Celebrate the Winter Games with this high-interest introduction to alpine skiing, the sport known for its slalom and downhill races. Also included is a biographical story about skier Mikaela Shiffrin.
Part of the Amazing Winter Olympics series
"Every four years, the finest athletes from around the world gather for the Winter Olympics. This wonderful event is held at various cities in different nations and features amazing athletic prowess, hard fought competitions, and the skills and artistry that the world’s most gifted athletes can display. There are a host of Olympic events that make up the menu of competitions that receive the most attention from athletes and viewers. Each of these sports, whether they represent team or individual competitions, is supremely challenging. Through diligence, talents, and a commitment to excellence, Olympic athletes accomplish marvelous feats of skill in a tournament that garners attention from people around the world. In this chapter in the illustrated "Amazing Winter Olympics" series, readers are treated to a look at alpine skiing, one of the more popular Olympic events. Readers get an introductory look at a sport that features high-speed descents, rapid fire decision-making, supreme athletic skill, and an entertaining and dangerous competition. Skiers at the Olympics can plummet downhill at over ninety-five miles per hour. Slalom skiers must combine speed with dexterity as they weave their way through a supremely difficult course. Super-G skiers may traverse a mountain course of up to three miles in length. All of this information, and much more, is included in this tautly written book. But it is in the color photography in this book that will give readers their clearest impressions of just what Olympic skiers accomplish. In fact, photos of skiers staying on course while navigating turns on a knife edge of contact with the snow are amazing. Readers with an interest in winter sports, or sports in general, will enjoy this book while marveling at the skill of the men and women who compete in the Winter Olympic alpine events." Children's Literature, January 2022
Every four years, the finest athletes from around the world gather for the Winter Olympics. This wonderful event is held at various cities in different nations and features amazing athletic prowess, hard fought competitions, and the skills and artistry that the world’s most gifted athletes can display. There are a host of Olympic events that make up the menu of competitions that receive the most attention from athletes and viewers. Each of these sports, whether they represent team or individual competitions, is supremely challenging. Through diligence, talents, and a commitment to excellence, Olympic athletes accomplish marvelous feats of skill in a tournament that garners attention from people around the world. In this chapter in the illustrated "Amazing Winter Olympics" series, readers are treated to a look at alpine skiing, one of the more popular Olympic events. Readers get an introductory look at a sport that features high-speed descents, rapid fire decision-making, supreme athletic skill, and an entertaining and dangerous competition. Skiers at the Olympics can plummet downhill at over ninety-five miles per hour. Slalom skiers must combine speed with dexterity as they weave their way through a supremely difficult course. Super-G skiers may traverse a mountain course of up to three miles in length. All of this information, and much more, is included in this tautly written book. But it is in the color photography in this book that will give readers their clearest impressions of just what Olympic skiers accomplish. In fact, photos of skiers staying on course while navigating turns on a knife edge of contact with the snow are amazing. Readers with an interest in winter sports, or sports in general, will enjoy this book while marveling at the skill of the men and women who compete in the Winter Olympic alpine events.
–Greg Romaneck, Children's Literature, 01/01/2022
Beautiful photos and simple, straight-forward text introduce young readers to the basics of a range of popular winter Olympic events. Some sports, like hockey, curling, and speed skating, cover one event, while others describe a great many. Freestyle skiers may all use similar equipment, but the events—aerials, moguls, slopestyle, big air, halfpipe, and crosscountry—are drastically different in both the skills required and time it takes to complete the courses. In addition to describing how each event rolls out, the books include equipment needed to participate, like sleds in luge or the different skates used in figure skating and hockey. Each book ends with a spotlight of a famous athlete, like the incredible Ester Ledecká, who is the first person ever to win gold in two separate sports (snowboarding and skiing). As far as informational picturebooks go, these are fine specimens. VERDICT A recommended first purchase.
–School Library Journal, 04/01/2022