Roland Huntford's brilliant history of skiing begins 20,000 years ago in the last ice age on the frozen tundra. On these icy slopes skiing began as a means of survival. That it has developed into the leisure and sporting pursuit of choice for so many, in so many countries, bears testament to its elemental appeal. Its use in both polar exploration and wartime has changed the course of history. The origins of skiing are bound up with the emergence of modern man and the making of the world we live in. The dramatic history of skiing is brought to life in this engaging book.