Peter Steltzner carves freeride skis by hand

Peter Steltzner produces 45 to 60 pairs of custom wooden skis annually in Les Praz de Chamonix, using a process that balances traditional carpentry with modern composites (Anna Richards from Craftsmanship). After sourcing ash for the core, he planes the wood to create specific flex patterns based on the buyer's build and intended terrain, whether fresh powder or groomed trails. He slices finishing woods like ebony or walnut to 2mm before cutting base material on jigs.

Steltzner fixes the base to the edges with clamps to establish the final form, then binds the layers in a membrane press using resin and a catalyst. He began this venture, which he named Rabbit on the Roof, after his previous workshop in Paris became overrun by a rabbit dynasty that broke the ceiling (Anna Richards from Craftsmanship). His work reflects a mechanical approach similar to instrument making, where the wood must breathe and respond to temperature shifts in the snow.

He views his practice as a way to engage with nature, moving away from the cutthroat world of fashion photography to a life with more dust. "This is traditional ski-making, but at the same time, it’s very modern in the sense that I use composite materials," Steltzner says.