Like one of the previous reviewers, I thought there was too much time devoted to "weight your outside ski" as well as the fact that everything was repeated about 3-5 times in slightly different language. So if you are skiing green runs with ease, blue runs ok and want to move to black, this book will probably help. If you are skiing black and double diamond runs and want to improve, I would suggest Elling's book All-Mountain Skier : The Way to Expert Skiing. The redeeming factors of the book which got it 3 stars from me were the chapters on advanced techniques although Elling's book still wins out in powder, crud, etc...

If, like me, you desire a book that breaks down each aspect of skiing into bite size, easily digestible pieces and then continue to build on what is already practiced and learned, then this is the book for you. The author is methodical in his explanations and the writing is clear, straight forward, engaging and fresh. The section on bumps alone is worth the price of the book. Again, this is an excellent intermediate skier book. Those more advanced may wish to look elsewhere. Bottom line; read the book and you are sure to improve.

Simply put, this is the best book on skiing technique. I'm in awe that there is a negative review of this book. Despite its title, this book covers concepts from novice to expert technique. Lito's writing style is both engaging and very informative. He can convey complicated concepts with ease. This book not only covers how to coorect and advance your ski technique but also why you are performing the exercises, motions, etc., how they translate into carved (and skidded), controlled turns in various terrain. I am a very strong skier but I still frequently turn to this book to understand small corrections in my technique. Yes, this book can be repetitive but this helps to ingrain the concepts Lito is teaching. This book convinced me to sign up for his Aspen course which is also excellent.

A nice collection of information but for what I was looking for the web had as much information on what was where and how much it cost. This book is not worth as much as others becuase it lacks the reader input and real experience of going and being there. Most info can be picked up from travel guides and brochures.

This is a wonderful resource with loads of candid opinions on what's great and not so great in the Alps. It is an overview and does not go into tremendous detail on any one resort, but if you are trying to pick from the overwhelming range of choices, this book will definitely help. Be aware, the book is written from a decidedly British point of view so it places much value on some criteria that American skiers may not value quite as highly (i.e. whether on-mountain dining is of a high enough quality). Also, don't rely on the section covering US resorts for anything other than a humerous glimpse at how the Brits size up places like Vail and Lake Tahoe (both criticized for "lack of non-skiing activities"). There are no photos and the mountain maps give only the broadest idea of the mountains and terrain offer, but the individual writeups are worth their weight in gold.

by far the best way to review and select resorts for your purpose. very easy to use, accurate and INDEPENDANT.
money well spent to ensure you go to the best place for you.

Cross-Country Skiing by Ned Gillette, John Dostal will appeal to the active person wanting to take-up the sport of nordic skiing. Why 3 stars? Because skate skiing is covered only at a novice to intermediate level (see cover photo)and would be of limited use to the more advanced crowd.

This was the best book for nordic skiing up till about 1990, when the current telemark equipment evolution took the sport out of its nordic context into the realm of pure alpine skiing. For those who still are nostalgic for skiing on skinny skis, this book is still the best. For another classic, see Steve Barnett's Cross Country Downhill.

Too many manuals are written without a sense of humour, but this one doesn't suffer there. The authors write in a way as to appeal and interest across all levels. This book is useful for an XC skiier to help hone their skiing, and useful to loan to doubting friends to get them interested.

Since Konrad Spindler's book "The Man in the Ice" (1996) has been shown to be more flight of fancy than fact-based reconstruction, those interested in this subject have been awaiting the scientific revelations the Iceman's well-preserved corpse undoubtedly embodies (pun intended). Although I found Fowler's journalistic narrative both well-written and interesting for its behind-the-scenes peek into the events following the sensational discovery of this 5,300-year-old mummy, I found the subtitle misleading, and the book, ultimately, disappointing.

Though not an archaeologist by profession, I am deeply interested in the subject and count myself among thousands of well-educated laypeople eager to share in the discoveries of our more formally qualified brethren. Both the promise of the book's subtitle ("Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man...") and its recent publication date had me thinking that Fowler would be presenting the very latest findings and drawing on these to create a vibrant portrait of daily life in Alpine Europe during the Copper Age.

Alas, Fowler is first and foremost a journalist, not a prehistorian. This is evident throughout her work, as she insistently focuses on the political maneuvering and interpersonal politics between the various scientists and institutions involved in research on the Iceman, almost to the point of ignoring what we have learned about him and the world in which he lived. The paucity of illustrations is another strike against the book. What few there are, are blurry b/w photos and a handful of line drawings. Any reader hungry for insight into what this man's life might have been like is sure to come away unsatisfied.

