Fifty Places to Ski and Snowboard Before You Die

Santella Chris

Description

Fifty Places to Ski and Snowboard Before You Diethe 10th book in the popular Fifty Places seriestakes readers to some of the worlds most inspiring skiing/snowboarding destinations: the Chugach Mountains (Alaska); Aspen, Crested Butte, and Steamboat Springs (Colorado); Tuckerman Ravine (New Hampshire); Rusutsu (Japan); Chamonix (France); Portillo (Chile); and Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia). Based on interviews with leading experts, the book chronicles the rich history of these sports and the people who have mastered them, including Tommy Moe, Jonny Moseley, Billy Kidd, and Greg Harms. Above all, Santella provides readers with the gorgeous scenery, the glamorous ambiance, and the always thrilling experience of visiting mountains from the Alps to the Rockies, whether its aprs-ski in Cortina or helicopter rides into virgin Alaskan powder. Praise for Fifty Places to Ski and Snowboard Before You Die Even the reader who gets no farther than the couch can feel transported to the snow-covered peaks, mogul fields, and sparkling expanses sculpted by the books avalanche of quirky nuggets, insider tips, and historical perspectives . . . After writing nine other Fifty Places guides, author Chris Santella has the drill down. Reuters.com Whether youre an expert looking to hit the double diamond moguls or a beginner who wants a gentle slope just in case stopping is an issue, these spots have a little something for everyone. The Daily Beast For powderhounds, Fifty Places to Ski & Snowboard Before You Die by Chris Santella($25) looks at snow sports destinations around the world. Associated Press

Sujets

• Snowboarding
• Skiing

Informations

• Publié par: ABRAMS BOOKS
• Date de parution: 15 octobre 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781613125441
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

For those who dream of pristine powder and the thrill of the slopes, Fifty Places to Ski and Snowboard Before You Die maps out must-visit destinations around the globe. Stunning photographs take readers around the world, from Alaska s Tordrillo Mountains to Switzerland s towering Matterhorn and Chile s legendary Portillo resort.
Need-to-know tips advise travelers on where to stay and when to go, and expert interviews reveal the rich history of each destination. As seasoned locals share anecdotes about life on the world s most striking slopes, readers are transported from apr s-ski in Cortina to helicopter rides over unspoiled Alaskan powder.
Whether you re jetting off on your next getaway or just traveling vicariously, Chris Santella s guide will inspire any skiing and snowboarding enthusiast-amateur and black-diamond expert alike.

This book is for my girls, Cassidy, Annabel, and Deidre.

