Wood, hands, beauty

Le Chamoniard, Fine Cutlery

Didier Simond is the kind of guy who switches roles with the seasons: ski instructor in the winter, cutler in the summer. This former carpenter’s workshop is located in Chamonix, and it’s in the mountains that he sources some of his materials. There he unearths a rare species of wood, Swiss stone pine—the same pine that grew 3,000 years ago where the Mer de Glace now lies. While digging through the moraine, he unearths fossilized trunks trapped in the glacier, which he transforms into knife handles. Knives made from millennia-old wood. One-of-a-kind in the world. Didier and his son also work with Vallorcine larch, Servoz walnut, and frozen birch from Chamonix… Their signature: a handle curved like Mont Blanc, pyrographed with the route of the first ascent of the summit by Jacques Balmat and Dr. Paccard in 1786. A powerful gesture, part tribute, part eternal mark.

Rabbit on the Roof: elegance and performance, skis without compromise

A catchy name, a vintage photo aesthetic. A Gavroche cap, wool shorts, or wide corduroy pants. A blazer with a pocket watch over a Norwegian cardigan… Peter Steltzner—the “rabbit on the roof”—is a quirky Californian who has been crafting wooden skis in Les Praz since 2005. Each pair is handcrafted in very limited runs, featuring a perfect blend of premium woods and technical fibers. The result? High-performance, sleek skis designed for both ski touring and freeriding. Guides and several legends of extreme skiing traded their skis for Rabbit on the Roof prototypes. The reputation grew, and the project took off.

Until 2016, when the rabbit became a phoenix. A fire ravaged his workshop, the “artists’ mill.” Everything went up in smoke, including the year’s production run he’d just finished—about a hundred pairs of skis ready for delivery. Everything, except his passion. The valley’s community rallied around him, and two years later, Peter got back on his feet and fired up the machines again. This winter, you should start seeing Rabbit on the Roof skis. The kind you can spot from a mile away—and that you’re torn between riding and hanging in your living room.

The Chamonix Christmas Market

In December, the valley lights up. From Servoz to Vallorcine, the magic takes hold, and the Chamonix Christmas Market brings together the best of local craftsmanship. There you’ll find Le Chamoniard—of course—and other wood artisans: crystal artisan Georges Moreira, who crafts necklaces from wood, quartz, and fluorite; and Graveurs des Cimes, known for their panoramic mountain views carved into wooden panels. Gifts that smell of sawdust, snow, and passion. In the valley, you’ll leave with a souvenir and a story to tell.