From Booklist
Reviewed with Chris Oxlade's Rock Climbing.Gr. 4-8. With original artwork, color photographs, and concise blocks of text, these titles in the Extreme Sports series incorporate interesting, rarely cited facts in their overviews. Few youth titles about snowboarding, for example, mention that the sport's origins date to the 1920s. The sometimes crowded spreads cover the basics of history, gear, and techniques for various levels of experience, including several useful diagrams. Rock Climbing compares various countries' grading systems and introduces, but doesn't explain, the concept of climbing ethics. Both books begin with a blanket safety warning, but Rock Climbing includes more practical safety tips for young readers. Snowboarding, in contrast, focuses on avalanche protection rather than beginner concerns, and it features snowboarding "superstars" without mentioning that at least one died while pushing the limits on the slopes. The language aims for its audience with phrases such as "awesome mountains," but it veers occasionally into the tritely simplistic. Still, each volume offers some unusual, helpful information that will nicely supplement other, sturdier introductions. Further reading lists and a glossary are appended to each volume. Gillian Engberg
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Card catalog description
Discusses the history of snowboarding, some of the sport's pioneers, techniques and styles, necessary equipment, popular resorts, dangers, and more.

ANNOTATION

Discusses the history of snowboarding, some of the sport's pioneers, techniques and styles, necessary equipment, popular resorts, dangers, and more.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA - Sarah Cofer

The Extreme Sports series books have similar formats offering the same page layout and length and providing a basic overview and history of a popular extreme sport. Snowboarding covers basic beginner's techniques, such as stance and body alignment, and continues through intermediate skills such as jumping and spinning. There is a fantastic diagram of the various types of "grabs," showing where riders place their hands during tricks. The authors discuss safety by emphasizing planning ahead, practicing good judgment, and knowing about the dangers of avalanches. There is also a great section on the legendary snowboarders. The other titles in the series are Mountain Biking, BMX, In-Line Skating, Rock Climbing, and Skateboarding. Although the books are brief, they are jam packed with information covering history, equipment, maintenance, tricks and techniques, and stars and professionals, and they discuss places to participate in each sport. They have a magazine quality to them with glossy paper, lots of pictures, diagrams, and colors, certain to draw reluctant readers. This series serves as a great resource for school assignments or an introduction to extreme sports. It is a recommended purchase for public and school libraries serving middle school students. (Extreme Sports).. VOYA Codes 3Q 3P M (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2003, Lerner, 32p.; Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio., PLB and Trade pb.. Ages 11 to 14.

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