Customer Reviews

Breakthrough on the New Skis 3 Ed: Say Goodbye to the Intermediate Blues

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's fun reading Lito's book. Most importantly, it works. This book is very well written and very easy to understand. Lito tends to explain the same technique repeatedly in different ways. I like his style of writing because many times it helps me to understand the technique better after he rephrase his previous explanation.

I have been skiing on the intermediate trails for years. I picked up several tips from this book and practice them on the slopes. My skiing skill improved almost instantly. I'm confortable skiing on most of the black terrains on the same day! I finally realized expert level skiing doesn't mean it is more difficult than easier level. You just need different tatics and some counterintuitive attitudes mentioned in this book.

I found it invaluable learning to ski with relaxation from Lito. It is the punch line of his book; the steeper the slope, the more relaxing you need. With the help of Lito's book, I can make it. I believe you can, too.

Lito Tejada-Flores is hands-down the best writer of how-to books on skiing. His earlier "Breakthrough" book has been completely rewritten with a focus on the new shaped skis, but even more important, with new examples, new insights, and new chapters which were given too-cursory treatment in the earlier book. He finally explains techniques for use in bumps and on the steeps, which depart from the "one leg at a time" philosophy which Lito advocates for the groomed. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who wants to understand WHAT to do on skis and why that will be effective. Thanks, Lito!

This is an excellent book,with easily understood instructions that the average skier can follow. It helped me greatly this year skiing better and with less effort.

This book in phenomenal, if you are someone who fits the profile of it's target market. It does what it says it will do. This book will get you out of that horrible intermediate rut.

I am not a ski instructor, but I have used what Lito Tejada-Flores teaches and I have taken several people who have never been on snow skis. I will have them skiing confidently down blue and modest black runs on day (3) three.

I've done this with people on challenging areas in Austria and in Summit County CO, not the bunny slopes in the Midwest. I've done this with people who fit the most challenging profile of a student and I'd take on almost anyone as a challenge. Again, I'm not a ski instructor. I'm a skier who loves to see the joy in someone's face when they `get it.'

I've never let anyone learn that (stupid) snow plough. Have you ever watched someone who learns to ski in ski school? The minute they get in trouble they revert back to that (stupid) snow plough. I'm convinced that the snowplough is an evil conspiracy to keep people in ski school for eternity.

Lito has a wonderful way of explaining what skiing is all about. The negative reviews posted here infuriate me, this stuff works!

As for the person/review who said "instead, put your money towards a lesson" obviously has not paid for a lesson in a long time. The cost of this book will get you about a 15 minute lesson. Wow, that's going to teach you how to get in line for the chair lift.
If the author (Lito Tejada-Flores) should happen to ever read this review "thank you, thank you, thank you"

Lito is a not just a great skier, but a great teacher. The repitition, the detailed explanations, and the positive attitude in his book convinced me to try his techniques, which are not new, but have never been so clearly explained to me before. It's not so easy to remember what you read in a book yesterday when you are out standing on the hill. You have to believe it strongly and want to try it - he makes you believe it. He speaks directly to you. You feel like you are in a private lesson with him. I started skiing at age 38, skied on the "old" skies off and on for 7 years, and could never make a good carved turn. My few ski instructors had given me conflicting advice, and could tell me what I was doing wrong, but not why. I quit for 7 years, and decided to give it a try again with the new carving skis. On my first try with them, I was still doing the dreaded skidding turns. I bought Lito's book, read the first several chapters, and started doing carved parallel turns on my very next outing. I had the skills; I just needed a great teacher to help me put it together. If all ski instructors were as good as Lito, there would be no such thing as an intermediate skier - we would all be experts.

I have always been a skier stuck in the `intermediate rut'; if I was even that good. Two things are for sure. I started skiing at about 30 years of age and reached the point after a couple years of skiing about 1 week a year, where I could get down any blue and most black runs, but would look erratic and out of control (I was) doing so. Any I stayed at that level for about the next 10 years, with virtually no improvement.

Then I bought the predecessor to this book and later bought this book. And the 1st year (remember, this is once a year for about 6 days each trip) I did what was taught in the book and I saw improvement, though nobody else really saw it. But I learned things and was in a little better control. The next time, more improvement. And then last spring it all clicked. Skis together, smooth carving turns, balance dead on, I actually knew what I was doing and was having the time of my life. And other people noticed. Of course, I still have a long way to go, but already I have reached a level I had previously convinced myself I would never reach.

Buy the book, do what the man says, give it a little time and you will ski they way you always dreamed of skiing.

This is a great book for intermediate skiers. It is well-written with a logical progression of information and exercices. This is not really a book for people who are already expert skiers looking for extreme skiing advice (although there are some good introductory sections on skiing powder, bumps and steep terrain).

Personally, after many years of not much skiing, I picked this up to re-orient myself and learn a little bit skiing on shaped skis. This book was very helpful in that regard.

I have not seen the video, but I would guess that it would be an excellent companion to the book.

I've read lots of books on ski instruction, and I have to say that all-around, Lito is the best and most accommodating teacher I've seen. HIs book is simple, hits all the right points, and will have you bookmarking almost every page to practice on the slopes. I strongly recommend his videos, Breakthrough on Skis I and III... They're the most beautifully shot, simplest, and most inspiring ski lesson videos you will find anywhere. He teaches much the same method as expert Harold Harb in his series "Anyone can be an Expert Skier," except I've found Lito's books and videos to be much more user-friendly. Strongly recommended. Lito helped my skiing greatly!

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.

This book has the best advice for the intermediate, intuitive skier. I was an very good intermediate skier for years on my old, long, straight skis and finally bought a pair of those new shaped things. I liked them, but didn't see much advantage because I would always skid my turns with both legs and "muscle" my way down mountain, having fun and coming home with sore thighs. After reading the first chapter of this book I become a significantly better skier in one day. One hour, actually. The technique is that good - I ski better, faster, turn more easily, and come home with no leg fatigue at all. I get better each time I go now, instead of going for years and never getting any better.

The only drawback to this book is that you have to wade through tons of rather cutesy, repetitive, faux-folksy writing... lots of it. Hundreds of pages of personal satori, observational "humor" and hawking equipment sales and ski services, when the actual instructions could take maybe ten pages to cover.

Still, if you're been a good intermediate skier for a while, this book will make you a beginning expert instantly. If you're new to skiing, this book will save you time.