ONE of Myrtleford's young and upcoming snowboarders, Bastian McNaught, has been upcycling people's used snowboards to turn them into benches.
After finding no suitable part-time work around town, the 17-year-old started creating the versatile benches to raise funds for future competitions.
"I started snowboarding at about 14 years old, because I wanted to try something different to skiing," Bastian said.
"Recently, Dad saw I wasn't really getting a job anywhere, so he encouraged me to be creative and make some money by doing something that I love.
"He taught me how to use our tools in the garage to create the benches at home.
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"I've made five so far, with three boards planned for next year.
"Once I have all the materials, it takes almost a whole day to transform one into a bench.
"This includes cutting the board down to a certain length, assembling the frame, double-checking the measurements and pouring the epoxy before waiting for it to dry."
Bastian first started 'Summit Benches' three months ago to keep people's well-loved snowboards out of landfill and turn them into a piece of furniture they can use.
“There is not much you can do with snow sports equipment once they have completed their life on the slopes," said Bastain's father, Tristan.
"Looking at the cool designs on each snowboard, Bastian realized he could preserve them in a different way and transform them into a beautiful keepsake.
“Bastian is very passionate about snowboarding and mainly competes in the 'Park and Rails' discipline, which is like skateboarding, but in the snow.
"He has been competing in different local competitions nationally and gaining experience.
“He trains seven days a week when he is at camp, no matter what conditions he is training under.
"Last year he was training in under minus 35 degrees Celsius and you couldn't take the smile off his face; he absolutely loves it.
“He has been training locally with Team Hotham, Turn and Burn Academy in NSW and attending the Team Summit camps in Colorado, USA and at Mammoth Ski Resort camp in California.
“At the moment he is preparing to get ready for his next training season with Team Summit in January, 2025."
Both Tristan, and Bastian's mother Jessica Ruiz, are proud of his entrepreneurial endeavors.
“As parents we are so happy to support him to help him achieve his goals with his snowboarding career," Jessica said.
"We also admire his initiative to learn new skills; not only to create his super cool, unique benches, but also to start a small business, which is not to be underestimated.
“He collects the materials and gets to work with his Dad to give people's donated snowboards a bit of life again.
“He is eager to get on the slopes; it's the place where he is the happiest."
