Winter Sports Books

I bought this book when it was called the The Winter Wilderness Companion: Traditional and Native American Skills for the Undiscovered Season this original edition has been revised as the new Snow Walker's Companion: Winter Camping Skills for the North, with new plans for a traditional wooden toboggan and more trail-craft tips.

I've used the plans to make my own mukluks and mittens with great success and can throughly recommend this book for both beginners and experienced outdoors folks alike.

For those who are really serious about learning winter skills, it would be worth checking out the Conover's website at [...]

Although the book is evocatively written with phrases like "...frosted hair makes long haired women look like fairy-tale damsels and bearded men like hoary old walruses..." there is no lack of attention to detail, with meticulous research and dirt-time experience. The Conovers are arguably some of the most experienced winter travel guides around, and this book is testament to that.

The newest edition of the book previously published as "A Snow Walker's Companion" and "The Winter Wilderness Companion" is hot off the presses and made it's sales debut at the 6th Annual Traditional Winter Camping Symposium near Eau Claire, WI this past weekend.

"Snow Walker's Companion" by Garrett and Alexandra Conover, published by Stone Ridge Press, will be available on Amazon and other outlets in time for Christmas/Chanukah shopping. The book now includes a color photo section and updated information on equipment sources as well as titanium stoves, GPS and sat-phone use and other improvements since the 2001 edition.

Garrett and Alexendra Conovers' "A Snow Walker's Companion" is an interesting compilation of information about living in far northern climates. It works best as a historical record of the traditions, techniques, and lore of Inuit and Cree peoples that enable them to live simply and comfortably in harsh climes. To that end, it is a reverent and important book. The book's weakness is the implicit message that the cold-dwelling hand crafters of wooden snowshoes are morally superior to the poor urban dweller trying to live a balanced life by juggling work and children with occasional forays into the woods or up the mountains, on aluminum Sherpas, clothed in fleece and Gortex. The Conovers, who live in a walled tent in Maine and are respected wilderness guides, seem not to understand that their chosen lifestyle is possible only because most choose not to live it. For readers who are truly considering a move to or extended travel in far northern territories, "A Snowwalker's Companion" is unique and indispensible. Most winter adventurers, though, must satisfy their love of the outdoors with day mountain hikes or backpacks of several days duration. For them, a book such as "Winterwise, A Backpacker's Guide," by John M. Dunn, or any cold weather book by the Appalachian Mountain Club, New Hampshire, is apt to be more useful and far less grating.

I cannot snowshoe very often in Tennessee (hah ha) but this book makes me wish I could. I had read Garrett's Beyond the Paddle and loved it so I got this book and was blown away. I would reccomend it to anyone who likes to camp-out in woodland areas in the winter. Every view in this book is perceptive, inciteful and entertaining. Do not pass this one up. It ranks up there with the works of Bill Mason, Cache Lake Country and works by Calvin Rustrum.

This book is first-class! It has the attention to detail that only the Conovers, both Maine Guides, could bring to it.

It covers snowshoes, bindings, moccasins, boots, toboggans, tents, stoves, food, clothes, and travel by snowmobile. There is even an excellent discussion on the psychology of winter camping.

The emphasis is on winter traveling the way Native Americans have done and are still doing it -- in a safe and comfortable way.

The sources of equipment and further information at the end of each chapter are very valuable.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in winter wilderness travel and camping or in the material culture of the Native Americans of the Sub-Arctic boreal areas.

Rich Howe

This is a pretty decent book on snowboarding. Carving, technocarving, eurocarving...lots of different techniques. But there is not enough step by step information to really help you learn how to turn and do freestyle with the board.

My first experience in Snowboarding was Mike Fabbro's book and I love flying Cessnas at 6000 and this is the closest equivalent I have found since then! Get this book!

This book was well thought out and has a simple straight forward approach. I had read an article the author had written for an airline magazine and became interested in snow boarding. I have used the techniques outlined to teach my kids how to snowboard (better then waiting for them to teach me).

Mike's book makes me want to hit the slopes, right now. I don,t know much about the sport, but the book was a great read and informative.

