[.ca] Cross-Country Skiing for Everyone (ISBN 0811727084)

What a kick!:
One of the things I love about cross-country skiing is its diversity. Another thing is the easy-going quality -- you just go and enjoy the hell out of it, whether you're skating or track skiing or telemarking or running around the backcountry yodeling. The thing I DON'T like is how many practitioners take it sooo seriously. Jules Older's book is a kick in the pants. He has the right priorities. Whether he's talking about equipment, clothing, technique, skiing with your old dog, even waxing (which attracts the real fanatics!), you feel he's about to giggle. and it's contagious! There's still plenty of useful information; but the context - including photos - makes it fun. If you'd like to learn about a great sport, hear some great stories, and laugh a lot in the process, I'd choose this over any other book! (And yeah, I used to be one of those fanatics; turns out it's more fun to learn and laugh at the same time.)

Retroactive:
If you are someone who loves cross-country skiing for its quiet nordic step and glide through the woods, wearing woolen knickers and munching on granola, or if you are looking for a traditional introduction into the sport then this book is for you. On the otherhand, if you are a ski skating racer in day glow spandex gulping power-gels and looking for the state-of-the-art technique and training advice then keep looking.