The Fall Line: America's Rise to Ski Racing's Summit

by Nathaniel Vinton

Harnessing nature’s most powerful forces, elite downhillers descend icy, rugged slopes at speeds cresting 90 miles per hour. For decades, American skiers struggled to match their European counterparts, and until this century the US Ski Team could not claim a lasting foothold on the roof of the Alps, where the sport’s legends are born.


Then came a fledgling class of American racers that disrupted the Alpine racing world order. Led by Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn, Julia Mancuso and Ted Ligety, this band of iconoclasts made a place for their country on some of the world’s most prestigious race courses. Even as new technology amplified the sport’s inherent danger, the US Ski Team learned how to win, and they changed downhill racing forever.


The Fall Line is the story of how it all came together, a deeply reported reconstruction of ski racing’s most dramatic season. Drawing on more than a decade of research and candid interviews with some of the sport’s most elusive figures, award-winning journalist Nathaniel Vinton reveals the untold story of how skiers like Vonn and Miller, and their peers and rivals, fought for supremacy at the Olympic Winter Games.


Here is an authoritative portrait of a group of men and women taking mortal risks in a bid for sporting glory. A white-knuckled tour through skiing’s deep traditions and least-accessible locales, The Fall Line opens up the sexy, high-stakes world of downhill skiing—its career-ending crashes, million-dollar sponsorship deals, international intrigue, and showdowns with nature itself.


With views from the starting gate, the finish line, and treacherous turns in between, The Fall Line delivers the adrenaline of one of the world’s most beautiful and perilous sports alongside a panoramic view of skiing’s past, present, and future.

Genres: History, Sports, Nonfiction, Adult, Outdoors

402 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2015

About the author

Nathaniel Vinton is a sports reporter for the New York Daily News and coauthor of American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America’s Pastime. A lifelong student of ski racing, he lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and their children.

Reviews

[Rudi Riet · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former alpine ski racer, Vinton's tome brought back memories of training and racing as a year-round endeavor, filled with colorful personalities, triumphs, suspense, drama, and politics. Vinton's own knowledge of ski racing and its history boost the quality of his narrative, and the primary research used will inspire new generations of junior racers to work hard to be the next Bode, Lindsey, Ted, or Julia.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:
While the biggest attention is given to alpine skiing during the Winter Olympics, this does not mean that the sport takes a break nor does it not have its share of personalities and issues. This excellent book by Nathaniel Vinton will take the reader deep into the world of ski racing and brings to life some of the lesser known intricacies of the sport.

Even the title brings out this trait of the book. Vinton explains for the non-fan or casual fan what the fall line is: “The path an object would travel if it were free to move on a slope only under the power of gravity.” This is the main goal of the racer – to maintain this fall line through all the bumps, leaps and gates on the course. The racer’s equipment is critical and Vinton explains why in an easy-to-understand manner.

Equipment and the endorsements by top skiers can cause controversy, and that is only one of a few issues that Vinton covers that the United States Ski Team would face during the run to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Vinton covers a wide range of topics that affect the sport, from warm weather to safety netting and fencing to equipment requirements, they all play a factor in helping a racer shave hundredths of seconds off his or her times.

The book is not only a great source of technical information and action on the slopes, it can also read like a character novel, with the two main characters being Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn, the two top skiers on Team USA in the 2010 Games. However, Vinton also writes about other top Americans like Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso. There is also very good writing on the history of the sport and how it has become a national obsession in Austria. In fact, the book starts off with an excellent recap of Franz Klammer’s exciting downhill win in the 1976 Olympics.

Just reading that passage had me hooked and I could not put this book down. It is one of the most complete books written on the sport. The detail into all aspects, including the psychology of the two main stars, Miller and Vonn, make for terrific reading that no matter how much or little interest a reader has in ski racing. Whether the reader wants drama, facts, or just a good sports story, this is a book to check out.

I wish to thank W.W. Norton & Company for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael Pearlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vinton does an excellent job of covering two of the U.S. ski team's most accomplished racers in Bode Miller and Lindsay Vonn, as well as taking us inside the sometimes inscrutable world of alpine ski racing.

If you want to know more about what makes Bode Miller and Lindsay Vonn tick, or are interested in how the U.S. Ski Team transformed from in also-ran into one of the world's top alpine racing programs, Vinton's coverage is thorough and insightful. The cultural importance and significance of ski racing in Europe (and in particular, to Austrians) is also well-covered. The book moves quickly and rarely gets too bogged down in the technical minutia of ski racing. Though the book is written to a general audience, readers with a casual interest and understanding of ski racing will probably get the most out of this book.

