Rating: 
Summary: Skiing is Believing
Review: A page-turner from the words, "Snart. Fertig. Go!" This book is good. For anyone who has had even a touch of Olympic Fever the story is contagious. From the Polar Cup in Lapland, to the muggy September workouts, Vordenberg puts you there. Right in his sweaty polypro's. This is spot-on, creative non-fiction. The trail-saavy wisdom and burning desire of his college coach are too good to be fantasy. Go along for the dream. Its a Cera-Fast read, so go on. Get a workout.
Rating:
Summary: Skiing is Believing
Review: A page-turner from the words, "Snart. Fertig. Go!" This book is good. For anyone who has had even a touch of Olympic Fever the story is contagious. From the Polar Cup in Lapland, to the muggy September workouts, Vordenberg puts you there. Right in his sweaty polypro's. This is spot-on, creative non-fiction. The trail-saavy wisdom and burning desire of his college coach are too good to be fantasy. Go along for the dream. Its a Cera-Fast read, so go on. Get a workout.
Rating:
Summary: Skiing is Believing
Review: A page-turner from the words, "Snart. Fertig. Go!" This book is good. For anyone who has had even a touch of Olympic Fever the story is contagious. From the Polar Cup in Lapland, to the muggy September workouts, Vordenberg puts you there. Right in his sweaty polypro's. This is spot-on, creative non-fiction. The trail-saavy wisdom and burning desire of his college coach are too good to be fantasy. Go along for the dream. Its a Cera-Fast read, so go on. Get a workout.
Rating:
Summary: If Quixote tilted at Bigfoot
Review: Admittedly I felt a little like Sancho Panza, because I didn't really anticipate reading "Momentum." Odds were that it prove to be just another insipid, quixotic memoir in the vast wasteland of sports literature. I was in for a surprise. In that ego-fueled and littered expanse "Momentum" shines like a rare and precious gem.The body of the work is solid, and there are several scenes which are more than adequately--shall we say--"fleshed out." For example: the Halloween night revenge of the NMU xc ski team against a less than candid comedian-evangelist. Some guys are probably going to spend some time in purgatory for that caper, and I don't mean skiing in Colorado!
It is a very well written work. This book is autobiographical--Pete Vordenberg as he bled, sweat, toiled, cried and laughed trying to acquire Olympic fulfillment in a practically anonymous nordic odyssey. Nevertheless, if measured together with a Sasquatch or two, Pete's life would balance the scales of 10,000 ordinary men.
Rating:
Summary: If Quixote tilted at Bigfoot
Review: Admittedly I felt a little like Sancho Panza, because I didn't really anticipate reading "Momentum." Odds were that it prove to be just another insipid, quixotic memoir in the vast wasteland of sports literature. I was in for a surprise. In that ego-fueled and littered expanse "Momentum" shines like a rare and precious gem. The body of the work is solid, and there are several scenes which are more than adequately--shall we say--"fleshed out." For example: the Halloween night revenge of the NMU xc ski team against a less than candid comedian-evangelist. Some guys are probably going to spend some time in purgatory for that caper, and I don't mean skiing in Colorado!
It is a very well written work. This book is autobiographical--Pete Vordenberg as he bled, sweat, toiled, cried and laughed trying to acquire Olympic fulfillment in a practically anonymous nordic odyssey. Nevertheless, if measured together with a Sasquatch or two, Pete's life would balance the scales of 10,000 ordinary men.
Rating:
Summary: Not just for skiers.
Review: I am sure that every hardcore ski racer in the USA will read this book or has heard of it. But, as I read it I am realizing that it applies to anyone interested in pursuing a dream. Some people dream of being a great runner, biker, photographer, or whatever.... The point is, Pete Vordenberg's book is about pursuing a dream and using all your energy to do it right. It is a great motivator and gives insight into the world of elite aerobic athletes.
Rating:
Summary: Gliding through life...
Review: I dove into this story in the first few sentences, "Game on." in the back seat of a small car stuffed with skis, food, and loved ones. This writing is a total rush of heart and soul, as twisty, full of speed, and "unrelenting" as the courses Pete challenged himself on. There is no comparison to other athletes' books; each person's journey is unique. What sets this one apart is that the author is the athlete himself, and he reflects his physical grace and power as a champion nordic athlete in his intellectual grace and power as a writer and story teller. I loved his unique way of telling his story, like a meandering trail in all seasons, evolving and alive, and still living and breathing in glorious color. I felt a sense that the past is always alive as a part of here-and-now. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us, Pete, and hope it keeps on growing for you and others you continue to inspire.
Thanks to Jeff Potter for his vision and creativity, and a very meaningful gift of heart.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read For Heading Into Winter
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Pete Vordenberg's story and can hardly wait for the snow to fly this winter. While I can say I'm especially motivated to get on the XC trails now, I can't say I'll be draggng a log behind me as part of my experience! What an incredibe story and entertaining read. I'm hoping to see a follow up book (non-fiction or fiction) from this talented writer.
Rating:
Summary: Momentum
Review: In describing his fourteen-year pursuit of an Olympic medal in Nordic ski racing, Vordenberg recalls his youthful adventures in Boulder, Colorado; from there his saga takes us on to survey his years of training, summer and winter, in such places as Trout Lake, Washington, Marquette, Michigan, Sweden and Oregon, with high jinks adventures and merry pranks to balance the triumphs and failings with delightful levity.
MOMENTUM offers escape from our American obsessions with the mega-sports that lead winners to multi-million dollar contracts with the pros. By contrast, Nordic ski racing remains at the verge of awareness and interest, although in the Scandinavian countries it is THE SPORT. To become an Olympian, the racer must train relentlessly for years while surviving on meager financial aid; he sacrifices loot in pursuance of a dream that offers intrinsic satisfaction - the sheer joy of skiing among the elite.
This book takes us back to that magical stage of yourh when exciting dreams lead us on. It progresses not chronologically but episodically, offering choice metaphors and smooth transitions that make it a satisfying reading experience. One can't resist comparing it to Lance Armstrong's popular book; for with Lance it was not about the bike. Similarly, for Vordenberg, in summary it was not about skis gliding smoothly over snow but rather years of reflective experience that take us to discovery of self, of meanings and values and processes that can apply to all.
Rating:
Summary: DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ!
Review: Just kidding, everything in this book is absolutely true. Read it here first. Thanks Pete for writing a great book, but more importantly thanks for telling the world about the time I wiped with poison oak! ouch.
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