Bill Johnson took the world by storm at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, coming out of nowhere to win the first American gold medal in downhill skiing. He went on to dominate the World Cup races that same year. His success made him an overnight celebrity, but his fame was fleeting. He never won another race, and personal tragedy seemed to follow him at every turn. With his post-Olympic life spiraling out of control, Johnson decided to do the unthinkable — make a comeback at the age of forty. He had his motto, “Ski to Die,” tattooed on his right bicep. In a race at Big Mountain, fearless and in the lead with one turn to go, Johnson crashed face-first into the icy mountain at fifty miles per hour. Ski to Die is a story about the cost of chasing dreams. It is about glory and the attempt to recapture it once it is lost. More than a cautionary tale, Ski to Die is a rise-fall-rise-again story — because against all odds, Bill Johnson’s story doesn’t end at Big Mountain.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
While Johnson has been profiled in the media many times over the years, SKI TO DIE is the first full-length account of Bill Johnson’s rise and fall. Unlike the sanitized made-for-TV movie created after his gold medal victory, author Jennifer Woodlief, with Johnson’s full cooperation, gives readers the whole story—a gritty, cautionary tale about the price paid for pursuing dreams. With the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin just around the corner, Bill Johnson and SKI TO DIE are certain to make headlines
From the Back Cover
"The book makes you feel like living every day to its fullest, because you never know what's around that next turn."
--Picabo Street, two-time Olympic medalist
Journalist Jennifer Woodlief interviewed dozens of people in the skiing world, including Bode Miller, Frank Gifford, Franz Klammer, Phil Mahre, Tommy Moe, Picabo Street and Daron Rahlves to find out what went wrong in the life of this arrogant, stubborn, and amazingly talented Olympic bad boy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating-- Whether or Not You're a Sports Fan,
This review is from: Ski to Die: The Bill Johnson Story (Hardcover)
I'm not a skier and am not much of a sports fan either, but I heard about "Ski to Die" and thought I would give it a try. I was amazed by the story. This is one of the few books that I couldn't put down. The author does a fantastic job weaving Johnson's early years and current situation to further grip the reader. This is a compelling story of the complexities of human nature. What I liked most about the story was the honesty with which it is told. I read that it was written with Johnson's full cooperation and I admire that neither he nor the author try to sugar coat his life. I highly recommend this book, even if you are neither a sports fan nor a biography buff you will enjoy this frank and true story and the life lessons in it. This book is every bit as interesting as any fictional story; it's a modern day Greek tragedy!
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping and compelling,
By
This review is from: Ski to Die: The Bill Johnson Story (Hardcover)
I am an avid skier and a lover of biographies. What an amalgamation of the two!!! Growing up in Colorado, skiing was in my blood...much like Bill Johnson. This book is not only a compelling story of his life but also a story of tragedy that draws you in immediately. You wish for Bill's confidence in your own life's ventures but dread that it would come with the price of cockiness and heartbreak that inevitably follows. I couldn't put it down!!!! Well written and gripping!
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wild Ride,
By Rob Thomas "Rob" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ski to Die: The Bill Johnson Story (Hardcover)
Very much in the style of Krakauer and Junger, the book adeptly juxtaposes Bill's early years with his current plight and in doing so provides the reader an intense perspective and the means for compassion for this troubled and immensely talented man. It was a great read. I realized I had never seen Bill as a hero, but having finished the book, I certainly do now. I really recommend this book!
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