Mr. Fabbro's book is a very useful snowboarding guide. This book reads well, is funny, and allows riders of any age and level to learn something. Definitely a gift for those taking up ths sport. Cheaper than a nose warmer...

This was purchased as a gift for my wife, who is a big fan of the Tacky the Penguin books. Her elementary
school class enjoyed it, as they always do when the books are read aloud!

I have five Tacky books and we go through at least 3 every time my granddaughter comes. "Tacky is a strange bird, but a nice bird to have around."

"A-huff-and-puff-and-a-huff-and-puff-and-a-huff-and-puff. "WHAT'S HAPPENING?" blared Tacky the Penguin as he came across his companions Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect."

Tacky quickly learns his companions are training for the Winter games. They try to get him to work out as well and Tacky does in his own unique style.

Soon the games arrive, opening ceremonies and then the events.

His team handily wins the bobsledless race as they jump on Tacky and ride him to victory. But a judge calls them for riding a bobsled. Tacky tries to point out his is not one but they still get disqualified.

Next is the ski jumping event with frozen fish for skies. Tacky decides to toast his toes in a cabin but unfortunately he thaws his fish. He tries to jump and lands....several times.

Finally, it's the last event; speed skating. Everything is going well but when the baton is passed to Tacky; he eats it. Frustrated, his companions chase him. Tacky things it's a game of tag and races faster and faster. They win. But did they? They take him to x-ray and look for the baton. Point out the cobwebs in his head as it made my girl laugh.

They eventually are declared the winner and as always: Tacky was an odd bird, but a nice bird to have around.

Overall, it's a good story and well illustrated. However, I found my girl not liking this one as much.

"Tacky and the Winter Games" nails the difficult challenge of writing a truly funny kids' book; it's one of the funniest I've read in the last several years. Text and illustrations combine superbly to give a fully realized portrait of a Tacky and his wacky winter land. You and your young audience will enjoy both immensely; It's one of those rare books that adults will enjoy appreciate almost as much as kids.

The Modus Operandi here is depicting penguins--those lovable but waddly, often awkward looking mammals--training for a Winter Olympics type contest. For credibility, Lester presumes that most penguins might adapt well to winter sports, given sufficient training. However, Tacky is not "most" penguins: He combines a wonderfully comic combination of the sloth and gluttony of Garfield the cat with the wild abandon of Mr. Toad. Not for Tacky the rigors of training: Whereas his four teammates hike, do sit-ups, lift weights, bicycle, eat "special training meals" and keep "strict training hours," Tacky lays down in the snow, abandons the sit-ups, Mr. Toads it on his bicycle--sending his teammates scurrying for safety, feasts on pizza and donuts, and stays up late munching popcorn and watching TV.

The story opens up thematically and pictorially with the 2-page spread describing the Opening Ceremonies. Teams of other penguins come from the "Highlands," the "Lowlands," the "Fun Lands," and Tacky's own "Nice Icy Land." They all march with dignity--except for Tacky who falls on his head while carrying the 'Nice Icy' pennant. However, this episode gives observant readers some insight into his character: Although Tacky falls down, he manages to hold the flag aloft with his feet. Could there be something more to him than his clownishly lazy behavior suggests?

Well, sort of. His team wins the NO-bobsled race but is disqualified because they use Tacky as a bobsled. Penguin ski-jumping, as we all know, uses frozen fish for skis; Tacky's fish skis thaw when he chills (so to speak) by a pot-bellied stove before the race, and floppy fish make for funny aerodynamics. Finally, there's a relay race. The first four members of Team Nice Icy Land pass the baton neatly to each other, but when it's passed to the last skater, Tacky, he eats it! "Ate it? Ate it. Well, it looked like a hot dog." In frustration, his teammates chase him, and Tacky, thinking it's a game of tag "skated faster. And faster. And fasterandfaster and barreled across the finish line in record time." However, will a strict judge (wearing a button that says, "I rule") award them first place when the baton has disappeared? I'll only reveal that the resolution involves X-rays and that the four other penguins give Tacky a big hug. Lester concludes, "Tacky was an odd bird, but a nice bird to have around."

