Skiing Books

Two Planks and a Passion: The Dramatic History of Skiing

Roland Huntford

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Subjects -> History -> Historical Study -> Social History
Subjects -> History -> General AAS
Subjects -> Sports -> Miscellaneous -> History of Sports

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Ski history 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book isn't what I expected. It is good for the prehistoric info about skiing but is too technical and over-worded for the rest of skiing history and doesn't come up into a modern enough time period. It misses some of the recent short, shaped ski developments and their impact on alpine racing and ski instruction.

More than just a casual history of the ski 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I got this for my uncle for Christmas and was halfway through reading it myself by the time we had to head back home. So now I guess I have to get a copy of my own...
If, like me, you are a fan of serious history and the meticulous research that goes into it, then this book is what you are looking for. There have been other books that provide a breezy and cursory treatment of the fascinating history of skiing, but Huntford really goes far beyond what the other books have to offer.
Highly recommended for skiers and history buffs alike.

Editorial Review:

Did you know that the ski is older than the wheel?

Roland Huntford's brilliant history of skiing begins 20,000 years ago in the last ice age on the frozen tundra. On these icy slopes skiing began as a means of survival. That it has developed into the leisure and sporting pursuit of choice for so many, in so many countries, bears testament to its elemental appeal. Its use in both polar exploration and wartime has changed the course of history. The origins of skiing are bound up with the emergence of modern man and the making of the world we live in. The dramatic history of skiing is brought to life in this engaging book.

Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing (Includes Free DVD)

Harald Harb

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks By: Hatherleigh Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $11.90

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The world's greatest ski instructor shows you the eight key steps to skiing perfection.

Twenty years ago, Harald Harb revolutionized learning to ski with his Primary Movement Teaching System. Harald has personally trained thousands of recreational skiers and many thousands more have mastered skiing through his books and videos. Now Harald reveals to readers everywhere the eight basic lessons that grant immediate improvement to any skier at any level.

Essentials of Skiing is an easy-to-use yet powerful eight-step program proven to create success on the slopes. With in-depth descriptions and clear, detailed photos, the techniques and exercises will benefit skiers at every level from the novice to the most advanced.

Essentials of Skiing will show you how to:
• Perfectly coordinate your upper and lower body movements
• Increase your pure balancing ability
• Improve your range of motion without muscle strain
• Expertly handle bumps, carving, turns, poles and much, much more

Whatever your level, Essentials of Skiing is your guarantee of skiing success. 200 photos.

Backcountry Skiing: Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series)

Martin Volken, Scott Schell, Margaret Wheeler

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 By: Martin Volken Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $12.80

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Subjects -> Sports -> Mountaineering -> Instructional
Subjects -> Sports -> Mountaineering -> Mountain Climbing
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Cross-Country

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great Book on the Best Type of Skiing 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is a great book. Not too basic and not too advanced for someone wanting to get into the best way to ski-the earn your turns way.

I used to teach alpine touring and ski mountaineering in the army and this would have been a great book to have around as the textbook. We taught all of this and then went in depth on the important items like avalanche safety (avoidance) and rescue. This book gives a beginning or intermediate ski mountaineer a taste and encourages AIARE level one certification (I recommend level two personally...)

I still have my copy of the past standard, Peter Cliff's out of print classic "Ski Mountaineering" (no, I won't be selling it on EBay) and this is an improvement on it.

It is great for learning and a great review for those that think they remember everything. I got some good tips on gear that, damn, I SHOULD have known!!!

Editorial Review:

113163 Features: Co-authored by Scott Schell and Margaret Wheeler Paperback Specifications: Pages: 288 pages

The Edge of Never: A Skier's Story of Life, Death, and Dreams in the World's Most Dangerous Mountains

William A. Kerig

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Stone Creek Publications Amazon Marketplace: 26 new & used starting at $9.54

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Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Memoirs
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Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the world of big-mountain skiing, Trevor Petersen was a legend. Appearing in countless films, magazines and photo shoots, his ponytail flying behind him, he was the very embodiment of the freewheeling spirit of extreme skiing in the 1980s and early ’90s.

