Uncovering the incredible stories behind the world's most iconic and unusual ski runs.
'They're places skiers will love.' - Metro
'An intercontinental romp through a galaxy of ski trivia.' - Scotsman
'Whether you've ever skied or never been near a chairlift or the piste, there is gold in these pages. ' - Press & The Journal
Veteran ski journalist Patrick Thorne has unearthed the incredible stories behind 50 unique runs from the utterly unmissable to the totally unexpected. Discover the two different Alpine ski areas who claim to be Hannibal's route through the mountains with his elephants; the debate around what is really the world's steepest slope; how smugglers have used ski runs to escape custom patrol; and why hundreds of skiers dress as witches at Belalp in Switzerland every year.
Features skiing from across Europe, North America and South America, as well as fascinating global ski destinations including China, Iran and even North Korea. Along the way we'll meet Franz Klammer, the greatest ski racer in history, as well as The Beatles, Count Dracula, St Patrick and James Bond. Complimented with practical information and trail maps, it is the perfect gift for the skier in your life.
Patrick 'Snowhunter' Thorne has been a writer most of his life. He works as a ski travel journalist and editor and has worked to locate every ski area on the planet, building the most extensive database of skiing destinations in the world, containing more than 6,000 ski areas in 80 countries. This database now lies behind many of the world's ski-related websites and literature. Such is his obsession with snow sports that in 2016 he researched snow conditions on the moons and planets of the solar system and compiled 'Snow in Space' a guide to snow on 22 celestial bodies. As well as writing for publications worldwide, Patrick has himself been featured in many articles, particularly due to his work highlighting the damage climate change is doing to ski areas worldwide through his saveoursnow.com website.