Nathaniel VintonThe Fall Line: America's Rise to Ski Racing's Summit

A fine read indeed! As a lifelong skier (not a racer) I found this to be an both a riveting tale coupled with deep insight the sport of skiing read. I read this in a weekend simply because could not put it down.It mostly chronicles a 1 year period when America crushed it on the world cup circuit. It also offers interesting insights into the dynamics of the sport and racing in general. Vinton offers insight from the trenches yet handles the main characters deftly and with respect.Something I feel is important to point out- I would disagree with the gentleman who opined that the author spent too much time on Global warming and was "ham fisted" on the topic.1. It occupied not an entire chapter but two pages.2. I am not sure the term global warming was used.3. Vinton made factual statements about the Vancouver Olympic Games and other ski events that were impacted by warm weather. These are germane to the narrative. There was no "soap boxing" going on here folks.Bravo Mr. Vinton. I hope to see more books from you in the future.

The book was good for WC Ski racing junkies but there seemed to be something missing. It felt a bit like the old series Dragnet-just the facts ma'am. Hero focused on Bode and Lindsey and didn't give a lot of depth to guys to other athletes. Maybe because I'm not a huge fan of Bode (underachieved in my eyes, had the talent to be the greatest racer ever, wasn't) or Lindsey (It's all about her and the drama around her) that I liked the book but didn't love it. I would have liked more info from the coaches and their competitors. I feel like the author dumbed the book down or just was new to the sport. It's the difference between reading about a ski race from the NY Daily News when you were wanting to read Ski Racing Magazine's take. I'd still get it and read it if you love ski racing but you won't be saying it's the greatest book you ever read.

A beautifully written and edited book that is both educational and entertaining. Great read! Ski racing is a niche sport in the United States and a major sport in Europe. So, how did the United States attain the current degree of success it has achieved in international alpine ski racing? This book gives major insights into the development of skiing luminaries like Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn, Ted Ligety, and many others who have impacted the sport in this country at this time and in the past. The organizational and decision making roles of the FIS (International), the United States Olympic Committee, the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, and the United States Ski Team, along with ski manufacturers and supporting personnel are interwoven into the narrative, not dryly, but in a fully engaging and human way that enriches and enlivens the book. There are many challenges still to be met in what is ultimately a dangerous and endangered sport, not the least of which are the horrific injuries sustained by many of its participants and the global warming that threatens its very existence. I am an avid reader and a non-skier and found this book to be the best work of nonfiction that I've encountered in a long time. Simply splendid!

An excellent book detailing the greatest period in American ski racing. I remembered some of the events described in The Fall Line, but Vinton's account had me on the edge of my seat all over again. While highlighting the careers of Bode Miller and Lindsay Vonn, The Fall Line provides amazing insight and cinematic detail of the race courses and athletes of the World Cup. If you're a fan of ski racing, be prepared to think about the sport in a new way. If you're a casual observer of skiing during the Winter Olympics, be prepared to become a hard core fan. A great read, I highly recommend The Fall Line.

A very good read... I enjoy World Cup Skiing --- this book had lots of great behind the scenes info...

The personal stories illuminate the all too often murky realty of ski racing. The personal stories about major characters bode, lindsey and julia were highly entertaining and the tragic stories of minor characters helps you understand the high stakes of success in this sport. Where this book struggles is in transition between biography, exposé and anti-climate change advocacy. The editor should have helped arc the narratives more gracefully from turn to turn. Overall, a worth while read for any lover of skiing.

The arc of Vinton’s narrative sustains its momentum with articulate insight as he covers varied terrain with fluid versatility. Not only does his prose provide access to the inner workings of international ski racing, it also conveys his own deep familiarity with the sport.A close reading reveals that Vinton is more adept at interpreting the complexities of adrenaline and danger in downhill than he is at navigating the highways of northern New England in a ski van, particularly at the crossroads of I-89 and I-91 in White River Junction, VT. He portrays the lives of skiers off the hill with an understanding so lucid it must be informed by personal experience. His depiction of Bode’s wayward antics suggests that he has inhabited that territory himself, in the ice storm of ‘98 at Sunday River when the carnage of a ride on the Night Train left a powerless condominium hallway and stairwell in shambles. Vinton also demonstrates his familiarity with aspects of the ski industry unknown to the layperson. His attention to detail hints that he’s gone for a ride in a Pisten Bully after getting caught attempting to ascend one of Barker Mountain’s groomed trails on a covert mission to appropriate signage under the cover of darkness.Vinton’s book furnishes unique insight on American success at the highest level of ski racing. It also allows some uncanny glimpses into his own past. It may sound weird, but by the time you finish it, you sorta feel like you know the guy.