It’s cold. Winter is definitely still here. So today, we’re featuring the best new ski books and a ski stamp puzzle for midwinter fun, to keep you stoked when you’re indoors.
Hot chocolate and a blanket, anyone?
(Wondering how cold is too cold for skiing?)
Ski Stamps Puzzle
Artist Lewis T Johnson crested this Ski Stamps puzzle for Lucky Puzzles. It’s one of my favorite ski-themed puzzles because the illustration is beautiful and the designs are discrete. This makes it easy for multiple people to work on the puzzle together.
1,000 pieces may seem like a lot, but the puzzle goes fairly quickly and isn’t tedious. Even younger kids and impatient adults will enjoy it!
And ski art lovers will enjoy the retro stamp designs from across the wintery world.
In addition to the ski stamps puzzle, Lucky Puzzles features other Lewis T Johnson puzzles, including a retro-European advertisement collage featuring pasta, pizza and wine and a puzzle titled “Now Boarding,” featuring vintage luggage tags, stickers and airline ephemera.
They are both so very cool. Check ’em out!
Ski Stamps Puzzle Giveaway
We’re giving away, courtesy of Lucky Puzzles, three Lewis T Johnson Ski Stamps puzzles!
Lucky Puzzles Ski Stamps Puzzle (total of 3 to giveaway)(Looking for more ski-themed puzzle recommendations?)
Best New Ski Books
Dragons in the Snow
Not to be morose, but the western snowpack this year has been dangerous. It’s not a good year to head into the backcountry.
If you’re interested in snow science, avalanche forecasting and backcountry adventure, however, it’s a good year for reading.
Put Edward Power’s Dragons in the Snow on your list. Subtitled “avalanche detectives and the race to beat death in the mountains,” it’s a compelling, non-technical read.
Focusing primarily on Utah and avalanche prediction (and disasters) in the Wasatch and Uinta ranges, Power is an entertaining writer, with strong narrative skills.
A few things bothered me about the book — primarily a colloquial phrase which Power repeats often and my family has never heard used in this way — but maybe that’s ’cause we’re in Colorado.
But, hey, that’s just me being picky!
Rating the read: 5 of 5.
(Video: How Alta’s Ski Patrol Mitigates In-Bounds Avalanche Danger)
For the Love of It: The Mammoth Legacy of Roma & Dave McCoy
Next up, is Robin Morning’s For the Love of It, an award-winning love letter to Roma and Dave McCoy the founders of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.
A ski racer, who grew up at Mammoth and was coached by Dave McCoy, Morning memorializes Roma McCoy as an equal partner promoting skiing in the Eastern Sierra from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Thoroughly researched and crafted with the support of the McCoys, For the Love of It is a compelling read about turning passion into a dream and a dream into reality. It was one of 14 books honored for 2020 by the International Skiing History Association (ISHA).
“We like to think of these (awards) as the Pulitzers of snowsports history, projects that honor the people and places that have made skiing so memorable for millions of current and past enthusiasts,” says Seth Masia, ISHA president.
Rating the Read: 4 of 5.
(More books about skiing for kids and adults)
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Jasper says
Always looking for fun things to do with our kids! Thanks for the giveaway!
braveskimom says
You are most welcome! Thanks for entering!
Lyndsie Otto says
What a pretty puzzle! I haven’t skied in years but maybe this is the year I get back into it. Thanks for the giveaway.
braveskimom says
You are welcome!
Emmy says
I really like the vintage stamps in the puzzle. So neat. Thanks for sharing!
braveskimom says
We’ve totally enjoyed the stamp images and art. Thanks!
James says
Puzzles are great!! Especially these!
braveskimom says
Agreed! Thank you!
Fran says
We are always looking for new ski themed puzzles!
braveskimom says
You’ll love this one! Thanks!
Sarah Wilson says
The book reviews are great. I will look for chances to pick one up. I love puzzles as well.
braveskimom says
Thanks for commenting! Good luck!