Tracking the Wild Coomba

The Life of Legendary Skier Doug Coombs

256 pages
Publisher: Mountaineers Books
ISBN: 978-1-68051-044-7
Published: Jun 23, 2016

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"Doug Coombs had a huge impact on my life; much of my overall approach to mountains comes from his example. I am so grateful that, thanks to author Rob Cocuzzo, I now have the complete story of what influenced one of my biggest heroes." – Jeremy Jones, snowboarding legend

“In the 1980s, I was lucky enough to be part of the Bozeman gang of ex-ski racers in one of the crucibles of the American steep skiing scene. Robert Cocuzzo accurately captures the amazing Doug and Emily Coombs that I knew then and the myriad of Coombs ski stories.” – Bruce Tremper, avalanche expert and author of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain

"Doug Coombs was an inspiration to me and so many others on and off the mountain. Now, here is an insightful look at the life of a legend." Jimmy Chin, climber-photographer

• A thrilling biography of renowned extreme skiing pioneer Doug Coombs

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.

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Details

256 pages
Publisher: Mountaineers Books
ISBN: 978-1-68051-044-7
Published: Jun 23, 2016

Reviews

I found myself glued to this book for hours with my heart rate up a few beats the entire time. Author Robert Cocuzzo’s incredible research combined with his own personal experience tells a story that will leave you more inspired, educated, motivated and wanting to be a little bit more like Doug Coombs.
— Alex Knuuttunen, SnowBrains
Cocuzzo accurately captures the amazing Doug and Emily Coombs that I knew [in the 1980s] and the myriad of Coombs ski stories.
— Bruce Tremper, author of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain
By traveling to the places that made Doug famous, Cocuzzo is able to paint a remarkable portrait of the man. This beautiful narrative achieves the original goal he set out to accomplish. I was instantly engrossed by the story.
— Jonathan Desabris, Teton Gravity Research
Tracking the Wild Coomba is a thrilling read -- a re-tracing of the sometimes terrifying tracks of a legendary skier. It's also a joy to read, thanks to the beautiful writing of Rob Cocuzzo. His admiration for Doug Coombs comes across in every page, as does his enviable sense of adventure.
— Jeremy Hobson, host of NPR's Here and Now
The title of Rob Cocuzzo's exhilarating book on the extreme skier Doug Coombs says it all: Like Peter Matthiessen's classic The Snow Leopard, it's a personal tale of an inspired search for an exotic creature. Despite the danger, thrill-seeking skiers were in very good hands on guided tours with Coombs. You might say the same about Cocuzzo's meticulous descent into the life of the 'Wild Coomba.'
— James Sullivan, author of Island Cup
I am so pleased that Tracking the Wild Coomba exists to honor a wonderful human being, Doug Coombs. I'm thrilled and moved by every word of it. I only knew Doug briefly but what an indelible impression he left.
— Mark Obenhaus, director of STEEP
Tracking the Wild Coomba affected me profoundly. I laughed, and I cried. I was transported back to a special time--a time and a person I will never forget. In my own career, I only want to create imagery that evokes emotion. So I really appreciated Rob's effort, and for all the emotion that Tracking the Wild Coomba evoked in me.
— Ace Kvale, photographer
Doug Coombs was an inspiration to me and so many others on and off the mountain. Now, here is an insightful look at the life of a legend.
— Jimmy Chin, National Geographic
Doug Coombs had a huge impact on my life; much of myoverall approach to mountains comes from his example. I am so grateful that, thanks to author Rob Cocuzzo, I now have the complete story of what influenced one of my biggest heroes.
— Jeremy Jones, snowboarding pioneer
The book is part biography, part first-person journey and follows in the footsteps of Doug Coombs, the extraordinary skier who called Jackson Hole home. If you've never heard the name it's an insightful look into his life, and for those who did know him it's a walk down memory lane.
— Erik Dahlby, Jackson Hole News & Guide
You don't have to be a skier to fall under the spell of this masterfully told tale of adventure, tragedy, and redemption. Rob Cocuzzo's Tracking the Wild Coomba is a thrilling, unputdownable read.
— Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea
In Tracking the Wild Coomba, author Robert Cocuzzo doesn't just profile the great Doug Coombs in remarkable detail, he takes us on a journey through one of the most pivotal and influential time periods in big mountain skiing. From Jackson Hole to Alaska, and Montana to the Alps, Cocuzzo digs deep to introduce us to the characters who, with Coombs as their fearless leader, left an indelible imprint on skiing today.
— Matt Hansen, Powder magazine Editor-at-Large
A rich slice of ski history and culture as well as an intimate glimpse into the life of a man who changed the sport forever. As inspiring as it is tragic, Tracking the Wild Coomba is not only a tribute to Coombs but also a guide to living well. As Coombs often said, "You don't know if you don't go."
— Kelley McMillan, Skiing Magazine