-
Mountain Path, Kitzbühel, photo © Tim Hall © The Ultimate Ski Book – Legends, Resorts, Lifestyle & More by Gabriella Le Breton, published by teNeues -
Hahnenkamm Lodge, Austria, photo © 2016 Sebastian Schöllgen, Eighty Four Rooms GbR © The Ultimate Ski Book – Legends, Resorts, Lifestyle & More by Gabriella Le Breton, published by teNeues -
Kiroro Resort, Japan, photo © Caroline Vanthoff © The Ultimate Ski Book – Legends, Resorts, Lifestyle & More by Gabriella Le Breton, published by teNeues -
Madness, Verbier, photo © Tim Hall © The Ultimate Ski Book – Legends, Resorts, Lifestyle & More by Gabriella Le Breton, published by teNeues
-
Hahnenkamm Lodge, Austria, photo © 2016 Sebastian Schöllgen, Eighty Four Rooms GbR © The Ultimate Ski Book – Legends, Resorts, Lifestyle & More by Gabriella Le Breton, published by teNeues -
© The Ultimate Ski Book – Legends, Resorts, Lifestyle & More by Gabriella Le Breton, published by teNeues
Whether you’re a recreational snow bunny or a hardcore skier, Gabriella Le Breton’s The Ultimate Ski Book (teNeues) is a treasure of a resource. She covers every aspect of the sport, from its history and “founding fathers” to its style and impact on contemporary fashion. But here’s the part modern-day ski buffs will likely appreciate the most: Le Breton outlines the best ski and backcountry trails as well as the top resorts for hitting the slopes, from Austria’s iconic Hahnenkamm Lodge to lesser known spots like Kiroro in Japan. Here, a sampling of Le Breton’s list of the steepest runs. If the names are any indication — “Delirium Dive,” anyone? — this is for extreme skiers only.
Corbet’s Couloir, Jackson Hole, USA
Jackson Hole abounds with challenging terrain yet Corbet’s Couloir is its most infamous run. Take a drop-in of up to 20 foot into the couloir (with an average pitch of 40 degrees), add a turn upon landing to avoid hitting the side wall, and finish with full exposure to Jackson’s Tram (cable car) for maximum potential humiliation.
Delirium Dive, Sunshine Village, Canada
“The fact that Sunshine Village’s ski patrol insists you’re equipped with avalanche safety equipment in order to tackle Delirium Dive comes with the bonus that it is carefully monitored. A short hike up Lookout Mountain and a hop over the rock band that crowns the Dive is rewarded with steep, deep, and varied runs down a large bowl.”
Harakiri, Mayrhofen, Austria
“Harakiri was a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment and Mayrhofen’s signature black piste certainly stirs the belly with its 78 degree pitch. As you stand on the roller at the top of the run, unable to see down it, focus on the fact that it’s short (under a mile), not that it’s steeper than the World Cup ski jumping ramp.”
La Face de Bellevarde, Val D’Isère, France
“One of the most iconic black pistes in the Alps, La Face is the controversially steep stage for the annual World Cup Downhill season opener. Nearly two miles long, La Face drops some 3,150 vertical feet straight into Val d’Isère, completed in just 1 minute 2.41 seconds by Alberto Tomba to win Olympic gold in 1992.”
Swiss Wall (La Chavanette), Avoriaz, France
“This notorious marked itinerary starts on the Swiss French border and plunges down some 1,085 vertical feet into Switzerland. Squeeze through a narrow pass with a 40 degree pitch and round an overhang to find yourself on a steep, exposed mogul field before pressing through a couple of rocky outcrops for a natural half pipe.”