Extremely Rare Grateful Dead Skis Auctioned for a Good Cause

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Dec 3, 2024 3:07 PM ET

Ever wanted to own a pair of rare sticks? Are you a fan of the Grateful Dead? What about Chris Benchetler’s ski artwork? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re in the right place.

The Snowbasin Sports Education Foundation (SSEF) in Utah is auctioning a pair of limited Atomic Bent Chetler 120 Grateful Dead Edition skis. Only 260 pairs of these bad boys got made, and according to the auction’s listing, you can’t buy a pair anywhere else on Earth right now. Given the rarity involved, it might make sense to keep them as wall art—although I suspect the “tools, not jewels” gals and guys among us might disagree.

"The Bent Chetler 120 Grateful Dead Edition skis are not only an unmatched piece of gear but also a true collector’s item that bridges art, music, and sport," reads a portion of the auction item's description.

At the time of writing, only two bids have been placed on the skis, topping out at $2,750. The auction ends on Friday, December 7th, at 12:00 a.m. MST. You can throw your ski helmet into the ring right here.

Proceeds from the auction directly benefit the (SSEF), helping the non-profit maintain its kids racing, freeride, and ski mountaineering programs. The SSEF’s stated goal is to help local youth “reach their individual potential as athletes, students, and contributing members of the greater community through winter sports participation.”

The skis were first released in 2019 as part of a collaboration between Benchetler, the Grateful Dead, and Atomic. Benchetler’s fondness for the Dead is known. The band and the skier previously collaborated to produce Fire on the Mountain (embedded above), a video project with spectacular skiing visuals and, of course, music from the Dead themselves. Another collaboration—called Mountains of the Moon—is forthcoming and was teased during the Dead & Company’s Las Vegas Sphere residency this past summer.

Meanwhile, Benchetler remains one of, if not the most, prolific skier-slash-artists in snowsports—you can call him an “artlete” if you’d like. He joined the Atomic crew in 2007, spearheading the creation of his now famed Bent Chetler pro model ski. In the process, he nudged the brand towards freeride, which, prior to 2007, was more alpine racing adjacent.

While the skis are obviously fun—Atomic knows what they’re doing—part of the appeal of the Bent Chetler and its associated offshoots is Benchetler’s artwork. His signature paintings, which adorn the tops of numerous Atomic skis, might be the closest thing skiing has to blue-chip art.

And now, you can get your mittens on a rare bit of that Benchetler magic.

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This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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