What to Do with Old Snowboards: 5 Ideas & Projects
Have you ever found yourself wondering what to do with old snowboards you don’t ride anymore? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. Here at Burton, we invest a ton of thought into building snowboards, and if we can prevent them from ending up in a landfill, that’s a big win for everyone.
In this article, the Burton experts get creative, outlining five ideas and projects for what to do with old snowboards, from donation to creating functional art.
- Donate Your Old Snowboard
- Consign Your Old Snowboard
- Mount Old Snowboards on Your Wall
- Use Old Snowboards to Make Furniture
- More DIY Snowboard Upcycling Projects
1. Donate Your Old Snowboard
Anytime we make recommendations related to snowboarding, we often begin by asking ourselves: “What would Jake do?”
As one of snowboarding’s original champions, Jake Burton Carpenter wanted everyone to experience the fun of standing sideways and he believed that the best use of a snowboard is as a snowboard. With that in mind, consider donating or gifting your retired (but still functional) snowboard to a local non-profit or youth organization. Your old snowboard has the power to change someone’s life, and where better to do this than your local community?
Prioritizing a local non-profit also means that you won’t need to ship your snowboard to its final destination, a great way to further reduce our environmental impact.
You can take your donation one step further by volunteering your time wherever you end up donating your old snowboard. Non-profit board sports programs can always use enthusiastic individuals to help with everything from logistics to teaching, and mentoring. Also, think how amazing it would be to teach a new rider the joys of snowboarding while they ride your old board.
Pro tip: Not looking to donate your snowboard, but want to get involved with a great non-profit? Check out the Chill Foundation and learn how boardsports are helping build a more equitable outdoor community for young people around the world.
2. Consign Your Old Snowboard
Another way to keep your old snowboard alive and let someone else enjoy it is by consigning it at a local gear shop. This is a great way to keep your old deck out of the landfill while putting a little bit of cash in your pocket at the same time.
Gear consignment stores have different requirements on what condition used equipment needs to be in, so be sure to review their policies online or by calling before dropping in. Your best bet for making a quick sale is to consign your snowboard during the winter months (some gear stores won't take winter equipment during the summer, for example).
3. Mount Old Snowboards on Your Wall
If you’re reluctant to part ways with your retired snowboard because of all the good memories you made together, why not turn it into wall art?
Hanging a snowboard on the wall is easy with snowboard wall mounts. Simply find a suitable location, screw in a few small brackets, and boom. You are now the curator of your own personal snowboard museum.
4. Use Old Snowboards to Make Furniture
Another great way to upcycle old snowboards is to turn them into furniture like patio chairs, benches, and tables. A project like this requires a bit more thought and effort. Here are two ways to make snowboards into custom furniture.
DIY Snowboard Furniture
A quick internet search will yield thousands of great ideas for snowboard furniture (some even include step-by-step guides). The benefit of this approach is that you can save some money and build exactly what you want.
If you don't want to build from scratch, check out DIY kits from companies like Green Mountain Ski Furniture in Burton’s home state of Vermont, in the United States. Their kits include comprehensive instructions and pre-cut lumber, making snowboard furniture projects much more accessible for those with limited access to tools.
Pro tip: Snowboard furniture projects are great family activities. Get your kiddos involved to keep them excited about snowboarding in the off-season.
Furniture Companies
Looking for an easier way to turn an old snowboard into an entryway bench? Consider hiring a specialty custom furniture maker in your area. While this approach is likely to be more expensive than DIY, we’re huge advocates of supporting local art and businesses.
Pro tip: Make sure to clearly outline what you would like to have built and include example images that the builder can reference. Provide your builder with old snowboards that have been cleaned and are in ready-to-use condition.
5. More DIY Snowboard Upcycling Projects
When considering what to do with old snowboards, the only real limitation is your imagination. With that in mind, we would like to remind ambitious DIYers about a few pieces of general safety advice for working with snowboards.
- Always wear proper eye protection when cutting, sawing, or slicing old snowboards.
- Always cover bare skin with long sleeves to prevent fiberglass and metal splinters.
- Always use a dust mask or respirator when cutting or sawing old snowboards and perform this work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling fiberglass dust.
- Wear work gloves to prevent cuts on fingers from metal edges, fiberglass, and wood.
- Pre-drill holes for screws or bolts that are placed through a snowboard to prevent cracking and splitting that could cause injury.
- Pre-cut snowboard edges with a hand saw to preserve the blades of your power tools and avoid injury if the metal snowboard edge pulls out of the deck unexpectedly.
Now the fun part. Here are some of the most creative DIY retired snowboard projects that our very own Burton staff members have undertaken.
Snowboard Computer Workstation Riser
If you take a stroll around the Burton Snowboards Corporate Headquarters in Burlington, Vermont, you will notice workstation computer risers made from upcycled snowboard decks. This is a fun, practical project that can be simple, or more complex, depending on how handy you are.
To make a simple computer riser, simply cut your old snowboard deck down to your desired size, then attach small 2x4 or 4x4 legs. For smaller risers, four legs will be enough. For wider risers, additional legs help support the weight of larger computer monitors. Make your project even more sustainable by making the legs out of wood scraps from other projects, tree branches, or driftwood for a natural touch.
Snowboard Mirror & Picture Frames
Old snowboard decks can make colorful picture frames or mirror frames. First, do some math to determine the exact dimensions to cut. Then, using a straight edge and a fine-toothed saw blade, cut your pieces to size.
Attach everything using a quality construction adhesive and right-angle brackets on the back corners. Add some picture-hanging wire to the back so you can display your new art project on the wall. Mom and Dad would be proud.
Snowboard Coasters
Snowboard coasters are a unique project. One old snowboard deck should provide enough material to make a couple of sets (assuming you have that many friends). One easy way to complete this project is to use a router and a circle jig to make perfect circular coasters. Alternatively, you could freehand with a jigsaw, or just go the easier route and make square coasters using a table saw. You can even use a drill press with a hole saw to make snowboard coasters.
Snowboard Dog Bowl Riser
Give your best furry friend the gift of good posture by making them a snowboard dog bowl riser. For this project, use a router to make one or two circular holes to support a food and water bowl. Alternatively, you can use a jig saw to make these cutouts. Attach 2x4 or 4x4 legs based on the height of your doggo and you’re good to go. Please note that this project will not make your dog behave better; that’s on you.
Keep Your Old Snowboard Alive and Out of the Landfill
No matter what you do with your old snowboards, whether that’s donating them, turning them into wall art, or upcycling them into something new and useful, the most important action you can take is to keep them out of the waste stream. This ensures they don’t go into a landfill where they’ll take decades (or longer) to decompose.
Got an original idea for a DIY project to share with the Burton community? Tag @burton on Instagram for a chance to be featured. We can’t wait to see what you’re doing with your old snowboards.