Just about everything here is perfect: The pacing, the funny and vividly colored illustrations that evoke place and person, the plot--which could have stopped much earlier but is well-developed but not long or meandering for its young audience. I'm surprised to see it so low on the Amazon.com sales list. I hope this is not indicative of its popularity. If so, Tacky and his crew deserve a much bigger audience.

Small simple story, excellent art work, funny...the kids love this one to the read to them and they do enjoy the rather good illustrations. I like reading this one to the class myself and probably enjoy it as much as the kids do. It is a rather off beat story featuring a rather off beat penguin - it is different. Overall, highly recommend this one.

CUTE SIMPLY BOOK & EASY & FUN FOR THE KIDS TO READ TO THE FAMILY! IT'S A NICE BOOK & AFFORDABLE... WE LOVE ALL SNOWMEN & SNOWANIMALS!!!

This book, with its inviting watercolors and wonderful use of words is a new favorite of mine. A snowman, built very simply yet lovingly by a neighborhood full of children is perfect for a warm cuddle with your favorite toddler.

A perfect picture book.

This is a good story to read to a group of children. The illustrations are clear and colorful and there is a nice rhythm and rhyme to the text. As the snowman is being built, and his accoutrements added, there is a teasing "except" or "but" before you turn the page, inviting participation and anticipation from the audience. I was surprised and delighted that when a new snowfall invited the construction of a second snowman it turned out to be, not a pet or a snow-wife, but another snowman. Since this is a clear departure from traditional snow-being groups I suspect the author is making a point, but a point so subtle that is only going to be noticeable if someone chooses it to be. If there is an objection to the implied message, there is no problem interpreting the story as a snowman having a snowguy buddy. The book is well worth reading regardless of how you interpret it.

PreS-K. "One small snowflake fluttering down- that's all you need for a snowman. EXCEPT." Alice Schertle uses rhyming, catchy text in describing how to make a snowman. The use of the word "EXCEPT" encourages children to listen closely as they wait for the page to turn. The watercolor paintings help tell the story of neighborhood children working together to build a larger than life snowman. The children, dressed in colorful clothing "pat them and pack them and roll them around," and then, that "one big ball," seems to be larger than a house. The finished snowman is so large the book needs to be turned sideways to see it. These beautiful paintings along with the fun text keep the energy alive in this book. A great book for a snow or snowman themed storytime!

My 3 yr old son absolutely loves this book and I was pleasantly surprised with the simple rhyming story and how nice it reads aloud. I couldn't disagree more with a previous reviewer's insinuation that this book is depicting a hidden sexual message simply because the two snowmen are male at the end. Last time I checked two men ("snow" or of any other type) can be friends without it meaning anything else. Ridiculous. Like I said, a great inexpensive read - words flow beautifully and the pictures are sweet and great for kids.

Good book. It's one of the older George stories and drawings, not one of the newer George stories and drawings.

My 2-year-old grandson adores this book so much that he had me read it numerous times over the weekend. I now know it by heart! He, too, remembers every detail about it.

I love all the curious George books. Who Doesn't?

author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

Though not as bad as the books with illustrations exerpted from the movie, this book is illustrated in the STYLE of H.A. Rey, by Vipah Interactive. Somehow, somewhere these books have lost the charm of the originals. I would have liked to know this before buying them. My kids still like them; I am horrified.

This story is delightful. We bought it because we were taking our 2.5 yr old along on a ski trip and wanted him to have a silly little story that related to the mountain and skiing (even though he's not on skis yet). Well, it is just that... and more. He's learned a lot, developed an interest in skiing (maybe next year) and always gets a good laugh out of this book! It's also fun that George seems to invent snowboarding - my husband and I got a big kick out of that and have shared the story with many adult friends (isn't everyone a Curious Geroge fan?)!
IMPORTANT: The structure of the story and the illustrations maintain the integrity of the original series!!

This was a fun picture book about playing in the snow. While I feel my son might have been a little old for it, he thought it was fun. I would recommend it for grades Preschool - 1st.

