The Spirit of Icarus

The author uses the Greek myth of Icarus as a metaphor for that internal sprit that drives extreme athletes to pursue adventures not unlike Icarus’s own flight close to the sun. The reader is presented with true stories of adventure, exciting drama, humor, and philosophy from along the Icarus path. The author’s personal life-adventures offer a timeline to introduce many extreme sports, along with stories, quotes, and photographs from others who have pursued these paths. This 375 page book, with over 325 enlargeable photographs, is divided into four Parts broken up into 25 Chapters. Part I: ‘Hills, Mountains, and Soaring Peaks’ included chapters on ski racing, freestyle skiing, helicopter skiing, and more. Part II: ‘Lakes, Oceans, Wind, and Waves’ explores slalom water skiing, ocean sailing, surfing, and windsurfing in high winds and surf. Part III: ‘Long and Winding Roads’ contains tales of motorcycle adventures. Lastly, Part IV: ‘Flying Through Space’ contains stories of parachuting, hang-gliding, and cliff diving. The book closes with a philosophical exploration of the mental challenges and numerous rewards found along the Icarus path.