Cross-Country Books

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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Browse similar items by category:
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

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

Serious Training for Endurance Athletes

Rob Sleamaker, Ray Browning

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Human Kinetics - Model: 0873226445 Amazon Marketplace: 51 new & used starting at $2.69

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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> Swimming
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very helpful 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I use this book in order to build my training schedule and I enjoy any minute. The book explains the different components of the periodic training method and presents a practical way to develope a yearly log for different types of endurance events (road races up to the marathon distance, triathlons and duathlons up to ironman/ powerman distances, cross-country race, cross-country skiing). I use this books for over a year now, and I find it very helpul.



The fifth star is missing because I find that the books is lacking a more comprehansive view for the periodization within the training week.

Editorial Review:

SERIOUS Training for Endurance Athletesprovides the tools to create trainingprograms and workouts that will pay offin competition. Endurance athletes,coaches, and multisport fitness buffswill learn how to design, schedule,execute, and monitor training programsfor top results.Rob Sleamaker joins with Ray Browning,seven-time Ironman Triathlon winner, toproduce a much improved version of thehighly popular earlier edition.

The Essential Cross-Country Skier

Rick Lovett, Paul Petersen

Amazon Price: $14.35 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 7 to 10 days By: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press Amazon Marketplace: 28 new & used starting at $4.91

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

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Good for Beginners 3 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

"Essential Cross-Country Skier" is a good handbook for beginner skiers. It is an easy read and probably what you want to get you started.

Intermediate level to elite skiers could take issue with many of the technical explainations, for then I would suggest "Ski "Skating with Champions" or "Tao of Skiing" but the then, the book "Essential Cross-Country Skier" was written by someone who obviously loves the sport and will be enjoyed by those who want to take it up.

The Essential Cross-Country Skier: A Step-By-Step Guide 4 out of 5 stars.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful.

I'm a beginning cross-country skier and former Valley Girl with no downhill experience and found this book to be helpful. The book covers choosing equipment, getting started and gives good tips on technique. I haven't purchased any other books on cross-country skiing but this one seems to be a valuable resource.

Good Beginning 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I am finding this book an excellent one for someone who has been away from the sport for years, having been a novice in the past. Have just recently decided to renew this interest and the book is providing good guidelines for me.

Editorial Review:

ADV BACKPACKER: LONG DIST HIKE

50 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits in California: Mount Shasta to Mount Whitney

Paul Richins Jr.

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 By: Mountaineers Books Amazon Marketplace: 19 new & used starting at $6.36

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Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Cross-Country
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General AAS

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

A must for the backcountry enthusiast 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

If you are planning a winter/spring backcountry trip and want accurate, detailed information on routes, terrain, and level of difficulty for some of the best skiing/snowboarding terrain in California than this is the perfect book. The book is well organized, clearly written and beautifully illustrated. Everytime I pick up the book I find myself mentally planning new trips and plotting descent routes on the photographs. An added plus to the book is the wealth of information that it contains on preparing for a backcountry experience. The author covers everything from avalanche danger to equipment to bring on an extended trip. He even includes an excellent website for those who want more information. There always is a question in my mind when I read any backcountry guide about the accuracy of the information. Who wants to set out on a trip only to find out that the route maps or the descriptions don't match the terrain? The author is someone with extensive backcountry experience who has done each of the 50 trips described in the book at least once. We all sould be so lucky! Having taken two trips with the author that are detailed in the book, I can say that he did an excellent job of describing the routes and the terrain. If you are someone who is looking for backcountry ski/snowbaording adventure, this book will make your trip planning a whole lot easier. Enjoy

Editorial Review:

OREGON DESERT GUIDE:70 HIKES

Backcountry Skiing Adventures: Maine and New Hampshire: Classic Ski and Snowboard Tours in Maine and New Hampshire

David Goodman

Amazon Price: $13.45 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Appalachian Mountain Club Books Amazon Marketplace: 16 new & used starting at $7.50

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Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Cross-Country
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General AAS

Editorial Review:

Detailed descriptions and topographic maps for more than 20 tours--including Tuckerman Ravine--plus important gear and safety information, make this guide a must-have for every backcountry skier.

The Complete Guide to Cross-Country Ski Preparation

Nat Brown

Amazon Price: $15.16 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 2 to 3 weeks By: The Mountaineers Books Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $13.79

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Subjects -> Reference -> General AAS
Subjects -> Sports -> Miscellaneous -> Reference
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Cross-Country

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

The Wax guide. 4 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

This is really the only waxing book for serious skiers. Perhaps a bit much for a novice. Given evolving waxing technology the reader will have to also read the latest wax company literature to stay up to date.