Still, what Fowler does have to say is of interest, if only for revealing the petty infighting and blunders that have overshadowed what little research has been done on the Iceman.

Iceman, by Brenda Fowler, is one of the most interesting, well written books I have read in a long while. It takes an already fascinating subject and, through excellent research and skillful writing, weaves an even more fascinating look into the world in which science, egos, and a need for research money forms an unholy alliance. The finding of the 5300 year old mummy in the Alps is only the beginning..not the end of this story. The author made me feel such a wide range of emotions about this find and the way the once in a lifetime chance for knowledge was handled that I did not want the book to end. I just hope she has an "Iceman 2" planned. I will be first in line to buy it!

A marvelous blend of scientific journalism and detective novel, Iceman takes us on an investigative spree to the Tyrolean alps where the frozen corpse of a 5,300-year-old man was unexpectedly found in 1991. Surrounded by controversies--national, scientific, touristic and financial--the Iceman promised to open up new vistas of our understanding of human life in prehistoric times. He also promised to bring fame and wealth to those who could claim him as their own, whether through the accidents of discovery or geography, or through the accomplishments of scientific research that would decode the secrets hidden within his well-preserved body, clothing and tools. Following the progress of members of the international research team dedicated to preserving and studying the Iceman, Fowler lays bare the rather scandalously unscientific manner in which much of the research was (or wasn't) coordinated and explanatory hypotheses proposed. The suspense builds as she leads us from one dashed theory to the next, finally arriving at the research and hypotheses she finds most plausible to date. Both the science and the accounts of the scientists--few of whom come off in a very good light--are presented clearly and intelligently in a well-researched, often humorous and always compelling narrative. Highly recommended!

I liked this book, but I guessed both the identity of the murder and two basic plot twists (I won't tell you which ones so I don't spoil it for you) before I was even halfway through with the book...

Alpine native, Dani Marsh, returns to her hometown to make a movie. Shortly after she arrives, her ex-husband is found dead. Does her return tie in with the murder? Was her movie star boyfriend jealous? Emma Lord, owner of the local newspaper, works on this and other possible motives in her effort
to track down the murderer. Her friend, Milo, the local sheriff, has a new girlfriend, but despite this, he and Emma work together to uncover the killer. This is a good addition to the series.

If you need a light fun read this is definitly the series for you. This was a hard book to put down. If you live in a small town you see your own local characters popping up on the pages. The Alpine books are a great escape from heavy fiction. I'd recommend the complete series.

This book is decent, but the Illustrated Guide to Snowboarding is a much more in-depth and well written book. It is also more entertaining with funny drawings and tips. This book really only skims the surface on all the areas you need to start snowboarding.

I picked up this book hoping to add to my small bag of tricks. While definitely aimed at the beginner, there is enough solid info in here to help most any unsponsored rider improve their technique, even lucky locals such as yours truly (Tahoe is my backyard, Mount Rose my resort of choice).

The main thing I got out of this book was improving the mechanics of my turns, plus the inspiration to work on my ollies and 360's.

I do wish I had gotten my hands on this book earlier in my snowboarding career. Might have saved me from a few faceplants.

This book is great for begginers and also explains advanced tricks and techniques like methods, spins, cliff drops, carving and explains a little about racing and competative snowboarding. It also gives you usefull info like what to eat before you go, warm-ups, getting on and off chairlifts, ect.

When Crystal Bird begins publishing a newspaper called Crystal Clear and launches personal attacks on Emma Lord, Emma is understandably upset. The Alpine Advocate editor goes to talk to Crystal, but doesn't seem to make much of an impact. After she leaves, Crystal is found dead in her hot tub. Early speculation is that it is suicide but Sheriff Milo Dodge discovers that homocide is more likely. Suspicion falls on Emma, and she begins to investigate the murder in self-defense. This "cozy" contains the usual high jinks by Emma's newspaper staff and the interrelationships of Alpine which are only discernible by Emma's sidekick, Vida. This is another good Emma Lord Mystery.

I love this series by Mary Daheim. Whenever a new Alpine book comes out, I make sure I clear my schedule and set aside time for just reading, as if setting aside time for a visit from old and dear friends. I'm not in agreement with who Emma chooses as her "man", but it's something I just have to accept and hope she'll get smart and forget about him. I look forward for future books with Milo, Vida, Leo, Emma and the wonderful town of Alpine. I would highly recommend this book.