This cute book uses catchy musical rythmeic lyrics to entertain the children througout the story. Children, age 18 months to 4, will love this book. This book encourages self-help skills, such as getting dressed, and promotes phonemic awareness. Children can easily clap to the rythem of the story.

A great read-a-loud book for the whole family that will bring back warm memories of waking up to discover a world of snow outside your window. The words and pictures help the reader to smell, feel and hear the sounds of a winter's day, a day filled with the joys of woolen hats, soft mittens, building a snowman, exciting rides over snow covered hills and hot cocoa waiting in the kitchen.

How can you not appreciate a frosty day with a foot of sno on the ground and sledding, building snowmen, and coming inside for hot chocolate? This delightful tale by Hope Vestergaard and gorgeously illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott shows all the joy of a beautiful Winter's day.

In anticipation of a fun day in the snow, a little girl gets her father out of bed, get's dressed in her snow clothes, and heads outside. Dad takes care of shoveling the snow while the girl and her friend entertain themselves with snowballs, building a snowman, and sledding. All with Hope's infectiously cute rhyming prose. Simply a fun little book!

I have always been a fan of Nadine Berbnard Westcott's art, but in HELLO, SNOW! I get the bonus of a well-written, fun, and fast-paced read.

This book is perfect for preschoolers who like to dress them selves. As the child in the book puts on each article of clothing for a day in the snow, she says 'hello' to the clothing and 'goodbye' to something else. Here is an excerpt to illustrate:

"Hello, pants.
Goodbye, knees.
I don't want
you guys to freeze.

Hello, sock.
Goodbye, toe.
Hold on piggies--
In you go!"

The action heads outdoors, for even more fun with a snowman and sledding and fun with friends.

A perfect read for cold winter days!

This guy knows what he's talking about. Read this if you're even mildly interested in the topic as you get it straight from one of the best in the business. Instruction, stories, personal recommendations from what he eats for breakfast to how to choose your tools and other sharp bits when the freeze sets in and the drips beckon!

An absolute awesome book with very meaningful test-based training and funny stories - the illustrations are even better - ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!!

Written in thoughtful and lively fashion, Gadd distills his 20 years of collected wisdom into 230 pages. Discussions on tools, technique, nutrition, training are all useful - this is a book for the aspiring ice warrior as well as the climber with a few seasons under his / her belt. The constant Red Bull pimping gets a bit distracting but a guy has to pay the bills, afterall. Highly recommended.

This is simply the best book on ice climbing technique you will find. That's a broad statement, but you'll agree that Will Gadd has done an outstanding job presenting the information in this book. He starts out at a very basic level and proceeds to cover everything from climbing easy ice to mixed climbing. The book offers many tips and tricks as well as stresses the need for safety. There are even a few "war stories" thrown in for your reading enjoyment. The material is presented in an easy-to-read and enjoyable fashion. This book is destined to become the "Bible" of ice climbing technique. From beginner to expert you'll probably find something in this book that will help you improve your technique. A MUST addition to your collection.

This is one of the latest guides on ice climbing. It therefore covers the most modern techniques, is up to date with equipment, and has great color photos. Written by Will Gadd it definitely has the flair of an individual author, reads more like a pro's guide than a technical reference. The type of material covered and order is great. However, the editing of this guide is severely lacking. It suffers from incorrect captions, bad figure references, transposed terms (convex vs concave) and complex procedures described in steps that tend to get you lost in confusion rather than clarify.

If you're an already accomplished ice climber, there will be a few "take home" concepts ("tracking"/cycling vertical progression, and his personal take on mix climbing techniques for instance). A beginner will benefit more from this guide (after reading twice to work around the editing problems).

A second edition, edited properly, will be a top-notch guide on this sport.

This comprehensive and informative book is imperative for all Hockey Fans. It has pictures and statistics on every active NHL player. It also covers the minor league systems and it profiles the greatest players in NHL history. This is a dynamic book.

Received product as advertised--great service. Book is as expected, a great compendium of NHL stats and players over the years--a must for hockey fans.

This is the book a hockey fan needs to learn all about the players you watch and the ones you used to watch.

