back to archives January 26 2021 The right skis were hard to find this time of the year, so I devoted a half day to making a pair. I ripped, sabre-sawed and laminated them from pine 2x4s, made bindings from bits of old salvaged metal brackets, and mounted a wide elastic ace bandage with velcro for the toe holders. With my hiking boots laced loosely, my feet will slip out easily in the event of a bad fall. I made the skis short for easy maneuvering on tight trails in the woods. I made the ski poles out of a couple of 1x2 pine boards. Bart and Lucky pulled me on the skis on the trails at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park this afternoon. It was splendid. We went a vast distance. Six photos: Shellacing and varnishing: The skis strap nicely to a day pack: back to archives |