Podborski

Glynn A. Leyshon is a professor of physical education at the University
of Western Ontario, a former weekly columnist for the London Free Press
and author of 18 Sporting Stories.

Steve Podborski came as close to being a household name in Canada as any skier is likely to do. In this book he bares all and, surprisingly, he comes off as a simple, down-to-earth young man from Don Mills who quit school at 16 to become a ski racer. The glamour of the tour proved to be a very thin veneer.

Podborski, who describes himself as a “nerd from Don Mills,” spent 11 years on the World Cup circuit winning the title in 1982 with three first-place and two second-place finishes. He retired in 1984. This book chronicles, briefly, his rise to athletic fame and his perseverance through several major injuries, lack of equipment and support early on, and great pressure and media attention later.

Being made an officer of the Order of Canada, a member of a couple of halls of fame, and being awarded a handful of other honours did little to change Podborski’s “lunchpail” approach to life. He learned how to handle celebrity status without becoming contaminated.

The major feature which comes through in this book is that Podborski enjoyed what he did and exulted in “falling off mountains faster than anyone else.” Written in simple language, this book reads as smoothly as one of the “Pod’s” 90-mph runs down Kitzbuhel, his favourite piste.

As one of the “Crazy Canucks,” Podborski saw a good portion of the world — Japan, South America, the U.S., and Europe. It was a learning experience which no school could duplicate. The anecdotes with which he illustrates his learning give the book some flavour and prevent it from becoming a travelogue.

A highly readable hour and a half.