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As a recent college graduate and fledging newspaper reporter in the Lake Tahoe area, Jeremy Evans became immersed in ski bum culture—a carefree lifestyle whose mantra was simply: “Ski as much as possible.” His snowboarding suffered when he left for a job in the Portland area; and when, at twenty-six, he suffered a stroke, he reexamined his priorities, quit his job, moved back to Tahoe, and threw himself into snowboarding. But while he had been away, the culture had changed. This book is Evans’s paean to the disappearing culture of the ski bum. A fascinating look at a world far removed from the larger culture, it is also a curious account of a passion for powder and what its disappearance means.
Evans looks at several prominent ski towns in the West (including Crested Butte, Jackson Hole, Telluride, Lake Tahoe, Park City, and Mammoth) and the ski bums who either flourished or fled. He chronicles the American West transformed by rising real estate costs, an immigrant workforce, misguided values, and corporate-owned resorts. The story he tells is that of quintessentially American characters—rejecting materialism, taking risks, following their own path—and of the glories and pitfalls their lifestyle presents.
"In Search of Powder is a comprehensive, well-written and well-reasoned homage to a lifestyle that many of us yearn for, secretly or otherwise."—Ted Holteen, Durango Herald
— Ted Holteen
"Evans tells the story of quintessentially American characters—rejecting materialism, taking risks, following their own paths—and of the glories and pitfalls their lifestyles present."—ForeWord e-newsletter
"[A] superb book about ski towns like ours."—George Shirk, Mammoth Times
— George Shirk
-Matt Hansen, senior editor of Powder magazine
“At times tragic and enlightening, In Search of Powder is a must-read for anyone who cherishes the ideal of finding freedom in the mountains.”—Matt Hansen, senior editor of Powder magazine
"Evans’ book chronicles all this in fine details, gathered over several seasons of boarding and interviewing. He has all the history, all the names and all the places. If you’re an ex-ski bum, this is required reading. If you remember those days, ditto. Or if you just like tales of men and women on the edge, give it a read. And keep an eye out for Evans, he’s still riding our slopes."—Sam Bauman, Nevada Appeal
— Sam Bauman
-Rob Story, editor at large of Powder and Skiing magazines
“In Search of Powder by Jeremy Evans is funny, irreverent, hedonistic, saucy, insightful, and ski-obsessed. Much like the ski bums detailed within.”—Rob Story, editor at large of Powder and Skiing magazines
"A provocative new book."—Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee
— Sam McManis
-Wayne Sheldrake, author of Instant Karma: The Heart and Soul of a Ski Bum
“As with being poor, the problem with ski bumming is it takes up most of your time. . . . Fortunately, Jeremy Evans has taken the time to write the book, long needed, that ski bumming has always deserved.”—Wayne Sheldrake, author of Instant Karma: The Heart and Soul of a Ski Bum
Foreword Glen Plake ix
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction xv
1 Shangri-la 1
2 Den of the Face Rats 31
3 Suburbanite Ski Bums 54
4 Ski Town Invasion 77
5 Resorting to Madness 108
6 Swift, Silent, Deep 147
7 Kodak Courage 180
Epilogue 224
Bibliography 227
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Overview
As a recent college graduate and fledging newspaper reporter in the Lake Tahoe area, Jeremy Evans became immersed in ski bum culture—a carefree lifestyle whose mantra was simply: “Ski as much as possible.” His snowboarding suffered when he left for a job in the Portland area; and when, at twenty-six, he suffered a stroke, he reexamined his priorities, quit his job, moved back to Tahoe, and threw himself into snowboarding. But while he had been away, the culture had changed. This book is Evans’s paean to the disappearing culture of the ski bum. A fascinating look at a world far removed from the larger culture, it is also a curious account of a passion for...