Customer Reviews (1)

Good, but environmentally disturbing...
This book helped me out a lot in terms of finding areas to ski in when I first moved to Washington from Montana.However, some of the dialogue disturbed me, as I am a cross-country skier who also works for an organization that fights for the elimination of catastrophically damaging logging techniques.One quote is as follows:"In the rosy glow of the 1980s, it seemed that the overcutting of timber on forest lands was, if anything, a boon to the cross-country skier: more forest roads to explore in the winter, more clearcuts for downhill runs, and easier access to high meadows."At one point, it even described clearcuts to be "picturesque."I see clearcuts as the rape of the land, and because I learned how to cross country ski on narrow trails used for hiking in the summer rather than forest service roads, many of the descriptions turn me off to areas rather than draw me in.Where can I ski in a truly wild area, enclosed by frosted trees? ... Read more

Product Description
Experience the best in outdoor adventure on skis! Whether you’re new to backcountry skiing or a veteran on the slopes, Backcountry Skier is packed with expert instruction and valuable tips to help you make the most of your next trip to the mountains.

Author Jean Vives shares the wisdom gained from his 30-plus years of backcountry skiing experience as he presents the essential tools of the trade: the best clothing and equipment to use, the exercises to get you in peak shape, and the proper ski techniques for the conditions you’re likely to encounter.You’ll also stay safe and on-course with Vives’ detailed descriptions of winter camping, navigation, mountain weather, avalanche detection, and survival techniques. Put this book in your pack and find out how much fun backcountry skiing can be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive and practical
The book did not offer me a lot of new knowledge, but it is a very nice - readible and very practical - summary of most of the most relevant aspects of backcountry skiing. Very useful for reviving the essentials before going into the backcountry again this winter.
And of course there are some useful 'little' things that are new in comparison to other publications. ... Read more

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Warren Witherell is a legend in American skiing. Written for skiers from beginners to World Cup racers, "The Athletic Skier" covers the basics of ski and boot design; progresses through teaching and learning skills; reviews new technologies and choices in equipment; and concludes with racing techniques.Amazon.com Review
With diagrams, photos, and extensive instruction from the experts, The Athletic Skier is designed to improve the skills of skiers concerned with equipment, technique, and training details. The authors conclude that the majority of recreational skiers are skiing far below their potential. Their solution? Start with equipment--make sure boots, skis, and poles fit correctly for maximum balance--and then learn to use that equipment as intended to carve turns. Once skiers feel balanced and can use their edges most effectively, they are ready to become "athletic skiers." The final chapters are devoted to advanced technique, conditioning and practice exercises, and instruction for racers and coaches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The Athletic Skier
Read this book many years ago and have looked for it since. Nice addition to my ski reference library.

Essential reading for anyone that aspires to become the best skier they can be.
As a full certified ski instructor with over 14 years teaching experience, and as a former club racer and High School coach, this is the only book I recommend to anyone (and everyone) that seeks to improve their skiing.In this book (and previously in his first book, How the Racer Skis) Witherell does more to define and clarify the skills necessary for achieving and mastering the highest level of skiing than the piles of PSIA books and manuals I accumulated during my five year progression from uncertified to full certified instructor.BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL; Witerell also addresses the most critical, yet most overlooked, aspect of alpine skiing: THE EQUIPMENT.Most specifically BOOT FIT: fore/aft balance, and canting.In so doing Witherell attacks the "disease" that most skiers suffer from, poor fitting equipment (boots) that puts them out of balance and out of alignment and leads them to constantly struggle with compensating movements in a desperate and futile attempt to regain balance and compensate for poor alignment.So much ski instruction and (sadly) coaching only attempts to treat the symptoms (poor "technique": most often caused by compensating movements in attempt to try and correct equipment caused imbalance or alignment problems) and thus miserably fails the student or racer.When a student comes to a lesson for help with their skiing or a racer puts her trust in a coach they deserve to be taught and coached with, and given, the knowledge that is contained in this book.
Simply put for those that have knowledge of NASTAR handicapping, the information contained in this book (and two days skiing with Witherell) took me from an 18 or 19 handicap to a 7 or 8.
This book is even more critical and more cogent today than when it was first published 13 years ago considering today's shaped skis.
Buy this book.Read it.Address boot fit and canting.Read it again.Ski.Constantly play with your equipment, dialing it in.Ski.Play on your skis.Read this book again and again and again.
Skiing isn't as complicated as most instructors make it.Trust me.Trust this book.Warren Witherell and David Evard know what they're talking about.

Careful
As a PSIA Ski Instructor I would recommend folks be very careful about some of the canting information in this book. The book assumes that all bowlegged skiers are overcanted and while this is mostly true it is not absolutely true.Many bowlegged skiers (including myself) are naturally undercanted and the advice presented in this book is incorrect for us.This book seems to be the source for the 'if you are bowlegged, cant on the outside of the ski' common wisdom, and again that is simply not true in all cases.Canting solutions are individual and must not be over generalized.Instead, read the descriptions of what effects over or under canting can have and see which fits you.Then cant as necessary.

