For my upcycling project, I want to make a ski mount that adheres to the modern rustic charm aesthetic. The goal of this project is to make a four ski mount that both highlights the modern graphics on my skis whilst featuring the character of the reclaimed wood. This aesthetic is defined by the juxtaposition of organic materials, earth tones, and natural imperfections with modern, sleek design and technology, so I figured it would be a perfect fit for this project.
The inspiration for this project came from the good racks style ski mount design. Unlike most ski racks, these are locked in place by the sidecut of the ski, and lay fairly flush on the wall, allowing for the graphics of the skis to be showcased.
Good Racks ski mounts [1]
Following the success of this design, multiple flat-mounted ski displays have appeared, the most simple of which consists of two wood or plastic knobs mounted on each side of the ski. These are functionally great, but drilling 3 holes in my wall to mount each pair of skis seemed excessive.
Grass Racks “Nubbin” ski rack [2]
My design consists of six round, T shaped knobs (similar to the grassracks design) fastened to a slab of reclaimed wood. This can then be mounted to wall studs using two lag screws. The knobs will be fastened to the slab using T nuts hammered into the back. I will drill holes through whiskey corks and pass smooth shank bolts through them for support. The cork will protect the edges of the skis from damage, and the top of the cork will prevent the skis from sliding forward off the rack.
I have some slabs of fir barn wood that my father and I collected from my great grandfather’s dairy farm in upstate NY. This recycled wood was first cut in the late 1800’s, and has developed a great patina that meshes nicely with the aesthetic. I plan on skip planing the wood prior to sealing to preserve the visible saw marks and imperfections. This process will help to highlight the desirable imperfections, and remove most of the oxidation and splintering on the wood’s surface.
Skip planed barnwood flooring [3]
Below are the graphics of the skis I plan on displaying on this ski rack – the Moment Deathwish 104, and the dynastar M free 108. The Moment skis have a darker aesthetic while still remaining modern and somewhat abstract. The M free 108s have a clean, bright design that will contrast well with the rustic feel of the reclaimed wood.
The 2024 Moment Deathwish 104 graphic [4]
The 2023 Dynastar M-Free 108 graphic [5]
Photo Sources:
[1] https://www.goodracks.com/explore/gallery.php [2] https://www.grassracks.com/collections/ski-racks/products/flush-ski-wall-rack [3] https://www.oldworldtimber.com/product/barnwood-oak-skip-planed/ [4] https://skipro.com/products/moment_deathwish_104_ski [5] https://www.powder.com/gear/review-dynastar-m-free-108
1 Comment. Leave new
I think this idea is cool and nicely captures the rustic aesthetic. Not only are you using reclaimed wood, adding a nice accent to the display of the skis, but the displaying of the skis itself adds to the aesthetic as the graphics tend to give off an outdoor, rustic vibe, mixing this natural look and feel with the modern design of the skis. Looking forward to how this will turn out. What made you go with the knob design instead of a slab or some other design. Just curious the inspiration in that aspect.