Big Air Snowboarding ANNOTATION
Describes the history, equipment, techniques, and safety measures of big air snowboarding.
FROM THE CRITICS
VOYA
This review was written and published to address two books about Snowboarding by Chris Haxhurst and Anne McKenna. Haxhurst's entry in The Extreme Sports Collection uses a variety of graphic styles to impart quick bits of information set in color inserts, with photos of various sizes and unusual page bleeds around the photos to create a jazzy format. Descriptive phrases and action words make the text exciting and accessible to young readers. A list of terms, bios of some current snowboarding award winners, and a list of tricks introduce the beginner to the sport. Although the extreme nature of the sport is explainedan advanced ski slope averages thirty degrees in pitch whereas the snowboard daredevil runs are sixty degreesthe author includes a chapter on safety and equipment. Taking lessons from a ski school is recommended, and the benefits of doing so are described. McKenna's addition to Capstone's Extreme Sports series is more static in format, with its repeated use of simple sentence text on one page that faces a fullpage photo. Lacking in this title is the advice to take lessons from a professional, an important factor in learning proper technique as well as in knowing mountain safety and etiquette. The slim volume might satisfy the interested reader looking for quick information. Both series do a nice job of covering the wide range of extreme sports, with overlapping titles on bicycle stunt riding, inline skating, wakeboarding, and mountain biking. Capstone adds a book on bungee jumping and Rosen covers skateboarding, skydiving, and rock and ice climbing. Both series present a brief history of each sport, discuss the equipment needed, offer short instructions, and emphasizesafety.Because there is repetition across the books in the Rosen series, teens might become bored when reading all titles in the series. Although both series are designed for the high/low reader, Rosen's series that covers a broader range of material in a snappier format is preferred. Glossary. Index. Photos. Further Reading. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 1999, High/Low Books/Capstone Press, Ages 12 to 15, 48p. PLB $12.95. Reviewer: Kitty Krahnke
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