Tells you (almost) everything you need or want to know about the NHL, the teams and the players. There is only one glaring omission, though. Many times I find myself wondering whether players with the same last name are related, and for some unknown reason this book does not reference family relationships (unlike its major competitor, which does that but does not have other essential information) -- if this book were your sole source of information, you would never know that the various players named "Suter" are brothers... Get with it, NHL -- it doesn't cost any more to include this info, which you have right at your fingertips.

This is the best book any hockey fan could purchase,it as got everthing,last years stats,all the informatiom about all the clubs,retired players,up and coming rookies.It is a great book to own,i will be buying next seasons for sure.

I really love the Iditarod and the team spirit in general, but this book discribes a whole new level of commitment that is purely amazing. Without a lot of self-pity, the blind musher discribes how she got together her dogs, trained and then ran the Iditarod. It goes into a lot more detail than this, obviously, but it doesn't get boring. If you want the ins and outs of sled-dog racing, this is it. If you want a great feel for woman/dog teamwork and devotion, this is it too. I highly recommend it.

I just read this book and found it very fascinating. I was able to relate as a woman athlete, but can honestly say that I will never understand the kind of difficulties this young woman has faced and continues to overcome on a daily basis. I have always wanted to travel to Alaska and see the Iditarod first hand. Rachael has given me a wonderful insight into the race until my dream is possible. After reading this book you will realize that your limits should be set by yourself and only by yourself. Thanks for your incredible story, and CONGRATULATIONS on your 2006 Iditarod finish!!!

The Iditarod, let alone any sleddograce, is not something one does "on the side". You have to organize, to train, to plan, be prepared against the elements, love the athletes, become one of them. Simply said: it takes guts and without it there is no glory.
Rachael has set her goal and reaches it, with all the extra handicaps one can think of. It shows the reader that if you have anything you want, anything you really desire, you've got to go for it and cross all the borders you encounter. There is no "but..." I have nothing but the deepest admiration for Rachael!

Wow. At first I was really enjoying it, but when she started making remarks about the ignorance of recreational mushers, my level of admiration halted and started to drop. I personally wouldn't have said that she couldn't do it, but just because a recreational musher (along with some racers too) said that she couldn't doesn't mean that she can generalize and say that ALL recreational mushers are ignorant about mushing. As a long-time recreational musher, that really made me not like her. As I started looked at her from a different angle rather than the girl-who-overcomes-the-odds, she turned into an arrogant person who uses her eyesight as an excuse for special treatment.

I don't know much about dog racing, but this story had me mildly interested all the way through, and I learned a lot, not only about the sport, but about blind people and how one girl's courage catapulted her into a 500 mile, grueling endurance race across the wildest parts of a wild countryside. Rachel speaks candidly about how, when she was young, she wanted to be part of the clique of "popular girls" who ruled the roost at school, and how these uncaring girls mocked her and humiliated her for even trying.

She didn't like being treated as some sort of second class and in a way, you can see the whole of her subsequent career as a sort of insolent salute to the girls who made her life hell. Her family was supportive, up to a point. But the challenge of the Iditarod Trail frightens even the most dedicated guides. And some unimaginative, if concerned, fellow sledders told her she was crazy, being blind to attempt such a physical feat. For even strong men with both eyes sometimes went mad along the trail. The ITC wasn't helpful, and she had to appeal to them in person. What would she do if she had to go to the bathroom, for example? Rachel answers these questions with the frank good humor for which she has been known all over the world of sled racing. One indication of the deeper pain involved is that, usually, Rachel cries sometime during a race. But finally she's at a point where she's having fun and it shows not only in her work, but in the pages of this delightful book. My brother who gave me NO END IN SIGHT knows of my love for the books of David Sedaris, and he thought that Rachel might be some relation! Well, there's no direct blood connection (and her name is "Sedoris") but she is like David Sedaris in being able to find the humanity and humor even in the most awful of straits.

Yes, it's "heavy sledding" at times, especially if like me you're a newbie with next to no knowledge of anything she's talking about and anything she's been through. But, there's a helpful glossary at the back of the book so all you non-mushers can decipher the somewhat specialized lingo. You'll be crying out "Haw!" and "Hike!" like seasoned trailhounds. Ever wonder what kind of personality you would have as a canine? Are you the wheel dog type or the swing dog, a team dog or a lead? Check out NO END IN SIGHT.