Then it all came to an end. On February 26, 1996, while skiing in Chamonix, France – the so-called Death Sport Capital of the World – an avalanche swept Trevor away. His body was found sitting up in the snow as if gazing at the mountains he loved.

Nearly a decade later, Trevor’s fifteen-year-old son, Kye Petersen, a rising star in his own right, traveled to Chamonix to ski the run that took his father’s life and, with the aid of some of the world’s greatest ski mountaineers, to become a member of skiing’s big-mountain tribe.

There to chronicle Kye’s story was William A. Kerig, a filmmaker with a dream of his own – to create a film about the soul of big-mountain skiing and the band of mountaineers who ski the steepest, wildest, most dangerous terrain in the world.

In The Edge of Never, Kerig gives us not only a ripping adventure tale about a young man coming of age but a frank and subtle portrait of the extreme skiers who "live big" in the face of death and risk everything to experience the fullness of life in the mountains.

Go Snowboard: Read It, Watch It, Do It (GO SERIES)

Neil McNab

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Go snowboard 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I've never snowboard before. This book tough me how to stand and turn plus it has included DVD with detailed instructions. If I compare it to other books and DVD's I've ordered this product is the best.
My recommendation for beginners.

Really effective book 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I never snowboard. Read this book. And was able to make link turns in 3 days! Now I ride the lift and make really nice carve turns on the greens. Hopefully, the blues next. My friends are better than me but then I was watching a video of one of them after I read this book and I realized their technique is not as smooth as the books says which means I'll be riding better than him in no time!

Editorial Review:

For everyone ready to take on a new sport, to engage in competition, and to carve out a new physique, the Go Series is a coach, rulebook, and starter kit-all rolled up into one fast-paced an innovative package. These step-by-step book-and-DVD packages give readers all the knowledge, instruction, advice, and encouragement they need to get up and go!

All-Mountain Skier : The Way to Expert Skiing

R. Mark Elling

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $7.24

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Outdoor Recreation -> General AAS
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Downhill
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Did not gain much after reading the whole book. 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Do not agree with some of the "tools", especially "steering". Do not think that an intermediate skier (as myself) can benefit from the "tools" introduced in this book. I did learn something new in this book, though not much.

True to its title 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Of all the numerous books on ski instruction that I have, this is among the best. The text and the illustrations are perfectly in sync and they are equally compelling explanations of what is going on. This book explains what it means to ski the whole mountain.

Grat book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

You cannot learn skiing by reading a book. Like any other skills, good skiing requires hours and hours of training. However, it is good to read "how to" manual before going to the hills. It is also especially good to look inside the book AFTER skiing day with fresh memories of one's own performance. This is a good book for everyone eager to learn more and improve his skiing skills. I do recommend it. For extreme skiing lovers I highly recommend three DVD's by well know extreme skier and filmmaker Peter Chrzanowski: "The Spirit", "Valdez Goes Extreme" and "Mt. Robson, The North Face". And if you want to relax next to the fireplace after a day of skiing then get Naked Pictures of Famous People

Editorial Review:

"Covers more information than a week's worth of private lessons."­­Ski magazine

The All-Mountain Skier helps skiers advance their skills with a foolproof, self-instructional program for mastering advanced techniques in even the most challenging conditions. Drawing from his extensive experience as a ski professional, instructor Mark Elling delivers essential advice and information­­including tips from other expert skiers­­to help readers perform like pros.

Cross-Country Skiing: Building Skills for Fun and Fitness (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert)

Steve Hindman

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: The Mountaineers Books Amazon Marketplace: 15 new & used starting at $5.29

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Subjects -> Sports -> Mountaineering -> Mountain Climbing
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Cross-Country
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

An excellent comprehensive primer on enjoying the snow via skis 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

Aspiring skiers will love Cross-Country Skiing: Building Skills For Fun And Fitness: it joins others in Mountaineers' 'Outdoor Expert' series, providing a long-time PSIA instructor's techniques using step-by-step photos and learning activities to back instruction. Common problems receive sidebars of easily-accessed information, while technique is surveyed for different terrain and snow conditions. Cross-Cross-Country Skiing: Building Skills For Fun And Fitness: isn't just about technique, though: it includes games, health concerns, and tips on selecting skis and clothing. An excellent comprehensive primer on enjoying the snow via skis.

