Meet Leo Tsuo | Owner, Weston Backcountry

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leo Tsuo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leo, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,”

Weston is my third venture (maybe 5th if you include some of the stuff I did when I was younger) and all were done on the basis that starting your own business is the best way to ensure that you are passionate about the work you do.

“Passion and discipline are all anyone needs to succeed in life”

My brother told me this when I graduated college and in a similar vein to the first quote. The discipline piece is the often the hardest part that people don’t fully embrace. The discipline to stay focused, stay positive, work hard, ignore the noise / critics, and just grind until you get results.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Since 2012, we at Weston have been building bomber splitboards, skis & snowboards, loving Mother Earth, fostering community, supporting important causes, spreading backcountry education, dirt bagging, slaying pow, and chasing freedom.

We are 10 years deep and are very values centric, community, and experience oriented. It wasn’t easy as this has not been a proven method in this industry. Historically, the industry is very product / tech / athlete oriented. It required taking quite a risk and while it felt natural, it wasn’t easy.

Too many lessons to be learned but I think the biggest lesson is that it is possible to carve your own skin track and not follow the pack.

The biggest thing we want the world to know about our brand is that authenticity goes a long way. When you truly care about what you stand for it shows. We have an internal saying “let the doing do the talking” and essentially its saying don’t just say you stand for something and don’t actually do it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I wouldn’t take them anywhere in the cit. I’d them to the backcountry of course. The backcountry is a spiritual place. Just one experience can stoke someone’s love for nature in a way no amount of climate change advocacy marketing campaign could.

If they’ve no experience skiing or snowboarding, doing a hut trip where you snow shoe or snowmobile in would be a great way to experience nature in the winter. Modern day huts are a glamorous way to get outside. Nearly all have nicely built out kitchens, wood burning stoves, and beds. Definitely not a shack and probably a better experience than tent camping in the summer.

If they are keen on skiing or snowboarding, introducing people to deep powder in the backcountry is a passion of mine. Before Weston, I was about to become a backcountry guide because I loved sharing my stashes. I share my powder stashes because I don’t believe that nature can be owned. I am anti-elitism and pro-inclusion. I believe in ONLY friends on a powder day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to thank the academy… just kidding.

My family. My father and uncle were both entrepreneurs and mentors. My wife, brother, and mother for always believing in me and motivating to not give up.

My staff for believing in the dream and committing a part of their careers to pursuing it as part of theirs.

Website: https://westonbackcountry.com/

Instagram: @westonbackcountry

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westonbackcountry