Old wooden skis, once designed for travelling across snow-covered mountains, are finding a place in contemporary interiors. Their curved tips, original bindings and aged timber offer designers an opportunity to create furniture that retains a recognisable connection to its original purpose.

Before the introduction of metal, fibreglass and synthetic materials, skis were predominantly made from wood. Their elongated proportions and distinctive construction now make vintage examples particularly interesting for furniture design, where existing shapes can determine the form of a new object.

Pierre Gérard: Designing with Discarded Skis

French designer Pierre Gérard explores the possibilities of repurposed ski equipment through SkiBanc by regards mêlés.

His collection includes benches, chairs, tables and shelving made using discarded skis. Rather than cutting the equipment into anonymous pieces of material, Gérard incorporates the original curves, bindings and proportions into his designs.

A ski's raised tip can become a distinctive furniture detail, while its long, narrow structure lends itself to benches and shelves. The variations between individual skis also influence the construction of each piece.

The result is furniture in which the original sporting equipment remains immediately identifiable, giving the design a character that conventional timber furniture would struggle to reproduce.

Vintage Ski Equipment as Interior Design

Old skis and wooden sledges are particularly suited to interiors where natural materials and collected objects are already part of the decoration.

A single wooden ski can become a narrow wall shelf for books or small objects, while an old sledge can be adapted into a clothing rail or display feature. In a child's bedroom, these pieces introduce an unexpected alternative to conventional storage furniture.

Their appeal lies in the details that remain visible: worn timber, metal fittings, original markings and the distinctive shapes developed for winter sports.

Pierre Gérard's SkiBanc collection demonstrates how these characteristics can become the starting point for functional design, giving discarded Alpine equipment a new role without erasing its history.

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