Ski Bookends – Part 1

Designing my final project has been a super fun experience. It is not only a practical decoration for my room but also a representation of my aesthetic and the aesthetic I have been looking at all semester: ski bum. I have really enjoyed getting to explore both of these through the process. This project has allowed me to blend artistic expression with functionality and reflect on how my personality and values show up in the objects I choose to surround myself with.

I will begin with some history on the ski bum aesthetic, which I have talked about in previous posts.

“Ski Bum” is a term that typically evokes a specific image of someone who makes skiing their number one priority, sometimes even over jobs, housing, or financial stability. The classic ski bum is resourceful, finding ways to live cheaply to maximize time on the mountain. Their aesthetic reflects this lifestyle: thrifted, functional, and often homemade clothing that prioritizes warmth and utility over fashion. This aesthetic is also deeply tied to a DIY attitude with patched-up ski pants, vintage fleece jackets, and mismatched layers thrown together over the years. It is also common to see bright colors and bold patterns, a nod to the vibrant ski culture of the past. Unlike the polished look of luxury resort skiers, ski bums embrace a more carefree and rugged style, one that represents adventure and the love of the sport rather than wealth or status. Ski bums have often been misrepresented as lazy or aimless in modern day media, but in reality, it takes serious dedication and creativity to sustain this lifestyle, especially as skiing becomes increasingly expensive. Today, the ski bum mindset is as much about resourcefulness as it is about rebellion against the commercialization of ski culture.

The ski bum lifestyle emerged in the mid-20th century, but one of the first people to truly embody it was Warren Miller. Warren Miller is considered a pioneer of ski filmmaking, and through his films, he captured the essence of the ski bum lifestyle. Miller lived as a ski bum before making it famous. In the late 1940s, he lived out of a trailer in Sun Valley, Idaho, spending his days skiing and filming his friends on the slopes. His films showcased skiers who weren’t professionals but were simply passionate about the sport. They worked odd jobs like bartending, ski instructing, and waiting tables to afford another season in the mountains. His documentaries helped romanticize the ski bum lifestyle and spread its appeal.

At the same time, the rise of ‘ski towns’ contributed to the ski bum phenomenon. These towns needed seasonal workers, and ski bums filled these roles, working at resorts during the winter in exchange for lift tickets and just enough money to get by. Many lived in small apartments, trailers, or even in their cars to stay close to the mountains. In the 1960s and 70s, the ski bum lifestyle aligned with broader countercultural movements. Young people were rejecting traditional career paths, and for some, skiing became a way to live outside societal norms.

However, as ski resorts became more commercialized and expensive, maintaining this lifestyle became more difficult. Housing costs in ski towns skyrocketed, and corporate-owned resorts pushed out independent skiers. Today, while ski bumming still exists, it takes even more effort and creativity to sustain. For those who still embrace it, it’s as much a mindset as it is a lifestyle, about valuing freedom, nature, and passion over conventional success.

On the other hand, my personal aesthetic is more eclectic and emotionally driven. My aesthetic does not fit into one category. For our assignment a few weeks ago, we were asked to reflect on our personal aesthetics. I found that I could not find one aesthetic that described me. I did, however, find themes throughout both my decorations and style that I think reflect my aesthetic. I love to decorate with meaningful pieces. To me, this means pictures, postcards, movie tickets, maps, and Chiefs flags. Overall, I love to have my decorations reflect me and my memories. I like my room to bring me joy, and these pieces do that.

For my style, I love thrifting. I would say probably 80% of the clothes I own are from the thrift store. I also love a pop of color and layering. My aesthetic is always evolving and has evolved a lot in the last few years. I think that this is the fun part about a personal aesthetic, it can change whenever you want it to. There’s something really freeing about not sticking to one specific category, and this project helped me embrace that even more.

So for my project, I wanted to combine both my aesthetic with the ski bum aesthetic because I have been working with it all semester. They already have a few similarities with thrifting and fun colors. My original idea was to create something out of skis. I looked around on Pinterest for ideas for projects to make out of skis that also fit into something that I actually needed. This was when I found the ski bookends! I have been wanting to get new ones for my bookshelf so I thought this would be a perfect project. I also want to do something with the rest of the skis in the future. The main inspiration photo that I found is shown below. I really liked how they used the bindings to support the front.

I then began to think about how I wanted to apply these aesthetics to this design. I knew the skis would help bring in the ski bum aesthetic, but I also wanted to include some kind of pattern that also did. Initially, I was hoping to find a pair of skis that had a vintage pattern, but I did not find one that looked how I wanted it to. So, my secondary plan was to paint something on the skis once I glued them together. I pulled a few pictures from Pinterest and from my old paintings to pull together an inspiration collage. I wanted something colorful and a little nostalgic, but also something that didn’t feel over-designed or overly polished, again, staying true to that mix of rugged DIY charm and personal flair.

One worry I had once I finalized my idea was whether I could make it functional. I use my bookshelf a lot and it’s constantly growing, so it would need to be able to handle movement and a bit of weight. I wanted to use the ski bindings to provide stability, but if that did not work I was thinking of using a metal bracket. I also was thinking of getting rubber feet to provide more friction so it did not slip.

My initial sketches can be seen below. I ultimately ended up leaning towards using a bracket or nothing. I took a lot of the size inspiration from the Etsy ones. These rough drawings helped me visualize the proportions and decide how much of the ski to use. They also helped me figure out how to position the skis so that they could stand without tipping and support books from sliding.

My final design plan was to:

• Cut about 8 inches for the tip and 5 inches for the tail with a saw

• Sand the points of contact and glue together (Gorilla Epoxy)

• Clamp for the drying process

• Paint a design and coat with mod podge
  If needed:

• Use a metal bracket or the front binding of the ski for stability

• Add rubber feet on the bottom to increase grip

From there, I worked on my manufacturing timeline:

• Design Process Presentation: I shared my progress with my group and got helpful feedback.

• Get Skis: I searched thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace until I found a pair that worked. I ultimately got one on Facebook Marketplace for less than $50.

• Begin Manufacturing: The actual construction steps were relatively simple, but I had to be careful with cutting and gluing to make sure the angles were right. I utilized gorilla glue epoxy and clamp them together for the drying process.

• Painting: I finalized the design during painting, so that it incorporates bright colors or uses the ski’s original graphics depending on what I find. I wanted it to reflect the rest of the art I have in my room.

• Final Presentation and Expo: After feedback, I will refine the final product and prepare to share it.

Overall, I really enjoyed each step of this process and have learned a lot. In combining the rugged, resourceful aesthetic of the ski bum with my own style, I was able to create something that’s meaningful, useful, and fun. The process made me think more deeply about how we define our surroundings and how we can build things that reflect our values. I’m proud of how my ski bookends bring together two sides of me: one that loves function and DIY creativity, and one that thrives on color, memory, and emotional connection. It’s something I’ll continue to use and appreciate.