ALSO BY THE AUTHOR
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Fifty Places to Bike Before You Die : Biking Experts Share the World s Greatest Destinations
Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die : Fly-Fishing Experts Share the World s Greatest Destinations
Fifty More Places to Fly Fish Before You Die : Fly-Fishing Experts Share More of the World s Greatest Destinations
Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die : Golf Experts Share the World s Greatest Destinations
Fifty Favorite Fly-Fishing Tales : Expert Fly Anglers Share Stories from the Sea and Stream
Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die : Sailing Experts Share the World s Greatest Destinations
Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die : Birding Experts Share the World s Greatest Destinations
Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die : Diving Experts Share the World s Greatest Destinations
Fifty Places to Hike Before You Die : Outdoor Experts Share the World s Greatest Destinations
Fifty More Places to Play Golf Before You Die : Golf Experts Share the World s Greatest Destinations
Once in a Lifetime Trips: The World s Fifty Most Extraordinary and Memorable Travel Experiences
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
THE DESTINATIONS
Alaska: Chugach Mountains
RECOMMENDED BY TAG KLEINER
Alaska: Tordrillo Mountains
RECOMMENDED BY TOM BIE
Alberta: Banff/Lake Louise
RECOMMENDED BY DAN MARKHAM
Antarctica: Antarctic Peninsula
RECOMMENDED BY DOUG STOUP
Argentina: Tierra del Fuego
RECOMMENDED BY DANIEL GRIFFITH
Austria: Kitzb hel
RECOMMENDED BY ATLE SK RDAL
Austria: St. Anton
RECOMMENDED BY GELI AND STEFAN H USL
British Columbia: Bugaboos
RECOMMENDED BY FRED NOBLE
British Columbia: Kootenay
RECOMMENDED BY JOHN LAING
British Columbia: The Selkirks
RECOMMENDED BY LYNDELL KEATING
British Columbia: Whistler Blackcomb
RECOMMENDED BY ANDREW WEIBRECHT
California: Mammoth Mountain
RECOMMENDED BY STEVE TAYLOR
California: Squaw Valley USA
RECOMMENDED BY JONNY MOSELEY
Chile: Portillo
RECOMMENDED BY GREG HARMS
Colorado: Arapahoe Basin
RECOMMENDED BY CANDACE HORGAN
Colorado: Aspen
RECOMMENDED BY CHRIS KLUG
Colorado: Crested Butte
RECOMMENDED BY DEREK TAYLOR
Colorado: Silverton Mountain
RECOMMENDED BY CORY SMITH
Colorado: Steamboat
RECOMMENDED BY BILLY KIDD
Colorado: Telluride
RECOMMENDED BY PAUL ZABEL
Colorado: Vail
RECOMMENDED BY PETE SEIBERT JR.
France: Chamonix Valley
RECOMMENDED BY AUR LIEN DUCROZ
France: Val d Is re
RECOMMENDED BY JANE JACQUEMOD
Idaho: Sun Valley
RECOMMENDED BY REGGIE CRIST
India: Kashmir
RECOMMENDED BY CHRIS PATTERSON
Italy: Cortina d Ampezzo
RECOMMENDED BY JOHN FRASCA
Japan: Niseko and Beyond
RECOMMENDED BY TOMMY MOE
Japan: Rusutsu
RECOMMENDED GREG DOYLE
Montana: Greater Bozeman
RECOMMENDED BY PAT HOLLAND
New Hampshire: Cannon Mountain
RECOMMENDED BY RICH SMITH
New Hampshire: Tuckerman Ravine
RECOMMENDED BY JAKE RISCH
New Mexico: Taos
RECOMMENDED BY TAIT WARDLAW
New Zealand: Craigieburn Range Club Fields
RECOMMENDED BY NICK CASTAGNOLI
New Zealand: Southern Alps
RECOMMENDED BY MARK SEDON
Norway: Lyngen Alps
RECOMMENDED BY KELLY HOLLAND
Oregon: Mt. Bachelor
RECOMMENDED BY MIKE ADAMS
Oregon: The Wallowas
RECOMMENDED BY KEVIN WRIGHT
Quebec: Le Massif
RECOMMENDED BY LESLIE ANTHONY
Quebec: Mont-Tremblant
RECOMMENDED BY ERIC GAGNE
Russia: Kamchatka
RECOMMENDED BY JAMES MORLAND
Russia: Krasnaya Polyana
RECOMMENDED BY THIBAUD DUCHOSAL
Switzerland: Zermatt
RECOMMENDED BY AMAD PERRIG
Utah: Alta
RECOMMENDED BY JOHN STIFTER
Utah: Deer Valley Resort
RECOMMENDED BY HEIDI VOELKER
Utah: Solitude
RECOMMENDED BY DEAN ROBERTS
Vermont: Jay Peak
RECOMMENDED BY JOHN WITHERSPOON
Vermont: Mad River Glen
RECOMMENDED BY ERIC FRIEDMAN
Vermont: Stowe
RECOMMENDED BY JEFF WISE
Washington: Mount Baker
RECOMMENDED BY TOM MONTEROSSO
Wyoming: Jackson Hole
RECOMMENDED BY MATT HANSEN
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book would not have been possible without the generous assistance of the expert skiers and snowboarders who shared their time and experience to help bring these fifty great alpine venues to life. To these men and women, I offer the most heartfelt thanks. I especially want to thank Matt Hansen, a fine tarpon angler and ski writer who helped me polish off my figurative skies after a few years off the boards and made many fine introductions on my behalf. I also wish to acknowledge the fine efforts of my agent, Stephanie Kip Rostan; my editors, Jennifer Levesque, Samantha Weiner, and David Blatty; designer Anna Christian; and copyeditor Rob Sternitsky, who helped bring the book into being. Finally, I want to extend a special thanks to my wife, Deidre, and my daughters, Cassidy and Annabel, who ve humored my absence during seemingly endless deadlines and to my parents, Tina and Andy Santella, who are not skiers, but always encouraged me to pursue my passions.
