If your skis are at the end of their working life, don’t just throw them out. You can do a few different things with old skis to repurpose them and keep your love of the sport on full display.
I’ve been skiing for nearly my entire life and have used countless pairs of skis over the years. I know what to do with old skis and have learned several creative uses for them after their work on the snow is over.
I’ll show you a few of my favorite things to do with old skis in this article. With a bit of creative spirit and some handiness, you can turn your old planks into a fun new project. You can also make someone’s day by donating or selling them.
Let’s go for it.
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Repurpose Your Old Skis
If your skis are damaged, no longer good for skiing, or you simply want to retire them from the action, you can repurpose them into something other than skis. This is a fun and creative process that I always enjoy.
Here are my favorite ways to repurpose old skis.
Make a ShotSki
A ShotSki is one of the classic ways to repurpose an old set of skis. You have probably seen one of these at a ski resort or restaurant in a ski town if you ski often.
The ShotSki is basically an old ski with several shot glasses glued onto it. It’s a fun way to party after you’ve been on the slopes and lets you and your friends take shots of alcohol at the same time.
To make a ShotSki, follow these steps:
- Take the bindings off of your old skis so that they are entirely flat.
- Get three to five shot glasses.
- Superglue the shot glasses onto the old ski. Be sure to space them out equally.
- Let the glue dry.
- Fill the shots up with your favorite hard liquor.
- Party!
Of course, you never want to drink while skiing because this is very dangerous for you and your fellow skiers. But it’s always great to have a little fun after a long day on the slopes, and a ShotSki is a great way to do this.
Build a Ski Fence
Another common sight in ski towns worldwide is a fence made out of skis. This is another excellent way to repurpose old skis, and you can really make a cool and interesting addition to your house.
Building a fence is a pretty basic carpentry task, but if you aren’t very handy or don’t have any experience with tools, you might want to ask somebody who does for help. If you want to keep it very simple, all you really need is a shovel and your old skis.
You obviously need quite a few old skis to have enough to build a decent-sized fence. If you only have a single set, you might want to just hang onto them until you have enough to get started.
To build a fence out of skis, follow these steps:
- Take the bindings off all of your old skis.
- Dig a trench about one foot or more deep where you want the fence to be. You’ll need a shovel and/or a pickaxe to make this happen.
- Place the skis in the trench side by side and arrange them about an inch or two apart from one another.
- Cover the bottom end of the skis with dirt or soil and tamp it down to keep the skis firmly in place.
This is the simple way to build a fence, but it’s not the most structurally sound. If you want to take things a step further, you’ll want to also use wood to help build the fence and keep everything in place.
Add a support length across the back of the fence out of 2X4 lumber or other wood to reinforce everything. You might also want to add a bigger post on either side of the fence that is set in concrete for additional support.
Build a Ski Chair
A ski chair is another excellent way to repurpose your old skis. This is a somewhat tricky task, so it’s best left for people who have experience using power tools and understand the basics of construction.
You’ll also need to saw your skis, so you will need the necessary tools to accomplish that safely. You can use numerous different designs for your chair blueprint, or you can just get creative and build your own style.
Covering all of the steps to build a ski chair would require a separate post altogether, but there are a couple of good videos out there that can get you started in the right direction.
Check out this video to learn how to build an Adirondack-style ski chair.
And this video will show you how to build one with a circular saw using the frame of an existing chair.
Donating or Selling Old Skis
If your skis are still in pretty good condition, you can always consider donating or selling them. This is a good way to get some extra cash if you need it or to help other skiers out who are looking for a more affordable way to get their ski set up going.
I always try to donate my old skis if I don’t want to use them anymore. I’ve given several old pairs away, which has brought a lot of joy and happiness to other skiers I know who don’t always have the means to get their own skis.
You can also drop your old skis off at a thrift store or resale store. Most donation centers will accept old skis, and then you don’t have to worry about finding someone to give them to. You can also get a receipt and write this donation off your taxes.
Selling your old skis is another option. This is pretty easy to do as long as the skis are still in good shape with no serious damage. I like to use resale sites such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for this.
You might not get a ton of money for old skis, but if you need extra cash, every little bit helps. If your skis are in really good shape, you might be able to get about half of what they cost brand new.
Recycling Old Skis
A final option would be to recycle your old skis. Be sure to try and find a recycling center rather than throwing them in the trash or landfill because this is better for the environment, and every skier should keep that in mind.
You can do a quick search online in your area for a list of recycling centers. And give them a quick call to make sure that they’ll accept your skis.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many ways you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle your old skis. The fun doesn’t have to stop when they are no longer in the snow, and any of the suggestions in this post are a good way to go.
