Great book...

[Poloturbo]

If you are like me and began snowboarding in the 80's you will love this book.

Craig was pretty much an idol of mine.

Worth a look before your season.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

It’s actually about Craig Kelly? What a weirdly designed cover, doesn’t even say his name? But I’m picking it up for sure, many thanks!!

[Jack M]

I think the cover is intended to appeal to a broader audience, and that the author assumes those who know, don't need to be told.

[st_lupo]

Of course that’s Craig Kelly,  look at those knees!  

[ShortcutToMoncton]

6 hours ago, Jack M said:

I think the cover is intended to appeal to a broader audience, and that the author assumes those who know, don't need to be told.

Seems strange to me from a marketing standpoint. Especially considering there is an even more famous snowboarder called White. I grew up idolizing him with one of his iconic Burton powder carve posters on my wall, yet even I had to look twice to make sure. Oh well, hope it’s great! 

[Poloturbo]

Really dont know about the book cover and the details regarding chosing that picture but like Jack said it's not only about a solo bio but way deep in the history of snowboarding and in depth research about climate an avalanches surrounding is life. Greatly written if you ask me.

I don't read that much in english and was captivated front start to finish. 

I'm not here to sell copies.

[Jack M]

Valid points, @ShortcutToMoncton and I pretty much agree. Just thinking about what the author was thinking when he deliberately left the name off the cover. Maybe it’s like when people are deliberately vague on social media - "vaguebooking", which I hate. You’re supposed to know and if you don’t then you’re not in the in crowd. 

[ShortcutToMoncton]

My copy is on the way — looking forward to it! 

[philw]

In UK we have: "This title will be released on April 10, 2025." Not sure why that is. I think they had it in Whistler last season.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Here the hardcover is out but softcover is pre-order.

[philw]

Aha, that's it, thanks!

I remembered that I'm no longer poor, so ordered the hard cover even though I don't need it. It's tough breaking the habits of a lifetime. 

Edited October 17, 2024 by philw

[Poloturbo]

Lol did exactly the same... more expensive but you get it NOW and nicer.

 

 

[lordmetroland]

Thanks for the recommendation @Poloturbo. As good as Craig Kelly was on a snowboard, he was evidently even better everything else. I knew I was a worse snowboarder than him, but was disappointed to discover I'm also dumber, worse-traveled, less driven, a poorer parent, etc. (but I still think I might be smarter than Jeff Brushie and less of a dick than Shaun Palmer, but that's up for debate). The second half is pure dread. You know where it's headed, but it unfolds in slow motion, small decisions adding up to disaster. Anyone who's sat in a snowfield and felt that "whumph" knows the dread.

[philw]

Yeah, well written. I'd thought Kelly was the entire sport for a longer period that he actually was ... but that's how time works, as you age out. 

I've ridden with a lot of the folk mentioned, having been a paying back country guest over a long period, albeit all mechanised. Kelly was around Blue River at least a couple of times in the early 1990s when I was there.

I hadn't heard the Blue River anecdote before, but I was there just before the incident and remember they made a big deal about that layer at the start of each week. As pointed out, a big tenure has lots of options for safe stuff to ride even in with a challenging snowpack.

Wiegele himself was famously autocratic: there's a run called "Mike's Way" and the next run over is called "Warren's Way", but we know it as "the Highway". He didn't try to impress folk with his skiing ability though; he wasn't the best delegator, that's all.

[lafcadio]

Thanks for the recommendation. This was a great read! 

I'm intrigued by the description of the mechanism Ruedi Beglinger came up with to quickly eject oneself from hardboot bindings if caught in an avalanche.

Has anyone seen anything like what's described in Chapter 20: Selkirk Mountain Experience?

Quote

Beglinger showed Craig a quick-release system he had designed by threading a short length of parachute cord through a hole drilled into a bright orange golf ball and tying off the end with a knot. The other end of the cord was affixed to the toe clip of his plate binding, leaving roughly an inch of cord between it and the ball. He put his boots on, dropped the board to the ground, clipped into the bindings, and demonstrated. “You reach down with both hands, grab the ball, [yank up] and it’s gone.

“There’s no way you can do this in an avalanche with soft binding or even toe clips. You need something to grab onto quickly.”

In order for this to work I'd have to believe such a cord would be attached to both toe clips, right? 

If anyone finds any photos, videos, or a better description of this, please let me know. 

 

[noschoolrider]

On 10/14/2024 at 12:03 PM, Poloturbo said:

If you are like me and began snowboarding in the 80's you will love this book.

Craig was pretty much an idol of mine.

If you love that book then you should enjoy this movie...
Let It Ride: The Craig Kelly Story