The Athletic Skier [Paperback]

Warren Witherell (Author), David Evrard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

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.

Editorial Reviews

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.

From Booklist

This book is the perfect instructional for hard-core ski enthusiasts. The authors, both former ski racers, provide a detailed analysis of how to become what they call the "athletic skier." More than 50 pages, spread over eight chapters, are dedicated just to boots and bindings and their effect on balance. That kind of detail will probably scare off all but the most dedicated skier; recreational skiers, though, may be able to glean useful tips from chapters focusing on equipment and basic techniques. Most libraries will need more elementary skiing instructionals on their shelves, too, but this well-written, easy-to-follow book will be popular with anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a slasher on the slopes. Scott Wilkens

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Johnson Books (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555661173
• ISBN-13: 978-1555661175
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #694,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Skiing > Downhill

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Improve Your Skiing - Read This Book, November 22, 1999

By 

Christopher Turner (Berkshire, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Athletic Skier (Paperback)

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 was written.

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

The techniques discussed in this book are also very very good. Most of them are now more relevant than when the book was written as they allow you to get the most out of the new generation of carving skis.

Buy this book, read it, read it again, be aligned and then ski better than ever.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE definitive guide, November 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Athletic Skier (Paperback)

If you buy only one book on skiing, this should be it. It is a joy to read, and re-read. Keep it on the coffee table at your ski condo and read any random chapter. You'll learn something.

Warren is the father of carving long before it became a fad. It is "how the racers ski" (which is also the name of his first book from the early 70's that is a classic).

The content if outstanding and the writing and presentation is equally as nice. Glossy pages, excellent photography.

I've given this book to more hard core skiers than I'd like to say.

The section on balance and alignment alone are worth the money. Buy it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for anyone that aspires to become the best skier they can be., January 15, 2006

By 

A Ski Instructor (East Jordan, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Athletic Skier (Paperback)

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.