Zen and the Art of Skiing

Denali Schmidt illustrates Zen and the Art of Skiing with words, original drawings  and his personal insights on his struggle to achieve a seemingly impossible goal.


"How do you clear your mind so that you are still enough to be completely focused with no fears and no distractions?"


Denali asked this question when he was 17 years old.   He was a natural athlete but strove for excellence in extreme sports, especially acrobatics and jumps on skis.   He decided to dedicate himself to the inner discipline of  meditation.  Denali's intention was to streamline his energy and concentration to unblock his mind, visualize the feats he wanted to accomplish and succeed in performing them without injury.      He uses his emerging skills as an artist and writer to record and share his steps on this journey.