FOREWORD
Growing up at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, I was fortunate enough to have parents that encouraged skiing as a family activity. My brother, sister, and I often rode the bus to the world-class ski areas just a short distance away, an activity that fostered independence, adventure, and a thirst for powder. Those mountains rarely disappointed us, and even as youngsters, we knew we had it good.
It wasn t long before skiing turned into an obsession: the freedom and joy of speeding downhill over a snowy landscape, the raw beauty and challenge of being immersed in an unforgiving environment, and the bonds formed with friends and family during such life-changing experiences. Today, skiing defines much of my life. It s what I do with my family during the holidays, where I go on vacation, and how I make a living. But I never knew how deep it could take me until I stepped out of my comfort zone and started exploring new places.
During those early days of my youth, I believed all I needed was the Wasatch and later on, the Tetons. It s true that you could spend a lifetime in those snow-bound mountains and be perfectly content as a skier. But that ignores the size and breadth of our world. I ve since learned that few things compare to the reward and exhilaration of sliding over snow as a traveler-experiencing the same liberating sensations of skiing but doing so in an altogether different place. Consider how much fun it is to ski at Alta, Utah, or Mount Baker, Washington, or Squaw Valley, California, and then do the same thing at, say, Zermatt, Switzerland. As skiers and snowboarders, we possess the tools to enter a community or mountain environment that can instantly feel like home, even if it is very far away and has its own distinct character.
I ve also learned that no matter where you go-from the deep snows of Japan to the steeps of Chamonix or from the gritty ski bum culture of Silverton to the international flair of Portillo-skiers and snowboarders share the same language. They might use different words, and it might be untranslatable to English, but when their faces are plastered with fresh powder, or a big smile extends over their red cheeks at a bar, you understand them perfectly. And they understand you.
Ranking such locations is often an exercise in futility. Every ski area has its own merits-it often comes down to good snow and good people-but there are specific zones that hold great influence over the sport. In Fifty Places to Ski and Snowboard Before You Die , Chris Santella expertly compiles those areas into a comprehensive guide for skiers and snowboarders looking to make their own personal pilgrimage. From the little areas at the end of a country road to huge resorts full of nightlife and high-speed lifts, Santella makes it easy to dream of what adventures may wait. Each place has its own heartbeat, soul, and culture, and each helps define what it means to be a skier or snowboarder. Having experienced even a handful of them makes me forever grateful that my parents put me on skis all those years ago. By doing so, they introduced me to a world far bigger and more beautiful than I ever could have imagined.
So before your next adventure, go through this book and pick one or pick them all. Either way, you ll know you ve got it good.
-M ATT H ANSEN
Freestyle hero Glen Plake makes his way to the top of Glacier Ronde in Chamonix.
INTRODUCTION
For some, the coming of winter snow means the beginning of three (or four or six) months of self-imposed exile to the great indoors. For others, it s the time when the calendar really snaps to life.
I wrote Fifty Places to Ski and Snowboard Before You Die for those who appreciate the exhilaration of racing down a mountainside and the special sense of solitude that only an alpine snowscape can provide.
What makes a destination a place you have to ski or snowboard before you die? you might ask. The chance to take in sweeping mountain scenery? To push your skills to the limit on dizzying