NATURAL RESOURCES SNOWBOARDING FOR DUMMIES.``The Snowboard Book: A Guide for All Boarders'' By Lowell Hart (W.W. Norton & Co., 1997, $19.95) Most boarding books in print fall in two categories - ridiculously thin, trying to appeal to short-attention spans raised on MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. , or ridiculously thick, trying to appeal to intellectuals on the slopes, of which there are none. Which is why Hart's book remains in print and is one of the best on the market. If you want to learn how to board, this guide is perfect. Complemented by fine photography and graphics, it simply and comprehensively explains the how-to's of the sport without descending into minutia mi·nu·ti·a n. pl. mi·nu·ti·ae A small or trivial detail: "the minutiae of experimental and mathematical procedure" Frederick Turner. . And does so in a serious, yet fun and breezy style that is easy to understand. It explains the fundamentals without becoming overly technical and does a particularly fine job of covering the equipment you need and why. Bothered by ``wet-butt syndrome?'' It's got you covered here, too. - Michael A. Anastasi EUROPEAN VACATION Some of the best skiing on the planet is in Europe, which might be a hint why Switzerland, Austria and Italy have so much success on the slopes in the Olympics. If you aren't Franz Klammer Franz Klammer (born December 3, 1953) is an Austrian former alpine ski racer who dominated the downhill event throughout much of the mid to late 1970s. He won a gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. , Jean-Claude Killy Jean-Claude Killy (born August 30, 1943) is a French alpine skier and a triple Olympic champion. Killy was born in Saint-Cloud, but brought up in Val d'Isère. Following his international success, he moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1969. or Alberto Tomba yet daydream about sliding down an Alps slalom run, snoweye.com should get you in the mood. This Web site features links to webcams from around Europe. There are hundreds available for viewing in such ski-mad countries as Germany, France and the aforementioned Italian, Austrian and Swiss mountains. It's worth it just to check out the scenery. Some webcams are clearer than others and offer breathtaking views. --Fun with Mongo Mongo Any of several peoples living in the African equatorial forest. They speak a dialect of a common language, Mongo or Nkundo, which belongs to the Niger-Congo language family. : Mongo and Tard's Outdoor Shack (www.mongoandtard.com) touts itself as a Web site ``devoted to beginning outdoorsmen Outdoorsmen are men who enjoy hunting, fishing, and camping out in the woods. Typically, they live in the northern United States or Canada. Stereotypically, they are flannel wearing, beard toting men like Paul Bunyan or the Brawny paper towel mascot. with more enthusiasm than money or brains!'' Bow hunting die-hards who live in the Midwest, the site's namesakes offer Internet surfers hunting tips, Hunting 101 ``for beginners advice on bowhunting Bowhunting is the practice of taking game animals by archery. Technique In contrast to a rifle hunter, who may shoot effectively from ranges in excess of 200 yards (about 180 m), archers will usually restrict shots to 45 yards or less, depending on factors such as for deer'' that includes a section titled ``A Deer and its Stomachs,'' and ``Tall Tales from Mongo and Tard.'' ``We wanted to make this site because of our love for the outdoors,'' they write. ``Mongo and Tard don't have unlimited (money), time or the best hunting spots. But we make the most of what we have and are successful.'' - Chris Cocoles CAPTION(S): box Box: TUNE IN |
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