Also, I would say that this 'used to be' the definitive guide.After reading both this and All Mountain Skier by Mark Elling, I would definately recommend the latter.Ellings book is much more useful for actual practice.There is not much in here that is not better covered in Ellings book.Also, the technical information in Ellings book (on canting for example) is much more accurate.

Learning to ski
What can I say that the book doesn't already say. A great book for beginning to intermediate skiers. Including several sections covering your equipment and proper fitting techniques.

Improve Your Skiing - Read This Book
This book was written in 1993 (it is now almost 2000) and you may be tempted to think that this book is outdated. You couldn't be more wrong! Everything in this book is as relevant, if not more so, that when it waswritten.

The section on canting and alignment is amazing. On firstreading I was sceptical. However, I have recently been correctly canted andaligned and am amazed at the difference. As an instructor and racer, I worka lot on my skiing technique. Being correctly aligned has shown the biggestsingle improvement in my skiing for years.

The techniques discussed inthis book are also very very good. Most of them are now more relevantthanwhen the book was written as they allow you to get the most out of the newgeneration of carving skis.

Buy this book, read it, read it again, bealigned and then ski better than ever. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than 15 million dedicated skiers, here is the ultimate resource guide to each and every downhill and cross-country ski facility in North America. This unique state-by-state guide gives all the facts: addresses, phone numbers, and insightful notes on the features, character and ambiance of each ski area. 25 photos; 30 maps. ... Read more

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Chapters: Sven Selånger, Erik Elmsäter, Bengt Eriksson, Axel-Herman Nilsson, Sven Israelsson, John Westbergh, Lars-Erik Efverström, Lars Dahlqvist, Gustaf Adolf Sellin. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 25. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Sven Selånger (a.k.a. Sven "Selånger" Eriksson) (March 19, 1907 November 9, 1992) was a Swedish Nordic skier who competed in the 1930s. He won a ski jumping silver at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and also competed in nordic combined at the Winter Olympics in 1928, finishing 6th, and in 1932, finishing 5th. In 1932 he finished 4th in ski jumping. In addition, he won ski jumping bronze medals at the 1931, 1933, and 1934 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and a gold medal in the 1933 nordic combined event. Selånger won the Holmenkollen ski festival's men's ski jumping competition in 1939, the first non-Norwegian to win the event. In 1939, Selånger became the first non-Norwegian to win the Holmenkollen medal, sharing the award with Norwegians Lars Bergendahl and Trygve Brodahl. He also won the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1939 as well. Selånger competed as Sven Eriksson until the 1936 Winter Olympics, then changed his surname to Selånger after his hometown because there were so many Swedes with the surname of Eriksson. ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=5623805 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent guide to trails near (but not including) Banff
If you are planning a cross - country ski trip to the Banff area, this book is an excellent guide to the ski trails in the area to east of Banff (but not including the park itself). Two trail recomendations - "GoatCreek" and "Peter Lougheed Provincial Park". The author hasalso written a guide to hiking trails in the area. ... Read more

Product Description
Deer Valley is a moderate-sized resort operating on less than 2,000 acres — yet it is ranked by many as North America’s top resort for its impeccable service, award-winning food, luxurious rooms, and velvety slopes. This book traces Deer Valley’s rise to the top from its founding in 1981, when skeptics scoffed at the idea that skiers would pay to be pampered, to its well-publicized role as venue for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games slalom and freestyle events. One chapter details the life of Deer Valley Director of Skiing Stein Eriksen, the Norwegian Olympic gold medalist who became an icon for the sport. This beautifully produced coffee-table book is illustrated throughout with spectacular photos, illuminating the success behind this luxurious ski resort. ... Read more

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This winter Park City Mountain Resort celebrates its 40th anniversary. This book traces the evolution of its success as a world-class resort, a regular stop on the World Cup skiing circuit, and host of the famed Sundance Film Festival. The author opens with the story of Park City's colorful mining-camp days, profiling the entertaining local personalities of that era. It includes a fascinating pictorial record of Park City's last 130 years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book, looks of cool pictures
I have this book in a vacation property for guests.Its a cool book with some great pictures. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally by Dorcas Wonsavage in 2005; re-written by Stuart Kremzner in 2008.This guide is a comprehensive source for starting a club and coaching youth cross-country skiers.

The purpose of the NENSA Bill Koch League Manual is:

1. To provide assistance in creating or revitalizing a BKL Club

2. To provide a learning model and plans for assisting children in learning to ski

3. To provide games and non-competitive events to assist with learning by doing and make skiing fun

4. To provide a guide for setting up competitive youth ski programs

5. To provide a variety of informational resources for all aspects of introducing youth to cross-country skiing

The BKL Parent/Leader Manual focuses primarily on BKL Clubs and beginning skiers, ages 3-13. Advanced youth skiers, ages 14 and older, or the serious racer looking for a structured development program should contact the NENSA Program Office:

NENSA Administrative Office
New Gloucester Hall
49 Pineland Dr.Suite 301 A,
New Gloucester, Maine 04260
phone 207-688-6503
info@nensa.net ... Read more