I just love the setting of these books, the characters come alive on each page. The mystery is pretty easy to figure out, but that does not detract from the overall warmth and coziness of the book.

Finally the long-anticipated junior college is opened in Alpine, and the economically deprived area is given a boost. Einar Rasmussen Jr. has donated large amounts of money to the college, but his arrogance has not won him any friends. When he is found murdered, there are no end of suspects, including his eccentric and reclusive relatives. He is also reputed to be a ladies' man, so there are several jealous husbands who are also suspects. Emma Lord, publisher and editor of the Alpine Advocate, is confused as she begins investigating the murder and she is being given no help by her ex-boyfriend Sheriff Milo Dodge. To add to the puzzle, a skeleton is discovered on nearby property as well as some gold pieces. Finally Sheriff Dodge makes an arrest, but many people think that it's a mistake. This is another good Emma Lord mystery and is a good read for "cozy" fans.

Emma is such a well developed character that just gets better with each story. All of her fears and trying to make it in the world just makes the mystery plots even better. This author writes a couple of great series and we only wish they could be written at even a faster pace.

Great humor, mystery and mayhem in Alpine. Makes you wish you lived there. Enjoy this series immensely.

Right on the Edge of Crazy is a good insight to life on the road for ski racers. Yes, it talks about snow conditions (see previous negative comments) however, this information is essential to fully understand the environment in which these guys were racing. Any skier knows that weather alters conditions and therein alter one's approach to skiing. The book was entertaining and enjoyable. I look forward to reading one about the current team.

I am an English teacher at a ski academy in Maine, and I read this book because my husband owns it, my sons race, and it looked interesting. I want to purchase it in quantity, but it's out of print! Help! It's an awesome real life account of the life of an alpine racer.

Downhill ski racing has to be the most awesome sport on the planet: racers routinely scream down mountains at speeds that would make a new Lexus shimmy and shudder; it's nothing for racers to fly a hundred and fifty feet in the air at seventy miles per hour;they pull g's like fighter pilots, and without the benefit of a plane. Mike Wilson captures all that here, plus the personalities and psyches of men whose profession leaves them very little room for error. Easily the best book I've read on the sport.

This book fills an interesting niche, focusing on alpine scrambles instead of the fourth and fifth class routes that fill the bulk of most climbing guidebooks. As such, it is a great resource when thinking about where to go on your next trip. Unfortunately, the information in the book is often neither detailed nor accurate enough to rely on; I find myself having to use Beckey's Cascade Alpine Guide and the Climber's Guide to the Olympic Mountains to supplement it for specific and reliable route details.

As a case in point, consider scramble number 74, "The Brothers": The GPS coordinates listed are wrong, ironic for an author that touts her "extensive experience with map and compass and GPS use." (The coordinates are in the wrong UTM Grid Zone; if you assume that she meant 10T instead of 10U, one is off by nearly a quarter mile.) Some of the coordinates that she does provide aren't particularly useful - obvious sites such as the trailhead, the summit and a large lake on the route - while those that would be useful, such as where the route crosses "The Nose," are omitted. Worst of all, the actual scramble description is cursory, as short as the trailhead driving directions.

Consider this book if you're looking for ideas for alpine scrambles - some in here are true classics. If you do buy the book, however, look for better route descriptions elsewhere, and turn a skeptical eye to trip details, lest they get you in trouble out in the woods.

Goldman's book contains a lot of interesting trip suggestions. Sure, anyone doing much climbing in the Cascades should own Beckey. I also recommend Jeff Smoot's "Climbing Washington's Mountains". And if you can get it, snag a copy of Dallas Kloke's "One Day Winter Climbs In The Cascades". But this book also has a place in the library of a scrambler.

My main objection is the limitation Goldman seems to place on her trips. The hardest climbs are just a little too easy. She would really open things up to another great 50 climbs if she were willing to go just a little bit farther into the Class 3 climbing arena.

Great book. I just wanted to say that I disagree with the review that says get the Beckey books instead. I love the Becky books for their comprehensiveness and the sense of history of the range that they offer, but the route descriptions for scrambling destinations in Beckey tend to be sketchy and often dated. I think this book is better for most of the the scrambling ascents that are described. For example, for Mt. Index, Beckey recommends skirting Lake Serene and then ascending Index from the far end of the Lake. This book describes the approach from the Index-Persis ridge, which is easier and safer.