A background thematic element of the impact of global warming on the sport's future doesn't lend itself well to a natural integration with the rest of the book. While important, this topic feels forced into the narrative, and probably needed to stand alone in a separate, shorter work.

[Gretchen Stokes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author weaves together a cohesive story from a pile of race results; but sometimes that same pile becomes just that- and better as a “putting to sleep” book than a reading book.

The portions about Bodie Miller – and that’s a substantial portion of the book – are extremely interesting. I would’ve been happy to read a book about just him with the other racers for context.

Sadly, the whole book takes place, as modern life does, with the hulking threat of climate change. Each race canceled just adds to the doom- both in the book, and clearly in real life.

[Bill H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story of the people and plan that brought World Cup and Olympic champions to the U. S. Ski team. I know a number of the people he wrote about and found this to be honest and extremely accurate. Even if you are not interested in ski racing this is a book worth your attention. The insight, attitude, and thought process that two of the greatest alpine athletes of our time-Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn-share is worth your time.

[Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved his writing style! He shows different sides and other racers experiences going to the Vancouver games. Gives Lindsey Vonn and Bode Millers experiences are having to deal with weather and injury's leading up to the games. Loved it!

[E S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very interesting if you are a skier and/or follow the international ski scene.

[Christine Lowrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your a fan of the US Ski team this is a very interesting book.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Really great and personal history of Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn, and many others on the US Ski Team. Also shows just how freaking dangerous alpine skiing is!

[Ray Velez]

Fun read of America's ski program.

[Mary Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided I would like to know a bit more about the World Cup and ski racing so I could understand what was happening when I watched the sport. Found this book at my library and it is fascinating. Now I'm more interested in the sport than ever. One section on Lindsey Vonn even helped me ski better! (Ok, but nowhere near how these athletes ski.)
Good writing, kept his focus, and really did help me understand the sport better. Now it's a bit more scary to watch....

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't sure what I would think of this book as I know very little about ski racing and the many events held for this sport. I was pleasantly surprised. The author is very knowledgeable about ski racing and writes in a way that avid fans as well as those of us who know little about ski racing would enjoy the book. I feel that I got to know many of the racers, how they train and their thoughts prior to a race. I would highly recommend this book.

[Sweetpea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the GoodReads First Reads giveaways in exchange for an honest review. Anyone who is into downhill skiing will love this book. The writer is very knowledgeable about the sport and provides great background stories on the skiers.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific Read!

Great book! Very well researched and written. This book tells a great story in a page turning fashion. It was hard to put down. A book for any sport lover out there, not just for fans of ski racing.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you follow ski racing, you'll love this book...not quite as inspiring for me as a similar book from the 1990s entitled 'Right on the Edge of Crazy', but The Fall Line is more comprehensive and includes the women's team

[Robert Deaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I found it fascinating. I learned a lot about a sport I knew very little about before reading. You get a real appreciation for how dangerous the sport is and how small the margin for error is.

[Beth Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focuses mostly on Bode Miller and Lindsay Vonn, and the World Cup overall. From the title and description, I expected a bit more about the US Ski Federation and how it develops athletes. Still a good read. Liked how he covered climate change and its impact on the sport.

[Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

a goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed this book. I usually a skiing fan during Olympic years. This book has changed my view. It focuses on the 2009-2010season and Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn. It includes many other skiers and a good history over the years.

[Lloyd Fassett]

2/15/15 found it in the WSJ

[Nicholas Katers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the sport of alpine skiing between Olympics (hint: it happens more than every four years).

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, well written. Really enjoyed the background about racing. Thank you for not being a downhill racer, Sara, I never would have survived!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for anyone who loves skiing.

[Sharon]

Really liked it. I felt the excitement and terror as bide or Lindsey stood in the start gate

[Jaxon Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was very informational and told a lot about the sport ski racing. it was interesting to learn about all of the people that created the sport and how it was done.

[Korryn Mozisek · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful, enjoyable read about the interworking of the U.S. ski team and its many personalities. Very good flow with engaging narratives.

[Chris Rhoads · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good inside look at the world of ski racing, but fi you aren't into it already you probably won't enjoy this all that much.

[Keith]

Anyone interested in skiing or if you know who "Bodie" and "Lindsey" are then this would be a very interesting book for you.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

worth a read, a really different insight into the development of ski racing in the US. It was done by following generally the arc of a couple careers--Bode and Vonn... Did an unusually honest acknowledgment of the effect of snowboard design on ski design and what that ultimately broke lose for skiing.

A bit soft at the end, but worth the time.