Craft Life with Altitude; Meeting the Man Who Makes Wooden Skis in Chamonix

For many of our Masters of Wood, making a living from working with timber means a lot more than simply turning out one-off products for a commission. As Peter Steltzner from Rabbit on the Roof in Chamonix France puts it: “When you put your heart and soul into a product made with your hands, people can feel it.”

Peter’s workshop lies in the shadow of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, a dream setting for making uniquely designed skis from hand-selected timbers. In this film Peter explains his journey from California to the Alps to create a performance product that is as highly desirable for its ride as its unique look. If you are a skier, this is the one of a kind style you want to be holding in the lift queue, enjoying the admiring glances of your fellow skiers. If you are a woodworker, this is the story of searching for the deep understanding of your craft many of us strive for. “Like surfing, looking for the perfect wave, the next one is always going to be the best, enhancing the pleasure by making by hand, its where the real profit comes from,” says Peter.

In a few weeks we will be posting an additional film from this visit: a master-class, step-by-step guide to building the wooden free-ride ski with Peter in his workshop.

If you would like to see more of Peter’s work, check out his website at www.rabbitontheroof.net.