Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life

"Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life" is the shocking, engaging, and ultimately inspiring autobiography from one of the sport's most electric figures. Standing as a giant in the ski world, Hermann Maier dominated his field of competition and gathered a trove of World Cup titles and medals along the way. But his championship reign came to a frightening halt in 2001 when he endured a violent motorcycle accident that he was lucky to survive. Doctors were certain the damage to his leg would end his flamboyant skiing career. Yet it was at this low point that Hermann Maier's astonishing comeback story begins. True to his all-or-nothing reputation, the Herminator put every ounce of his strength into his slow, painful recovery. Driven by the same determination that awed millions in Nagano at the 1998 Olympic Games - where he walked away from the most spectacular crash the sport has seen and went on to win a gold medal the next day - Maier found his way back to the podium in a stunning return to glory. It has a Foreword by Lance Armstrong.

"Maier's autobiography follows the fanatical and inspiring dedication that enabled Austria's most popular athlete to recover from motorcycle-crash injuries and win ski races again." -- SKI magazine "A fast-paced memoir." -- Outside magazine "Maier's happy ending to a gruesome and long fight was one few of us understood until the release of his book, Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life, which chronicles the days of depression, painkiller addiction, and paralysis scares followed by nights without sleep in sweat-soaked sheets." -- SKI magazine "Rarely has there been an athletic comeback story as compelling as that of Hermann Maier. . . . [This book belongs] on the shelf with the best skier biographies, a rarity in a sport that, in America, lives in the margins." -- Boston Globe "This is the book I was waiting for: A gutsy, honest, straightforward read about one of the best skiers of all time. Hermann is ample proof that there is always hope and his book is destined to be a skiing classic. It's an exciting and captivating read." -- Peter Graves, Olympic and World Cup race announcer "Great insight into a comeback we only thought we understood." -- Steve Porino, OLN and Olympic race announcer "When you read his book, you realize this guy is all about hard work." -- Todd Brooker, NBC Alpine Skiing Analyst and former pro World Cup downhiller "A tale of mental toughness and recovery." --Vail Daily "What is truly illuminating about the Herminator's story is that it's a warts-and-all tale. It's not like Maier always knew he'd make it back. It's not like he never got frustrated and behaved selfishly or rudely. Like any human who has his livelihood suddenly snatched away from him, Maier at times lashed out, threw things in anger and wanted to give up. And then he went back to work with the determination of a champion." --Dallas Morning News "An open diary of Maier's ski career... This book is a lesson in life." --SportsFeatures.com Maier s autobiography follows the fanatical and inspiring dedication that enabled Austria s most popular athlete to recover from motorcycle-crash injuries and win ski races again. SKI magazine A fast-paced memoir. Outside magazine Maier s happy ending to a gruesome and long fight was one few of us understood until the release of his book, Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life, which chronicles the days of depression, painkiller addiction, and paralysis scares followed by nights without sleep in sweat-soaked sheets. SKI magazine Rarely has there been an athletic comeback story as compelling as that of Hermann Maier. . . . [This book belongs] on the shelf with the best skier biographies, a rarity in a sport that, in America, lives in the margins. Boston Globe This is the book I was waiting for: A gutsy, honest, straightforward read about one of the best skiers of all time. Hermann is ample proof that there is always hope and his book is destined to be a skiing classic. It's an exciting and captivating read. Peter Graves, Olympic and World Cup race announcer "Great insight into a comeback we only thought we understood." Steve Porino, OLN and Olympic race announcer When you read his book, you realize this guy is all about hard work. Todd Brooker, NBC Alpine Skiing Analyst and former pro World Cup downhiller "A tale of mental toughness and recovery." Vail Daily What is truly illuminating about the Herminator's story is that it's a warts-and-all tale. It's not like Maier always knew he'd make it back. It's not like he never got frustrated and behaved selfishly or rudely. Like any human who has his livelihood suddenly snatched away from him, Maier at times lashed out, threw things in anger and wanted to give up. And then he went back to work with the determination of a champion. Dallas Morning News An open diary of Maier s ski career This book is a lesson in life. SportsFeatures.com " "Maier's autobiography follows the fanatical and inspiring dedication that enabled Austria's most popular athlete to recover from motorcycle-crash injuries and win ski races again." -- SKI magazine "A fast-paced memoir." -- Outside magazine "Maier's happy ending to a gruesome and long fight was one few of us understood until the release of his book, Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life, which chronicles the days of depression, painkiller addiction, and paralysis scares followed by nights without sleep in sweat-soaked sheets." -- SKI magazine "Rarely has there been an athletic comeback story as compelling as that of Hermann Maier. . . . [This book belongs] on the shelf with the best skier biographies, a rarity in a sport that, in America, lives in the margins." -- Boston Globe "This is the book I was waiting for: A gutsy, honest, straightforward read about one of the best skiers of all time. Hermann is ample proof that there is always hope and his book is destined to be a skiing classic. It's an exciting and captivating read." -- Peter Graves, Olympic and World Cup race announcer "Great insight into a comeback we only thought we understood." -- Steve Porino, OLN and Olympic race announcer "When you read his book, you realize this guy is all about hard work." -- Todd Brooker, NBC Alpine Skiing Analyst and former pro World Cup downhiller "A tale of mental toughness and recovery." --Vail Daily "What is truly illuminating about the Herminator's story is that it's a warts-and-all tale. It's not like Maier always knew he'd make it back. It's not like he never got frustrated and behaved selfishly or rudely. Like any human who has his livelihood suddenly snatched away from him, Maier at times lashed out, threw things in anger and wanted to give up. And then he went back to work with the determination of a champion." --Dallas Morning News "An open diary of Maier's ski career... This book is a lesson in l