Tracking the Wild Coomba

The Life of Legendary Skier Doug Coombs

By: Robert Cocuzzo

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

Arguably the greatest extreme skier to ever live, Doug Coombs pioneered hundreds of first descents down the biggest, steepest, most dangerous mountains in the world - from the Grand Teton "Otter Body" in Jackson Hole; to Mount Vinson, the highest point in Antarctica; to far-flung drops such as Wyatt Peak in Kyrgyzstan. He graced magazine covers, wowed moviegoers, became the face of top ski companies, and ascended as the king of big-mountain extreme skiing.

His place at the top was confirmed in 1991 when he won the very first World Extreme Ski Competition in Valdez, Alaska. Now his story is told for the first time in Robert Cocuzzo's Tracking the Wild Coomba. From the slopes of his childhood in New England; to the steep chutes of his early career in Montana and Wyoming; to the deep, avalanche-prone powder of his guiding years in Alaska; and, ultimately, to the terrifying terrain of the French Alps, Coombs's greatness was in how he skied.

What most people didn't know was that Coombs skied so perfectly in part because he had no other choice - at the age of 16 he crashed off a jump in New Hampshire and broke his neck. Doctors said it was a miracle he wasn't paralyzed, and that another bad fall could kill him. Many believe it was this second chance that inspired the extraordinary life he led until his tragic death in 2006, the result of an attempted rescue of a fellow skier.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Rob Cocuzzo (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

if you love the mountains

loved it! inspiring, great celebration of a special person and his life and legacy.highly recommend this book.

Beautifully written. Deeply caring.

Excellent Bio. Deeply researched. Well written. Told With a Lot of Heart. The reader is outstanding.

Amazing book sharing the story of one of the most inspirational and iconic skiers of all time.

My 11 year old son and I both loved listening to this book. We felt like we really got to know Doug Coombs. I love that this book lets Doug’s life and legacy live on and inspire even the next generation.

Great read

In the heat of summer, listening to this book you almost feel the coolness of the mountain tops! Your get a real feel for the people and places he Doug touched.

Really enjoyed this book

As a skier growing up reading about Coombs in powder magazine, this story really brought him and his world to life. It seemed to capture his spirit, his joi de vivre. Very sad and yet at the same time uplifting.