Book Review: "Alpine Circus" with MRG feature

[billski]

Here's a fun, easy to read book about exotic (not necessarily extreme) skiing. Places like Iran, Bolivia, China, Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Tanzania, a runaway truck ramp, Olympic Ski Jumping Complex, and, of course, Mad River.

I found the MRG piece to be quite well written, very poetic and imaginative, slightly inaccurate (but I'll let it slide.) It was written before MRG went co-op and contains an interview with original owner, Betsy Pratt. What a character- she has more passion and opinion than anyone I've met in the ski industry.
That whole chapter was reproduced and posted on the web - makes for a good diversion from work, at least for a few minutes:
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/lyonspress/madriver.htm

p.s., don't forget to duct tape up that rip in your pants!


Alpine Circus, Michael Finkel, The Lyons Press, 1999.

 

[billski]

Iran

Boy, I just finished reading the chapter on skiing in Iran. Some of the features include:
- separate runs for men and women
- a fence down the middle of a particular ski run - men on one side, women on the other.
- women and men ride on separate chairs/gondolas, unless you are married and have your certificate to prove it
- 2 floor ski lodge. You guessed it - a floor for each gender.
- women must be completely covered, top to bottom. If your ski jacket is above your knees, you must wear a dress.

All of this enforced by armed Islamic Revolutionary Guards.
If you are good, you get to ski a summit 11,000 feet, 3,000 vertical with enough acreage that you wouldn't ski the same line all week.

and you thought Ski Patrol ticket clippers were bad.....

 

[Paul]

The MRG chapter was a good read, Bill. Thanks.