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Momentum: Chasing the Olympic Dream
Here's a big "Let's ski!" sale on "the best XC ski read ever!" (Now only $9.95 -- almost half off the list price of $17.95.) Pete Vordenberg was the Head Coach of the US XC program. He has also been a favorite writer in XC ski magazines. "Momentum" is a memoir of life as an Olympian as well as of being a kid taking his early steps toward national victory. Bob Gregg, editor, Master Skier magazine, said it was the best XC ski book ever. The insights into life as a junior skier are particularly rewarding, as it's a time not often covered in sports writing. Vordenberg opens up the skiing life in a way we haven't seen before. He puts us inside the globe-traveling goal of striving for American gold in XC. "It is not a retelling of the little engine that could, but why the little engine even tried." In addition to being Head Coach, Vordenberg was a 2-time Olympian and a National Champion. Recently, the US has been achieving worldclass results for the first time in decades! Includes dozens of black & white photos.
Paperback
First published June 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 15, 2018
Perfect post Olympics read. Now Kikkan and Jessie need to write one!
February 4, 2021
Quite an insight into what it takes to be an elite xc racer.
February 27, 2017
Fun read.
October 9, 2013
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Update: I'm re-reading it at the age of 25. I'm getting pretty excited again. My last review was a long time ago (I'm guessing when I was 17-18 years old) and said grandiose things about how this book changed my life. And maybe it did, but they were too embarrassing, so I've deleted them.
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I've just finished the re-reading. I find it just as inspirational as I did when I was 17 and dreaming of winning races, but I think I see more wisdom in it now. As the somewhat ironic review on the back cover states: "it may not have the drama of Lance's return from near death, but it has as much guts and more real life." It's the guts and real life I love about this book. The bravery of doing the work it takes to really pursue a dream, and the real life worries of failure.
I know it isn't a widely read book, and won't have the appeal of other memoirs, but I honestly think Vordenberg has done an exceptional job crafting this memoir. He's done a wonderful job making insightful dialogue for memory true to a character's spirit, and woven the scenes nicely.
I'd be interested to hear the review of a non-skier.
Update: I'm re-reading it at the age of 25. I'm getting pretty excited again. My last review was a long time ago (I'm guessing when I was 17-18 years old) and said grandiose things about how this book changed my life. And maybe it did, but they were too embarrassing, so I've deleted them.
--
I've just finished the re-reading. I find it just as inspirational as I did when I was 17 and dreaming of winning races, but I think I see more wisdom in it now. As the somewhat ironic review on the back cover states: "it may not have the drama of Lance's return from near death, but it has as much guts and more real life." It's the guts and real life I love about this book. The bravery of doing the work it takes to really pursue a dream, and the real life worries of failure.
I know it isn't a widely read book, and won't have the appeal of other memoirs, but I honestly think Vordenberg has done an exceptional job crafting this memoir. He's done a wonderful job making insightful dialogue for memory true to a character's spirit, and woven the scenes nicely.
I'd be interested to hear the review of a non-skier.
April 26, 2013
This is a brilliant book - "a memoir of a life in racing". I read it three times in a row.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews