Customer Reviews

The Complete Encyclopedia of Skiing, 3rd Edition

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Skiing has such a specialized jargon that often skiers use the same words to describe varied actions. This book has opened even my eyes, a certfied instructor for 36 years.

Bob Barnes had a great gift to express complicated actions in clear, understandable language that even a novice or lounge lizzard can comprehend.

Though it sometimes has explanations several pages long, they are often humorous and easy to read. And it is not necesarry to read it in order, page by page, but rather one can look up a term and find cross references to other terms that are germain.

Anyone interested in skiing should have this book handy.

This is a definitive book for any serious skier. It covers every term, person, and subject likely to be of interest to anyone interested in the sport. It is beautifully illustrated, entertaining and superbly organized. The author clearly knows and loves his sport and loves sharing his knowledge with his readers.

Bob has written an Encyclopedia that is not only encompassing, but actually fun to read! He has a natural knack for cleanly and clearly explaining complex technical items. Any serious recreational skier will find this a useful book, and its a must for a professional skiers shelf!

OK, you've been skiing for 4 or 5 seasons now you want to know about the why have I's and when will I.This book covers ALL of the vocabulary that has to do with skiing. this is a keeper book. so from the day you finish reading it,to the next time you need a reference. this is the one.

A lot of work went into creating this encyclopedia and it shows. But in all fairness to the many skiers, there is more to skiing than downhill.

The Complete Encyclopedia of Skiing...Here is a book that should be required reading for anyone serious about the sport of skiing. Skiing professionals and the skiing public at large will find this book hard to put down. This book is so much more than a glossary of skiing technical terms. Bob has the unique skill to present the material in an insightful, entertaining and thought provoking way. For example, he very cleverly uses an image of someone standing on barstools. This image is then used to very simply describe some of the complex turning mechanisms that skiers use. As the author goes on to point out, explaining yourself to the bartender will be a lot more complex.

He uses many other lighthearted approaches to make perfectly clear some concepts that have baffled many skiers for many years.

The author is an examiner with the Rocky Mountain division of the Professional Ski Instructors of America. This is one of the highest levels attainable by skiing professionals anywhere in the world. Bobs material has been gathered over the course of a long career dedicated to helping countless people become the best skiers they can.

I have been teaching skiing since 1984. I have extracted large amounts of material from this book (including previous editions) that has directly helped my skiing, my teaching and that of my students. I have an extensive library of skiing books. Invariably, when I sit down with a skiing book, I will pick up my copy of "The Complete Encyclopedia of Skiing".

As a full time Ski Instructor, Instructor Trainer, Coach and Competitor I found the Second Edition of the "Complete Encyclopedia of Skiing" indispensable. With his Third Edition Bob Barnes has outdone himself again - communicating his rich knowledge of skiing mechanics, culture and history in a clear and entertaining way.

Yes I said 'entertaining', typically Encyclopedia's are informative but somewhat dry . . . this is not the case here. Bob manages to convey even the most complex details of physics, terminology and human biomechanics in a warm and exciting manner. The many years of effort spent refining this book into its present form are apparent even from a brief flip through its pages.

I doubt any avid skier - recreational, competitive or professional will regret a penny that they spend on this book. "The Complete Encyclopedia of Skiing" has earned a place not in my skiing bookshelf - but rather a permanent spot on my bedside reading stand. The fact is, the scope of this book makes about two shelves of my ski book collection obsolete. Anybody out there looking to buy a few dozen ski books?