Kristina Ciari Tursi
I like to joke that I was born with skis on my feet. The product of two skiers raising a child in Montana, I’ve always loved winter (the colder the better). And, as someone who grew up watching Captain Planet and was raised on the idea of reduce > reuse > recycle, I enjoy finding multiple uses for my treasured outdoor gear. In the spirit of reuse, I’m delighted to offer a list of ideas to help you upcycle your old winter equipment.
Make a ski/board bench
No doubt you’ve seen one of these cool cats outside a ski or snowboard shop. Maybe you’ve even lounged on its semi-comfortable haunches. What it lacks in softness, the ski/board bench more than makes up for in style and durability - not to mention waterproofness. And, lucky for you, simple-to-follow building plans are easy to come by with a quick internet search.
Drill a shotski
If you’ve been to an après ski event, a shotski was presumably one of the main attractions. Take an old ski and drill four to five holes large enough to hold your favorite shot glasses. Bring your shotski to your next party with a bottle of choice. Don’t drink? No problem. Half the fun is finding the most disparately-sized humans and watching as they try to keep from spilling while drinking.
Dine anywhere on a charcutaski (or charcutaboard)
You’ve heard of a charcuterie board… A charcutaski or charcutaboard is that plus altitude. Next time you head to the hills, pack sliced meat, cheese, and other accoutrements as desired to set up a memorable meal slopeside. Bonus points for posting pics to make even the most famous Instagram Influencer jealous.
Build a ski fence
Travelers who have driven Highway 2 know the famous ski fence near Gold Bar. While not the most practical building material, skis can keep out critters (and humans) with their sharp edges, pointy tips, and durable design. Plus, old skis are relatively easy to come by, depending on how badly you want to make this fence happen. A ski fence is either completely stunning or totally hideous. Build one to find out which side of that fence you fall into.
Decorate your walls
Browsing Airbnb, it seems like some people buy log cabins just to hang old skis, poles, and snowshoes on the wall. I’m happy to report that you need not live in a log cabin to decorate with winter equipment. Right now, as I write this, my shotski hangs on the wall behind me. Life is too short... Hang your gear on the wall.
This article originally appeared in our winter 2025 issue of Mountaineer magazine. To view the original article in magazine form and read more stories from our publication, visit our magazine archive.