Excellent XC ski book 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Steve Hindman's book is an outstanding introduction to Nordic skiing. He starts from scratch, describing the types of skis and bindings, and showing you how to get started for the first time. He then gradually progresses to the more advanced techniques of efficient and enjoyable cross country skiing. I have been Nordic skiing for 26 years without much instruction, and I learned a lot from the book. I highly recommend it.

Editorial Review:

REINHOLD MESSNER:FREE SPIRIT

Allen & Mike's Really Cool Telemark Tips, Revised and Even Better!: 123 Amazing Tips to Improve Your Tele-Skiing (Falcon Guides)

Allen O'Bannon

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Falcon Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $8.92

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Still a great book, but a lot of overlap 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

A great source for beginner and intermediate level telemarkers. As the title would suggest, this "revised" version has a lot of overlap with the previous edition. For the price, however, it is worth picking up the new edition and gifting your old dog-eared copy of the original to a friend.

Perfect way to learn telemark! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

After 10 years of skiing, and 10 years of snowboarding, it was time to discover something else and a new challenge: " Allen & Mike's Really Coll Telemark Tip" was the perfect way to learn the perfect stances to telemark!

The Awesome learned from this BOOK! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

When I ask a very awesome and strong tele skier to teach me; she recommended this book. After having reviewed the basics - I can't wait for SNOW to do all the lessons that apply to me!!

Drop the knee - Not the bomb! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I'm the illustrator of this groovy book. If the following sounds like shameless self promotion...it is. 123 tips in this UPDATED book! I personally subjected my ski partners to my less than subtal research technique, I bugged 'em by asking every concievable question and making 'em try (almost) every tip in the book. The winter of 97/98 involved getting up in the morning and going backcountry skiing, then coming home and drawing bizzare cartoons of what subtal telemark insights I uncovered durring the day. The result was the first edition of this book. People actually stop me on the street and thank me for improving their tele-skiing! Then, I spent the next decade practicing and refining NEW tips for this book. Now available, reafdy for your ski season. For example there is a funny cartoon of a guy puting a penny in his [...]...really! Strange but true, this is a valuable tool to perfect this beautiful style of skiing. 'nuff said...Mike Clelland!

Editorial Review:

123 tips for beginners and experts looking to improve their telemark skiing. Filled with funny & practical illustrations.

Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book, Revised and Even Better!: Traveling & Camping Skills for a Winter Environment (Falcon Guides)

Allen O'Bannon

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Allen O'Bannon, Mike Clelland Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $7.00

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General AAS
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Walking

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Useful even if you don't ski. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

There are many tips in this book that may be of value for winter camping even if you do not ski to get there. The information is presented in an easy to retain manner with humor and cartoons. I may even try to ski one day.

Funny and Informative! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The clever humor aside, this book has everything I needed to know before entering the back country. I highly recommend it.

Editorial Review:

113169 Features: 114 pages Specifications:

Snowboarding Skills: The Back-To-Basics Essentials for All Levels

Cindy Kleh

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Firefly Books Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $3.99

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Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Snowboarding

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

With its breakneck speed, upstart attitude and stunning locales, snowboarding is the definitive sport for those who thrive on adrenaline rushes and winter activities. No longer the exclusive province of renegade hot-doggers, huckers and shredders, snowboarding earned its own venue for the 1998 Nagano Olympics and was very popular at the Salt Lake City Olympics 2002. Today people of all ages are participating in this sport of athletic prowess and extreme spirit.

The number of snowboarders is exploding and will likely exceed downhill skiers. Whether you are a novice, an experienced snowboarder, Snowboarding Skills will help you improve your technique on the hills. Features include:
- Pointers from the top pros
- Action photo sequences with diagrams to explain technique
- Step-by-step lessons to improve your skill
- Safety and equipment tips

From the basics of standing up and stopping to the challenges of pivoting and jumping, Snowboarding Skills covers everything you need about the sport.