiers, visitors to Hunter Mountain, and online customers.