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White Heat: The Extreme Skiing Life
White Heat is pure adrenaline—a thrilling exploration of extreme skiing that pushes the reader over the edge with heart-pounding accounts of people who risk their lives on the fastest, steepest slopes.
Often obsessed and possibly crazy, extreme skiers and snowboarders are having the time of their lives facing death-defying challenges. But the extreme skiing life isn't just about the quest to finish first; it's a lifestyle made up of insane jumps, bone-breaking speeds, and world records—not to mention the wild off-mountain social world, the flamboyant gear and slang completely unique to it, and, of course, the remarkable history of the racing champions and events that is its backdrop.
Wayne Johnson, former competitive skier and acclaimed novelist, takes us into the cult of extreme skiing populated by stars such as one-eyed jumping champion Jerry Martin, who held the North American distance record for more than a decade, and Vinko Bogataj, whose world-famous wipeout on ABC's Wide World of Sports gave rise to the expression “pulling a Vinko.” Here are real-life adventures, everything from Shane McConkey ski BASE jumping the Eiger in Switzerland to Shawn White, the Flying Tomato, throwing 1260s in the halfpipe. Johnson, who has spent a lifetime on the mountains, also puts you in his boots when recounting goose-bump- inducing tales of high-speed downhill racing, Nordic jumping competitions, avalanche control, and the hip, ripping world of snowboarding.
If you've ever wondered what kind of nut would willingly choose to fly off a twenty-story ski jump, or have ever dreamed of living outside the usual boundaries, or just like to read about people having life-expanding adventures, then White Heat is an exhilarating thrill ride that will leave you breathless.
Often obsessed and possibly crazy, extreme skiers and snowboarders are having the time of their lives facing death-defying challenges. But the extreme skiing life isn't just about the quest to finish first; it's a lifestyle made up of insane jumps, bone-breaking speeds, and world records—not to mention the wild off-mountain social world, the flamboyant gear and slang completely unique to it, and, of course, the remarkable history of the racing champions and events that is its backdrop.
Wayne Johnson, former competitive skier and acclaimed novelist, takes us into the cult of extreme skiing populated by stars such as one-eyed jumping champion Jerry Martin, who held the North American distance record for more than a decade, and Vinko Bogataj, whose world-famous wipeout on ABC's Wide World of Sports gave rise to the expression “pulling a Vinko.” Here are real-life adventures, everything from Shane McConkey ski BASE jumping the Eiger in Switzerland to Shawn White, the Flying Tomato, throwing 1260s in the halfpipe. Johnson, who has spent a lifetime on the mountains, also puts you in his boots when recounting goose-bump- inducing tales of high-speed downhill racing, Nordic jumping competitions, avalanche control, and the hip, ripping world of snowboarding.
If you've ever wondered what kind of nut would willingly choose to fly off a twenty-story ski jump, or have ever dreamed of living outside the usual boundaries, or just like to read about people having life-expanding adventures, then White Heat is an exhilarating thrill ride that will leave you breathless.
- GenresNonfiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 9, 2016
First of all– Holy commas, Batman! Wayne Johnson may be the only person on Earth who loves (to a fault) the Oxford comma more than I do! Where the hell was this man’s editor?! Once you get the hang of his style it doesn’t seem so bad, but those first few chapters definitely require quite an adjustment…
Having said that, the content here is pretty cool. A lifelong skier, Wayne Johnson gives us this wonderful book: part memoir, part history of skiing and snowboarding. It re-ignited my interest in the possibility of learning to ski (I do happen to live in the neighborhood of Best Snow on Earth…) UNTIL I made the mistake of watching a YouTube video entitled “4 racing deaths caught on tape!” while researching what toboggan rescue looks like in real life.
DON’T DO THIS. No matter how tempting, just shut that shit down. I’m telling you right now, it will a) ruin this awesome ski book you’re reading, b) make you hurl, and/or c) send you into some morbid, existential crisis for at least three days. I mean, I really should have known better. When someone is hurtling down a hill at 70+ miles per hour (yes, they go that fast) on long, waxed sheets of fiberglass and metal, any crash is bound to be the stuff of nightmares.
So, in conclusion, read this book and don’t watch videos of people dying. Boom.
Having said that, the content here is pretty cool. A lifelong skier, Wayne Johnson gives us this wonderful book: part memoir, part history of skiing and snowboarding. It re-ignited my interest in the possibility of learning to ski (I do happen to live in the neighborhood of Best Snow on Earth…) UNTIL I made the mistake of watching a YouTube video entitled “4 racing deaths caught on tape!” while researching what toboggan rescue looks like in real life.
DON’T DO THIS. No matter how tempting, just shut that shit down. I’m telling you right now, it will a) ruin this awesome ski book you’re reading, b) make you hurl, and/or c) send you into some morbid, existential crisis for at least three days. I mean, I really should have known better. When someone is hurtling down a hill at 70+ miles per hour (yes, they go that fast) on long, waxed sheets of fiberglass and metal, any crash is bound to be the stuff of nightmares.
So, in conclusion, read this book and don’t watch videos of people dying. Boom.
March 3, 2010
I felt in every moment of this book. Be it floating down a mountainside at 11,000 feet elevation through airy powder, brought there by helicopter. Responding to a "backboard needed" call as a Ski Patrolman at Park City. Flying through the air after lift off on a Nordic ski jump. Or going along with Dynamite Girl to trigger avalanches. A fun, light read, with moments of serious contemplation sprinkled in, that makes me want to chuck everything and go be a ski bum.
May 21, 2008
It was okay...if you are a hardcore skier, you will absolutely love it. Otherwise, it has moments. The chapter on setting dynamite charges to blow-up avalanche spots is really cool. Gets really technical on some of the ski stuff, which makes it geared nmore toward the skier than the average reader.
February 6, 2011
Interesting look at the life of extreme skiers. The book got much more interesting toward the end when it started to talk about snowboarding and how it started a clash between skiers and boarders. Thankfully now everyone just enjoys the ride down the mountain whether its on two planks or one.
Did Not Finish
January 22, 2019Did not finish.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews