Endless Winter — An Inside Look at Olympic XC Skiing
Subject: New XC book
From: Julie_Downing@metolius.cocc.edu (Julie Downing)
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 94 18:01:26 PDT
Subject: A book for ALL to read
A new book out and about this winter is “Endless Winter: An Olympian’s Journal” by Luke Bodensteiner (92′, 94′ U.S. Olympic Team). Before all the tele-folks dump this, read on. I know Luke quite well, having traveled, raced, and trained with the guy off and on over the past six years. Even though I knew he was an English major at the University of Utah, I NEVER knew he was developing quite a flair for writing original manuscript. “Endless Winter” is a very credible first time effort although I suppose some might claim the prose is a bit raw in places–but overall, this IS A GREAT BOOK!!!
Fundamentally, “Endless Winter” is simply a transcripted journal of Luke’s 93-94 training and racing year. As such, it easily could have ended up as a macho, latent-adolescent pile of drunken exploits and tabloid-style kiss’n’tell. Instead, “Endless Winter” reveals the true essence of what it takes to compete and truly love a sport. Change a few things and Luke could have easily been an American or Canadian athlete competing in one of a few dozen sports.
Further, “Endless Winter” travels painfully far into the soul and mind of the elite athlete and the soul and mind of a Nordic skier. As someone struggling below Luke for many years but encountering many of the same highs and lows, I can safely verify his account is right on the (lack of) money. Not afraid to cut to the chase, Luke has opened much of his being up for inspection in a truly daring and beautiful fashion.
Perhaps most significantly, “Endless Winter” serves as a glaring pronouncement of all that is right and wrong with Nordic Development in North America–particularly in the competition ranks. Read the book with an eye for what slows up an athlete that otherwise should be, could be, would be rocking the World Cup (along with several others from both the U.S. and Canada) and our collective problems become all too clear.
I recommend EVERYONE get a copy (or three, my Christmas shopping was easy!) and enjoy many hours of great reading. As I understand it, Luke’s father has arranged for the printing and since it is only available by mail, no middlefolks are involved. Thus, all profits are going straight towards supporting Luke’s training making the book a double-good whammy.
To order Endless Winter send $12.95 plus $2.50 shipping for first book and $1.75 each additional to…Alta Press 5990 Golf Court West Bend, WI 53095 414-338-2398
posted 12-29 John Downing Bend, OR jdowning@metolius.cocc.edu
