Don't Look Back

by John Morton

Cross-country skiing is not an exact science,” author John Morton writes in his preface. “ Even though the sport has been influenced by recent technological changes, there are still countless variables that make consistent top performance all but impossible. This observation is borne out at the World Cup or Olympic level of international competition, where year after year different individuals from various nations emerge as champions.” As a former Olympian and Olympic coach, Morton draws on his firsthand experience to outline what makes a great skier. The combination of Conditioning, Technique, Psychology, Health and Nutrition, and Equipment and Waxing can make or break an athlete at any level.

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Elizabeth McInerney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any Nordic ski racer would enjoy this book. It interweaves a personal narrative of a former Olympian returning to Master's level racing for 1 year, with chapters detailing the various aspects of Nordic skiing. I enjoyed the technical chapters mostly in comparison to the aspects of ski racing that I am familiar with today. This book is 25 years old, and a lot has changed, so that was fun. As a former coach, he also has good advice to ski racers, especially regarding the mental aspects of racing, which have not changed. Overall, a good read.