The book effectively and accurately presented the facts but, was wasn't fast pace enough to keep my interest. I will say that it was very exciting in the way that it desribed the USA vs. Soviets game. Overall, it was good but not good enough to get that fourth star.

A great chronicle of those heady days in Lake Placid nearly 25 years ago. Everyone seemed to find something they liked in this improbable victory. For me it was the coaching job turned in by Herb Brooks. It may be the greatest coaching job in the history of sports. Here are excerpts from an AP article about the late Coach Brooks which says it all:

Herb Brooks was behind the bench when the American Olympic Hockey team pulled off the greatest upset ever at Lake Placid NY in 1980, beating the mighty Soviets with a squad of mostly college players.That shocking victory, plus beating Finland for the gold medal, assured the team a place in immortality.

The young U.S. team was given no chance against a veteran Soviet squad that had dominated international hockey for years and had routed the Americans 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden the week before the Olympics.

On Feb. 22, 1980, the U.S. team scored with 10 minutes to play to take a 4-3 lead against the Soviets. As the final seconds ticked away, announcer Al Michaels exclaimed, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

It remains one of the most famous calls in history.
Brooks' leadership helped turn a ragtag team into champions. He had hand picked each player.

"You're looking for players whose name on the front of the sweater is more important than the one on the back," Brooks once said. "I look for these players to play hard, to play smart and to represent their country."

Interviewed years later on why he headed to the locker room shortly after the Miracle on Ice, he said he wanted to leave the ice to his players, who deserved it.

Players kept a notebook of "Brooksisms," sayings the coach used for motivation, such as: "You're playing worse and worse every day and right now you're playing like it's next month."

But, before playing the Soviets, Brooks told his players: "You're meant to be here. This moment is yours. You're meant to be here at this time."

"He was ahead of his time," team member Ken Morrow said. "All of his teams overachieved because Herbie understood how to get the best out of each player and make him part of a team. And like everyone who played for him, I became a better person because I played for Herb Brooks."

Born in St. Paul, Brooks played hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he later coached from 1972 to 1979, winning three national titles. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.

When Brooks decided to coach the 2002 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team at Salt Lake City, he was asked why he would return after writing the most improbable story in hockey. "Maybe I'm sort of like the players -- there's still a lot of little boy in me," Brooks said. "And maybe I'm a little smarter now than I was before for all the stupid things I've done."

Brooks was the last player cut on the 1960 U.S. gold medal team, and unfairly so, the victim of favoritism by his coach. But he persevered, and played on the United States Olympic Hockey Team in 1964 and 1968. And when he coached the 1980 Olympic Team, he did not repeat the mistake made by his 1960 coach. It was difficult and painful, but he did the right thing selecting the players for his 1980 team. And as they say, the rest is history. Or was it really a miracle? That is left for each reader to decide for themselves.

In an interview at his White Bear Lake home not long before his untimely death, Brooks described to the Minneapolis Star Tribune about watching one of his favorite movies, "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."

"You know, Willie Wonka said it best: We are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams," Brooks said. "We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams. I'm a dreamer."
_________________________________________________________________

The book is the story of the team and its coach as they prepare for and play in the 1980 Olympics. Now out of print, original copies are sought after collectibles usually priced over $150, and well worth the price in my opinion.

I bought this book 25 years ago and loved it. It is much more accurate than the other stories/movies because the authors discribe the contributions of ALL of the teamates and not just the media favorites. Mark Johnson actually gets recognition in this book. It also does a great job of showing how Herb Brooks did the coaching job of his life. The players bonded because they all hated the way Herb worked them. They won just to show him they could. Now if I could just remember who I lent my copy to......

Very well written. The "insider's" story on how the team was put together.

IF YOU LOVED THE U.S.A. BOYS WINNING THE GOLD YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK. THE ONLY THING I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK IS THAT I WAS DONE READING IT. ONCE YOU START YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN TRUST ME IT IS THAT GOOD.