Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing: The Fastest Way to Master the Slopes [Paperback]

Harald Harb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 19, 2010

Learn the key steps to skiing perfection and master the mountain.

Harald Harb, inventor of the Primary Movement Teaching System, has already helped thousands of professional and recreational skiers achieve ski mastery. Now, Harb reveals the basic lessons that will give you immediate improvements at any level.

This easy-to-use yet powerful program is proven to create success on the slopes, whether you are a coach, racer, recreational skier, or just starting out. With in-depth descriptions and clear, detailed photos, these techniques and exercises will benefit all skiers.

Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing will show you how to:
* Perfectly coordinate your upper and lower body movements
* Increase your balancing ability
* Expertly control speed, carving arcs, flexing and tipping
* Much, much more

Whether you have never strapped on a pair of skis or hit the slopes every weekend, Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing is your guarantee of skiing success.

Bonus FREE video offer included with purchase: Get the latest video coaching from Harald Harb with the special video offer. Details provided inside the book to unlock your free skiing video companion to Essentials of Skiing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Harald Harb has made a lifelong study of skiing technique. Born in Austria, he raced the World Cup circuit with the Canadian National Ski Team. As a coach, Harb directed ski racing programs that produced some of the United States’ most successful National Team members and Olympic medalists. Creator of the bestselling Anyone Can Be an Expert Skier book and video series, lives near Denver, Colorado. Visit him on the internet at www.harbskisystems.com for instruction, ski camps, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hatherleigh Press (January 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578263646
• ISBN-13: 978-1578263646
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.6 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Skiing > Downhill
  • #34 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Winter Sports

More About the Author

Greetings Skiers,
Latest News, Update: DVD video series of the book, "Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing", is now available. Check my web site www.harbskisystems.com

Here is a short history about my skiing and teaching career.

I was born in the Austrian Alps and grew up in a skiing and outdoor alpine oriented family. I started skiing at 3 years old, began teaching skiing at 15, north of Montreal in the Laurentians. I started my racing career at 16 yrs old, earned two medals at the Canadian National Junior Championships, at 18 years old.

I raced in my first International World Cup race at 18, in 1968. Skied for Canada until 1971.

In the professional skiing ranks, I won "Overall Eastern Regional US Pro Championships", in 1973.

I began coaching in 1973, and was Head Coach, Stratton Mt School from 1975 to 1979. In 1979 I became Director and Founder Mt Washington Valley Educational Foundation, in North Conway, New Hampshire. In 1985 I moved to Alaska and became director and Head Coach of a school for skiers, and Director of the Alyeska Ski Race Program and formed the Alpine Alaska Program from 1986 to 1992.

I was selected for the US National Demonstration Team in 1992 and participated until 1996. Became the Director of the Performance Centers of Aspen, Colorado 1996-97.

I formed my own company in 1998, and have been President of Harb Ski Systems from 1998 to present.

I am the author of the 3 best selling ski books since 1997 ("Anyone can be an Expert Skier 1 and 2") and ("Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing") to present. I am the inventor of the PMTS Direct Parallel ski teaching system, Harb Carvers and Ski Boot Canting plates.

I have a ski shop in Dumont, Colorado. In 2008, I produced a 3 DVD set of the latest PMTS teachings, which is a detailed step by step program of the successful "Essentials of Skiing" book. We ski and teach skiing almost year round, through our Harb Ski Systems ski camps. For any interested skiers, please visit my web site at Harb Ski Systems.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars want more reviews?, February 9, 2010

By 

Richard Kremsdorf (San Diego CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing: The Fastest Way to Master the Slopes (Paperback)

This volume is a reprinting of the book published in 2006, which has 25+ reviews.

If you want more perspectives on the book, go to the reviews for that edition.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the Snow Plow, January 27, 2010

By 

M. Finnell (Washington, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing: The Fastest Way to Master the Slopes (Paperback)

I'm an advanced skier, former PSIA Instructor, and think this is the very best book on alpine skiing using shaped skis (have accumulated some 19 ski books in my home library). Harald Harb backs up what he writes with superb demos of pertinent exercises on green and blue hills, and additional skiing footage on black/double black diamond slopes. These demos are best seen in the 3 DVDs mentioned below. Chocked full of great "how to" information, the ESSENTIALS book contains the salient points of skiing from Mr. Harb's 2 highly successful earlier works: ANYONE CAN BE AN EXPERT SKIER I and II. Mr. Harb begins where ski turns start - the feet - and works his way up the body's kinetic chain in an easily understandable way. DVD demos of the ESSENTIALS book are available for purchase (3 of them) separately: "Tipping", "Complete Upper Body", and "Flexing & Fore/Aft Balancing." Recommend acquiring these DVD's too, however, the book stands alone for enormous instructional value. Finally, if you're a never-ever skier, you might want to start with the "Expert Skier" books and their DVDs, mentioned above.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaches the six steps to skiing perfection, May 18, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing: The Fastest Way to Master the Slopes (Paperback)

Essentials of Skiing: the Fastest Way to Master the Slopes teaches the six steps to skiing perfection, and comes from the inventor of the Primary Movement Teaching System, which has helped thousands of professional and recreational skiers achieve ski expertise. From coordinating upper and lower body movements to increasing balancing and controlling speed, this provides clear black and white, step-by-step photos for every phase of skiing instruction.