6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Workable, but nothing new., March 10, 2007
This review is from: Weekend Warrior's Guide to Expert Skiing (Weekend Warrior's Guides) (Paperback)
As an intermediate skier looking to improve, this book was a disappointment since it comes off as merely a Poor Man's version of Harald Harb's "Anyone Can Be an Expert Skier" series. In fact, Phipps usage of terms like "SITS" and "Shift to Flat Foot" for his descriptions that comes awfully close to Harb's "PMTS" method and "Free Foot to Little Toe Edge" move.
Weekend Warriors starts off overpromising its instruction. In the first few sections it repeats the the agenda ahead to the point it's almost comical. It's organized semi-decently but not written extremely well, with several errors throughout.
I tried some of the techniques on-snow and, while workable, don't offer anything new if you've read some of the other, better ski books out there. Throughout most of the book, the instruction is well-intended, but I got the impression Phipps didn't really test his method out thoroughly on novice skiers and a lot of it was hot air.
What the author DOES accomplish though that I wish we saw in other ski instruction books is a simplified way of demonstrating technique. Phipps uses analogies like "hugging a beach ball" or "holding a teacup" that do help as opposed to some of the overly academic descriptions in other books.
Will this book make you a better skier? Possibly if you get around the poor writing. But Phipps becomes guilty of just what he accuses others of (and promises to avoid early on in the book)-- describing too many complicated moves that you won't remember on snow.
The author succeeded in making us believe there was a quick method to hit the slopes ASAP and look good skiing... what was delivered takes just as much practice and work as the other methods. Not something you'll accomplish in one weekend.
Good skiing takes practice. This book may help some beginners, but better to look into Harald Harb's "Anyone Can Be an Expert Skier I" book... which "Weekend Warriors" surprisingly echoes like an imitation perfume.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic, March 11, 2009
This review is from: Weekend Warrior's Guide to Expert Skiing (Weekend Warrior's Guides) (Paperback)
I've had an absolutely fantastic experience with this book.
The instruction couldn't be presented in a more simple fashion.
I read the book over a couple of days, practicing the exercises (many that you can do at home) and had a revolutionary day at the slopes the first day out.
The boot feels a little unpolished in its presentation and a couple of the supplemental chapters are a bit sparse, but the fundamentals are quite sound.
Its not a book for someone just starting out, but if you can make basic turns and you can learn from reading, go for it. Don't let the "expert" in the title discourage you.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Took me to the next level, May 17, 2007
This review is from: Weekend Warrior's Guide to Expert Skiing (Weekend Warrior's Guides) (Paperback)
This book is easy to read and the techniques are very simple. In one season while practicing each technique over and over until they were a reflex action I was able to take my skiing to the next level. I purchased a second book as a gift to a friend who is struggling to improve. I recommend to anyone who would like to improve there skiing ability. Two thumbs way up!!!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No