The Artist’s Mill

Kyle is delighted to receive his new Rabbit on the Roof skis from Peter Stelzner in Chamonix, July 2019.

When I was a young aspirant guide in the 1980’s, I noticed that many older Guides in Chamonix skied on wooden skis.  I was quite proud of my high-tech touring setup then, a pair of Fischer Air Carbons purchased at great expense from Snell Sports.  Why would anyone revert to retro wood when new technology was faster, lighter and stronger?

My neighbor in Les Houches, Roland Ravanel, explained that wood skis translate force into your ankles, knees and hips in a more gentle way than metal skis, an appealing feature for aging Guides whose bodies contain a lifetime of tours.  I learned that the tradition of wood ski making in Chamonix dated back centuries and that the best craftsmen had always been sought after by Guides and Clients alike. 

I first heard about Peter Stelzner and Rabbit on the Roof when he established his shop in an old mill site on the outskirts of Chamonix in 2010.  It shared space with Stevie’s friend Andy Parkin, a renowned British alpinist and artist.  Word spread throughout the Vallee that Peter’s skis were the best, and soon the waitlist for a pair of his custom, handmade boards grew longer.

After much effort and a few good glasses of wine, I finally made it on the ROTR list for my own pair in 2015 and put down a deposit.  The next year, a fire in the mill destroyed Peter’s workshop and all his inventory.  Like many of his devoted clientele, I then paid Peter in full for my skis, in hopes he would someday resurrect his shop and fill the order.

Incredibly, Peter made them in the burned-out shop along with a couple others and used the emblems from his charred inventory to adorn my new skis.  He delivered them to me on a summer trip to Chamonix for my 60th birthday.

I love the skis that Peter made for me, and I ski on them almost every day.  They’re not light or fast turning, but they translate force into joy.  They are mounted with Marker Kingpins so that I can tour with them or ski on the piste.  After many seasons, I know their sweet spot:  whether on fresh groomers or untracked powder, my wood skis evoke flow and pleasure unlike anything I’ve ever had.  At the end of each season, I smooth out the nicks with fine sandpaper and apply tung oil to make them good as new. 

With the help of his partner, Anati and some strong Chamonix locals, Peter rebuilt his shop and re-established his business in its former location.  Rabbit on the Roof is a story of resilience and community, all based on one man’s mastery of his craft – themes that resonate with us across the many serial entrepreneurs we’ve backed at Boulder Ventures.

That story has now been made into an award-wining documentary by the Chamonix-based cinematographer, Pierre Cadot. It’s called Les Moulins des Artistes:

Peter Stelzner is the greatest wooden ski maker in the world, and I’m proud to have played a small part in supporting his journey.