Alpine ski instructor with over 60 years of skiing experience. Winters in Zermatt and Cervinia, summers in Tampere.
Ari Marttila was 8 years old when skis first carried him down the snowy slopes of Ruka, Finland. That was the start of a love affair with skiing that has lasted over 30 years. The pull of the mountain has stayed with him ever since.
In 1990 Ari walked into Ruka Ski School and earned his first ski instructor qualification. It opened the door to teaching, but skiing itself has always been at the heart of it – long before and long after. In total, Ari has spent about 10 years as an instructor, sharing skills with students whenever the opportunity comes, always with the same passion.
In 2022 the call took him to Méribel in France, to complete his international ski instructor certification in the 3 Valleys. And in November 2023 the journey continued to Zermatt, Switzerland, where Ari joined PDS Snowsport as an instructor, teaching in the shadow of the Matterhorn. During the winter seasons he also works in Cervinia, Italy, teaching in Finnish, English, and Spanish.
In the summer, Ari returns home. From June to September he runs ski technique camps in Tampere, Finland – open to everyone, no matter your level. Whether it’s your first turn or you’re fine-tuning speed and control, all are welcome.
And in winter, the invitation is to Zermatt: come to PDS Ski School to learn skiing and be part of the joy of the slopes with Ari.
At 67, Ari knows one thing for sure: you might be an instructor for 10 years, but you’re a skier for life. And the mountain is still calling.
SUMMER · TAMPERE
WINTER · ZERMATT & CERVINIA
Genuine reviews from PDS Snowsport VIP ski lessons and guiding in Zermatt and Cervinia.
We booked a two-day guided ski tour with PDS and had an excellent experience from start to finish. Both of our guides were fantastic. On day two, Ari planned an incredible day for us—conditions were perfect, and we were able to ski the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise area and make our way over into Cervinia for lunch. Ari was extremely knowledgeable, sharing interesting facts about the mountains, and was very patient with our group. On day one, we skied with Simon in more challenging weather, but he made the absolute best of it.
I would highly recommend PDS, and especially Ari and Simon, if you’re looking for an unforgettable guided ski experience!
My daughter and I recently returned from skiing in Zermatt. While we were there we booked a day long lesson as well as a guiding service to Cervinia. Both experiences were with Ari. I am unable to be more effusive with my praise. He provided well thought out drills and practices to improve our carving skills, and he understood my limitations while engaging my experienced 18 year old daughter. He was kind enough to take and provide videos of our lessons for future reference.
Being an old sailer, Ari noticed that the winds were picking up and got us back on the Swiss side before the lifts closed. PDS was easy to work with and I would recommend them to anyone.
Our ski trip to Zermatt was a once in a lifetime experience. I took my four grandkids skiing for the first time and booked with PDS Snowsport. The experience was incredible due to our ski instructor Ari Marttila. My grandkids (ages 18, 16, 13 and 10) had never skied. Ari was a true professional and a very kind person — on time and keeping us informed at all times.
He took his time with each grandkid, made them feel safe and encouraged them. He took videos throughout the day and sent them at night with his comments. The experience was so great that we booked him for an additional full day. If you have kids and are looking for a great ski instructor, I strongly recommend Ari Marttila.
I recently traveled to Zermatt and hired Ari from PDS Snowsport as my guide for 1.5 days. He showed me all the different areas to ski on the Matterhorn, along with offering sound instruction on my technique. We took the train up to Riffelberg and skied down to the Igloo Hotel, then continued to explore the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Ari always knew where the best conditions were, and never tired of me asking to stop for a photo! A fabulous experience that made my trip to Zermatt truly memorable.
My family and I did 3 half day lessons with Ari and absolutely loved it. He was very experienced in both teaching us and showing us Zermatt. We were all at varying levels and he was able to give us all personalized feedback so we could improve. He also knew a lot about the mountain and showed us the exact runs to practice on. We loved the experience and his personalized instruction.
We booked a full day of private ski lessons with Ari. I wanted to gain confidence and improve my form, and my husband was tagging along. When we met Ari I was instantly at ease — he is so kind and patient and a really great ski coach for all levels. He started at our level, helped with technique and some bad habits we didn’t know we had, and was a great mountain guide for Zermatt, taking us to areas within my skill level.
I was just expecting a basic ‘go down the mountain’ lesson. With Ari we got demonstrations, follow-me runs, and videos to show our improvement. The lessons with PDS were well worth the money — you will not regret it. We’ll definitely book him again.
© 2026 Ari Marttila