Written in verse, this book reads visually like skiing quickly down a snowy hill of moguls. The archival black and white photos are the frosting on the cake to this story. This is the biography of Peter Seibert of Massachusetts. Pete learned to ski at seven years of age, “there was nothing else like it in the world.”(13)

The first section “AMERICA” tells of Pete’s years of skiing on his high school’s ski team, being too young to enlist when World War II breaks outs, but enlisting when he turns eighteen in the 10th Light Division (Alpine), Army training in the snow of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, and Pete becoming an Army snow instructor in white camouflage.

“OCEAN” dwells on the anticipation of crossing the Atlantic Ocean before seeing action in World War II.

“ITALY” takes place in the Apennine Mountains in Northern Italy. The German Army is on top of peaks looking down on the Allies. The Allies need to dislodge the German Army before the Allies can advance. Pete was in the Allied platoon in snow mountain gear slowing working their way up the mountains before the 7:30 a.m. attack began. It was a remarkable feat “that so many Americans had climbed the impossible east side of Riva Ridge…Not one of his soldiers died in the climb to the top… the Germans fought back for four days but then surrendered.”(110)

In another battle, Pete was wounded from an artillery blast. Pete would be in the hospital for almost two months. During this time Germany surrenders.

Back in “AMERICA” Pete will undergo many surgeries, go through rehab, and wonder if he will ever ski again.

“THE PROMISE” finds Pete teaching in a ski school, qualifying for the U.S. Ski Team of 1950, and learning how to run a ski resort after injuring his ankle. In 1962, Pete opens the Vail Ski Resort.

Enjoy gliding through Pete’s story as if you yourself are on skis with him. This is a side of skiing and World War II that is often at told.