DIY with Local Talent

Building Custom Skis with Jonathan Jacobs

In 2026, it will be 10 years since the self-taught “Jonno” from Johannesburg founded his workshop, Rōnin Skis. Long story short, the name comes from ancient Japanese warriors who had no master and answered to no one but themselves. It’s a whole mindset of independence and zero compromise that this samurai of handcrafted freeride skis conveys in his workshops. Three days of sawing, gluing, and sanding—and at the end, the sheer joy of a pair of eco-friendly skis as sharp as a katana, ready to slice through the powder. Created by and for yourself, they smell of sawdust and pride.

333, route des Moussoux - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
06 16 21 91 38

Crafting Precious Pieces at Rusc Studio

Quiet, we’re filming… Raquel Calleja is a ceramic artist, and Christopher Kerr is her very first student. Together, they founded Rūsc Studio, their workshop-boutique-gallery where they welcome students learning the potter’s wheel, artists-in-residence—tapestry makers, visual artists, sculptors, jewelers, photographers… and you! You (and your kids) can create your own special piece during pottery workshops, of course, but also through modeling, tapestry, or even porcelain (for those of us who aren’t quite as clumsy). Rūsc is a laboratory of materials, textures, and ideas, where every creation is born from an act of care. Far from the “buy-and-throw-away” mentality, it’s a true manifesto of “made to last.”

Pointilism Engraving with Jean-Luc & Emma Dusong

Don’t sign up for their workshops thinking you’re just filling your Sunday with a creative hobby—you’d make a very bad impression… Jean-Luc and his daughter Emma are true enthusiasts and masters of their craft: he is a master engraver, author, and former advertising executive; she is a visual artist, composer, and filmmaker, named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. In this all-digital age, their Engraving Workshop is a rare place where they teach the demanding techniques of intaglio and relief engraving to those who prefer to work directly with the material. And when, at the end of their course, both experienced artists and beginners (including children) see their work emerge from the press—imperfect yet vibrant—they understand why Picasso used to say to his printers: “Now let’s get down to business.”

275, chemin de l’Ordon - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
06 80 40 34 99

Painting in Vibrant Colors at Cat Kartal’s Chamonix Art School

At the Chamonix Art School, painting comes as naturally as breathing: spontaneously, freely. Cat Kartal, a nomadic artist and radiant teacher for whom “life is nothing but movement,” encourages students to let go of their minds and give free rein to instinct and movement. Aspiring artists of all ages paint new-wave dreamcatchers on glass, decorate wooden and clay mobiles, or head into the forest to fill the pages of a travel journal with watercolors. Art is always close to nature, and with Cat, nature is never dead but full of life.

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