The History and Evolution of Modern Ski Music & The Birth of the "SKITAR"
Malibu, California – 1981
In the early '80s, three college roommates—Eric T. Brandt, Pete Honebein, and Steve Rogers—found themselves on the road as part of the rowdy crew for the irreverent punk band, the Surf Punks. They toured colleges, music venues, and bars across Southern California, Las Vegas, and beyond, playing wild, high-energy performances.
Brandt, an up-and-coming musician and songwriter, and Honebein, an avid skier from Northern California, began to wonder: if there’s surf music, why isn’t there ski music? They thought, “Why not create something that captures the energy, intensity, and thrill of the ski culture around the world?”
Soon, they formed a band called Ski Patrol. Together, they began writing fast-paced, fun, and rowdy songs that celebrated the joys of skiing—adding a touch of that Surf Punks attitude, energy, and irreverence.
The project really took off when Eric approached Surf Punks leader Dennis Dragon (a seasoned music producer himself) to record their tracks at Surf Bowl Studios, perched on Point Dume with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. In less than two days, with Dragon at the helm and the help of the Surf Punks crew—including Drew Steel, Leathan Lund, Tony Morales, and others—they recorded six high-energy tracks that would lay the foundation for the ski music revolution.
THE LEGEND OF THE SKI-TAR
Fast forward to the mid-80s: The Surf Punks were known for their over-the-top, irreverent shows, packed with bikini-clad girls, squirt guns, smoke bombs, and total mayhem. Lead singer and guitarist Drew Steel even took it a step further—he built a guitar out of a skateboard and would ride it around the stage, hurling things at the crowd while chaos ensued.
Inspired by Drew's wild creation, Eric Brandt and Pete Honebein had a wild idea: What if we built a guitar... out of skis? And just like that, the concept of the "Ski-Tar" was born!
But building a guitar from skis wasn’t a simple task. The main challenge? How could they attach a guitar to skis without the skis bending, which would make tuning a nightmare every time the guitar was played?
Enter a rare, 1970s-era Travis Bean electric guitar with a steel neck—a solid piece of steel, unlike traditional wood necks, which meant it would stay rigid even when attached to skis. This was the perfect solution.
With the help of Ken Hirsh—an audio tech wizard from the Surf Punks crew—Eric and Pete got to work building the first-ever Ski-Tar. The result was a one-of-a-kind instrument, combining the thrill of skiing with the power of rock and roll!
Over the past 40 years, Eric T. Brandt has rocked the Ski-Tar at countless performances, including many with his current band, The Beer Gardeners, who regularly play around the Lake Tahoe area.
In 2024, the Ski-Tar found a new home when Eric T. donated it to the Chamois Restaurant and Bar in what is now known as Palisades, in the resort formerly called Squaw Valley. The Tee family hopes that skiers of all ages will enjoy the story and history of the Ski-Tar for generations to come.
The Ski-Tar is now displayed in a custom-built case, hand-crafted by Tyke Borwick of Homo Habilis Construction in Tahoe City.
Dive Into the Ski Music Catalog!
Ready to jam out to the full collection of ski-inspired tunes? Just ask your favorite streaming device to play songs by Eric T. and The Skis, or visit skimusic.com! 🏔️🎸
