Customer Reviews

The Anatomy of Skiing

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book many years ago while learning to ski, and I improved 100% before even hitting the slopes again. After being stuck in the intermediate rut for a couple years, I decided to do some research to improve my skills. After reading this book, for the first time, I finally understood what I was supposed to be doing, what muscles to use and when to use them. He covers basic carving, moguls, and powder. Probably the most helpful piece of information for me was "unweighting"; before I understood this concept, I simply muscled my skis around in a turn and would be exhausted before the end of the first day. I re-read this book at the beginning of each season; in fact it's all yellowed and worn now. I'm writing this review now since I'm picking up snowboarding, and I was hoping that this author might have written a book on that subject as well. Definately buy this book if you're interested in being a better skier.

Richard Sanders' book has been useful to me as an intermediate skiier, in learning the whys and hows of downhill technique. He's very accessible, but on the down side, last revised in 1979 the book misses out on a lot of developments, especially in equiptment, since then. The section on carving is pretty lamentable. In it's way, though, it's still the best book I've seen so far on skiing.

If only the author would update this book to cover advances in skis and techniques since published in the late 70's. it is really the best book ever written on ski technique and ski theory. The illustrations are EXCELLENT, the text so logically presented, the sequence of teaching near perfect. It describes the physics of the skiing process so well, and better still how to harness these forces to make you a competent skier. As no book I have run across today comes near the quality of this book I would suggest the learning skier still buy it.. and then supplement his knowledge of more more modern kit usage by watching a bit of YouTube on carving and modern skis.

I bought this book many years ago when I was attempting to go from intermediate to more advanced skiing. I was curious how many skiers graciously bounced back and forth down the hill, seemingly effortlessly. Well, after the very simple reading, it turns out it's all about how our bones and muscles are connected. A simple yet effortless twist of the torso rotates the flat part of the foot and, transferred to the ski, creates a powerful turning action. Written by a doctor, this simple understanding of how we can leverage simple body movements will unlock the potential in everyone seeking to move up from intermediate to advanced. When you finally connect the theory and practice, you will feel like you just won the jackpot!!! Somehow I lost the book, but I am buying this again for my 14 year old daughter who is now ready for the next step! Make no mistake, this book is also great for beginners, but the real prize is in how you go from an intermediate power slide turn to a purely carved turned. The joy of skiing will be unveiled!

After three decades of downhill skiing in Colorado, the Sierra, and in Europe, I believe that this book helped me more than all the lessons I have taken combined, and there were plenty!! The instructors never seemed to say anything that helped much, and nothing else seemed to help much either. The book finally helped me to understand the physics of turning and control, after years of frustration. I especially recommend this book to anyone who likes physics (all three of you), as this will make it easier to understand. Years ago, I loaned my copy to someone who never gave it back, so I am buying another copy now to read again, and start loaning to others who I know can use it to understand turning better, which will immensely increase their enjoyment of this fantastic sport.