Custom Ski Rack

Living in a small space and skiing frequently, I needed a better way to store my gear without cluttering my home, leading me to design and build a custom ski rack that securely holds multiple pairs of skis.

Step 1

Find Resources and Gather Materials

First things first — I looked at how other people built their own ski racks. There were plenty of solutions, but I needed to find what fit my specific situation. Horizontal storage was an immediate no; it requires too much wall space. Horizontal spoke designs were an option, but too permanent — I want something I can put away for the summer. There were also more innovative, off-the-shelf options I could purchase and install, but I wanted something more personal and handcrafted. Starting from a design by Harmon Dan, I used it as a jumping-off point and gathered my materials.

Step 2

Building It

First, my apologies to the neighbors and apartment building staff for the electric saw and drilling. After gathering materials, I adjusted the measurements to fit my space and accommodate both mine and my fiancée's skis. Once everything was cut — rough edges and all — I started assembling.

Step 3

Adopt Reflections

It's not perfect, but it solves the problem well. Since some of our skis are twin tips, I needed to add a few extra 2x4s to elevate the rack so the tips could hang freely below. I love making things and solving problems — and when I get to do both for myself, in my own home, that's a win-win.