Complete but lacking 3 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

It's a good book but it assumes you now the basics of ski waxing. I was trying to obtain a book to learn how to wax skis,and I am still looking. It's worth buying for the advanced procedures covered but you will have to find another book to learn how to "wax skis".

Great book of ski preparation 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The book is for all people in cross country skiing, not only for trainers, also for competitors, for every serviceman and for all amateurs. Only someone who has such a experiances from his work can write a book with knowledge for all. Or like Peter Hale wrote:" Since few skiers can just walk into a World cup or Olympic waxroom to see what's going on, this book is the next best think." I think that all we working in CC skiing can say just:" Thank you Nat for such a great present!"

It's the best practical book of cross country skiing I've ever read.

Editorial Review:

CYCLING THE GREAT DIVIDE

Ski Skating With Champions: How to Ski With Least Energy

Einar Svensson

Amazon Price: $39.95 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Alpen Amazon Marketplace: 4 new & used starting at $8.95

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Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Cross-Country
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

272p. Paper, Landscape format, indexed. This book, the most comprehensive text on cross country Ski Skating available today, is written by 11-times World Master Champion (1988-1998) and international Norwegian and Swedish top level coach, Einar Svensson. This superb text-of-choice for teaching, learning and improving ski skating technique on all levels of experience, for one of the fastest growing new winter sports in the world, is UP-TO-DATE, thorough, instructive, informative and easy to understand and follow.

It's 350 color and black/white photos of recent World and Olympic Champion cross country skiers in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, Norway, and 1993 World Championships, Sweden, are presented in action sequences, with physical and mechanical analysis of 17 skating techniques, elaborate graphs and illustrations, and scientific test results.

Topics are: basic skills and exercises, advanced techniques, detailed explanations of poling, skating and downhill techniques, criteria, terminology, ski skating history, environment, and special analyses of mechanics of skiing and skating movements using 72 professional quality illustrations and graphs. Includes results of wind tunnel testing and information on friction, and inertia.

Winter Trails Colorado, 2nd: The Best Cross-Country Ski and Snowshoe Trails

Andy Lightbody, Tari Lightbody

Amazon Price: $13.45 List Price: $14.95 By: Globe Pequot Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $4.60

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Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Cross-Country
Subjects -> Sports -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Trail recommendations for Colorado X-C skiers and snowshoers 3 out of 5 stars.
15 of 17 people found this review helpful.

Clear and attractive book, but scary, because some of the advice is not suitable for inexperienced or beginner snwshoers. Skiers can consider tackling 10 to 20 mile trails in winter and at high altitudes, but that's too much for anyone new to winter in the high country--especially misleading because the author rates some of these as novice to intermediate.

Editorial Review:

This guide leads readers to 48 of the best snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails in Colorado--from Rocky Mountain National Park to Telluride. 51 maps, 21 b&w photographs

Winter Trails Vermont and New Hampshire, 2nd: The Best Cross-Country Ski & Showshoe Trails

Marty Basch

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Falcon Amazon Marketplace: 36 new & used starting at $2.36

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Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> Cross-Country
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> Skiing -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Northeast Outdoor Enthusiasts Rejoice! 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Yes! This book is very unique in that is written for a few, specific winter activities (x-country skiing or snowshoeing) in a few very specific locations (New Hampshire and Vermont). If you are in the market for such a book, you don't have many choices to begin with. You'll be happy to know that this book does its subject justice.

People in the Northeast will truly enjoy this book as it covers the best winter activity locations primarily in both the Green and White mountains but also in a few other various locations in each state (including Southern New Hampshire and Vermont). The guide includes point-to-point trail directions, specific maps, driving directions, facility information, and the usual historical fun facts that always fill hiking books.

I grew up in New Hampshire and now live in Vermont. To find this book that covers both of my outdoor winter playgrounds was a true find. If you are a big outdoorsy person looking for a guide to places to help you with winter activities, this book by Marty Basch will be a welcome addition to your library or backpack.

Editorial Review:

Designed for everyone, from consummate skiers and snowshoers to beginners and families, Winter Trails will lead you to the best places to snowshoe or cross-country ski in Vermont and New Hampshire. Be it a day trip or a two-hour jaunt, you can enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of winter with these forty-six carefully researched trails. Each outing includes information about the natural landscape, distance in miles, trail difficulty and surface quality. You'll also find a rundown of proper equipment and clothing suggestions and tips on safety, navigation, and trail etiquette. Use this guide to explore the best trails that Vermont and New Hampshire have to offer. (6 x 9, 192 pages, b&w photos, maps, icons)