About Upcycled Skis
Where Engineering, Ski Culture, and Sustainability Meet
Upcycled Skis was founded by Bridger Neimeyer at the intersection of mountain culture, engineering, and environmental responsibility. What started as a hands-on project has grown into a way to rethink what happens to skis after their time on the mountain is over—turning them into functional lighting and custom installations.
A Background Built in the Mountains
Before starting Upcycled Skis, Bridger Neimeyer spent years working as a ski instructor, helping people experience the mountains firsthand and building a deep connection to ski culture. That time on snow shaped how he thinks about gear—not just as equipment, but as something tied to memories, progression, and identity.
He also spent time volunteering with ski patrol, gaining a different perspective on the mountain environment and the importance of safety, responsibility, and community.
Engineering Meets Craftsmanship
Professionally, Bridger worked as a design engineer on large-scale infrastructure projects. That experience developed a strong foundation in problem-solving, materials, and building systems that are meant to last.
Upcycled Skis brings that same engineering mindset into a completely different space—transforming complex composite materials into functional lighting and architectural pieces. Every product is built with attention to structure, durability, and clean design.
Merging Two Waste Streams Into One Product
A defining element of Upcycled Skis lighting is the integration of recycled TV diffuser panels alongside reclaimed skis and snowboards.
These panels—originally used inside flat-screen TVs to distribute light evenly—are repurposed within each piece to create a clean, consistent glow. Combined with the structure and character of the skis, they elevate both the performance and visual quality of the lighting.
This approach brings together two difficult-to-recycle materials:
- Composite skis and snowboards
- Electronic waste from discarded TVs
By combining them into a single product, each piece becomes more than upcycled—it becomes a true convergence of waste streams into functional artwork.
Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
Sustainability isn’t an afterthought—it’s a core part of the mission.
Over the years, Bridger has volunteered with environmental stewardship organizations like the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, working on trail restoration and conservation projects across the state.
Those experiences reinforced a simple reality: many outdoor products, especially skis and snowboards, are incredibly difficult to recycle due to their composite construction. Most end up in landfills. Similarly, electronic waste—like old televisions—contains valuable materials that are often discarded instead of reused.
Why Upcycled Skis Exists
Upcycled Skis was created to offer a better path.
Instead of letting retired skis and electronic components become waste, they’re transformed into high-quality lighting and custom installations that preserve their original character while giving them a second life.
Each piece is:
- Built from reclaimed skis and snowboards
- Integrated with recycled TV diffuser panels
- Designed to be functional and long-lasting
- Created to reduce landfill waste
- Made to carry forward the story of the mountain
The Result
This work is the culmination of years spent:
- On the mountain as a ski instructor
- In engineering designing large infrastructure systems
- Supporting mountain safety through ski patrol
- Volunteering in environmental stewardship and conservation
All of those experiences come together in a single idea:
Retired skis and discarded materials don’t have to become waste—they can become something better.
Looking Forward
Upcycled Skis continues to grow through partnerships with ski resorts, local businesses, and individuals who want to create something meaningful from their gear.
By combining reclaimed skis with recycled TV diffuser panels, the mission is to build a circular system that connects multiple waste streams into durable, high-quality products.
Whether it’s a single ski lamp or a large custom installation, the goal remains the same:
to keep materials out of landfills and in use for years to come.