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Endless winter: An Olympian's journal Paperback – January 1, 1994

by Luke Bodensteiner (Author)
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 3 ratings
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Provides a clear and interesting insight into the international world of cross country ski-racing. Luke Bodensteiner, a two-time national champion, knows what it takes to prepare for international competition. The book is inspiring and enjoyable reading. I'd encourage anyone interested in cross country racing to read it. The book takes you on the road into training sessions and to the waxroom with the best cross country skiers in the U. S.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    200 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Alta Press
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1994
  5. ISBN-10
    0964392704
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0964392700
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alta Press (January 1, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0964392704
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0964392700
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 3 ratings

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
3 global ratings

Top review from the United States

Peru Editor
5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspiring Story from an American Olympian
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2013
This is a fun, well-written account of what it takes to become an Olympian in the sport of Cross-Country skiing. Chances are that if you're not from WI, MN, or AK, you don't know too much about Cross-Country skiing (however that might be changing soon with the success of the US women's ski team). The fact is that cross-country skiing is one of the most intense, exciting sports out there. The 50k races are essentially just as tough as a running marathon, except they're done at sub-freezing temperatures.

Bodensteiner kept this journal as he trained for the 1994 winter Olympics. It's fun to hear about his training techniques and the sacrifices elite athletes have to make in order to achieve their dream.

Unfortunately in the US, cross-country skiing isn't the type of sport a person can make a living at. As a result, our athletes have to quit competing when they are still in their prime. Perhaps with a few more books like this which bring the beauty of XC skiing into the mainstream, that will change.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Just finished reading -- great book on the day-to-day life of a wild top ...
Reviewed in Canada on June 28, 2016
Verified Purchase
Just finished reading -- great book on the day-to-day life of a wild top North American cross-country skier. Well, as wild as cross country skiers get :)
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s montgomery
5.0 out of 5 stars A feeling for snow . . .
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2012
Verified Purchase
Endless Winter tells the story of an American cross-country skier's preparation for the 1994 Winter Olympics, which were held in Lillehammer, Norway. It spans the period from May 1993 to February 1994 and presents "A glimpse of [the author's] actions, thoughts, hopes, fears, successes and failures throughout the season".

The story opens: "This is it. Training begins today for the 1994 skiing season." At this time Bodensteiner is a final-year English student at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He had participated in the 1992 Olympics at Albertville where he had come 27th in his event. At Lillehammer he wants to do better and he dedicates the year towards that goal, living the life of a full-time ski racer.

In May he is training for 60 hours a month - mostly off-snow activities like running, roller-skiing and kayaking; but there is some spring skiing near Salt Lake and in Oregon. At about this time he leaves his student accommodation and effectively becomes homeless for the rest of the year. Dryland training in Utah gives way to summer skiing in Norway's Sognefjell, where he covers about 80km each day. The Norway trip culminates in a preview visit to Lillehammer, where the team goes up to Sjusjoen to check out the Olympic tracks.

Next comes a training camp in Michigan, then another spell in Utah. Then, in mid-October, he is off to Alaska for a month's training on snow. After that the racing season opens in the Alps and brings a rush of visits - to Austria's Tauplitz Alm, to Santa Caterina in Italy, to Davos in Switzerland and to Dobbiaco in the Dolomites.

On 1 January he flies again to Alaska, to take part in races that will determine team selection. Victory in two races assures his place in the Olympic team. By now the countdown to the Games is well under way and he is soon on his way to Lillehammer for his big moment.

- And no, I'm not going to spoil the ending for you.

Endless Winter is a good story. It's well-enough told, and it is laced with interesting snippets of skiing lore, with gossipy suggestions of intrigue and infighting (and worse) in the racing establishment, and with delightfully barbed attacks on sports journalists, who are described variously as obnoxious, drunken and moronic.

Sometimes Luke Bodensteiner is a little excitable as a writer and he can't always hold back from lofty observations like "In America there exists a strange dichotomy within the masses of people who work in and inhabit metropolitan areas".

But on the other hand he is capable of some truly stirring stuff. Consider this passage in praise of cross-country skiing:

"I love snow. I love mountain air and I love standing atop the world. I love being able to go pretty much anywhere I want to, using only my own powers. I love getting to places where other people don't venture. I love mountains and I love using my muscles. I love hanging myself out on the line and losing control so I can reel myself back in and know that I can CONTROL control. I love being a skier. I love being a skier who can go up and down and all-around - a skier who can ski it all."

That paragraph on its own justifies the cost of the book.
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