- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Viking Canada (AHC); 1st printing edition (April 1 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 067006629X
- ISBN-13: 978-0670066292
- Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15.5 x 3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 476 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #316,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
Jerry Kobalenko, author of The Horizontal Everest: Extreme Journeys on Ellesmere Island
"A fast-paced tale of an adventure race gone wrong."
Colin Angus, author of Beyond the Horizon, Lost in Mongolia, and Amazon Extreme
"A must-read for extreme-sports enthusiasts and armchair adventurers."
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engrossing examination of a tragedy,
By
This review is from: Fatal Tide (Hardcover)
`Fatal Tide', by David Leach, is the thoroughly engrossing story of the tragic death of a participant in an adventure race on the Bay of Fundy in 2002. While Leach does methodically review what happened at the race, this isn't merely an account of the events of the day. Leach digs into the psychology of adventure racers and athletes, with vivid portraits of a number of racers who are driven to push their bodies to limits that most of us would never even dream possible. He deftly shows us a variety of people and the reasons why they want to go `higher, faster, stronger.' He also paints a vivid picture of the fishing industry that clashes with the emerging interest in sea kayaking on the bay. He introduces us to the men and women who didn't even know a race was happening, but ended up playing key roles in the drama that unfolds. Leach provides a history of the both the area and the relatively nascent sport of adventure racing. Part of this is an analysis of the culture surrounding the booming success of `reality TV' where adventure racing played an early role. There is even a surprisingly interesting study of hypothermia... surprising, in that Leach makes the science of skin temperature a truly fascinating read. He even weaves into the story a thoughtful analysis of the ethics of using data gleaned from Nazi experiments on concentration camp victims. He shows many things that went wrong that day, but is very careful not to lay blame nor condemn any of the people involved. But, ultimately, Leach introduces us to a young man who tragically died doing what he loved, and his family that, years later, is still embroiled in the aftermath. Leach skillfully weaves all of these seemingly disparate parts into a very absorbing and comprehensive tale.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review) 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating, well written, heart pounding story,
By Co-editors Nancy Gray and Dennis Field "Co-ed... - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Fatal Tide (Hardcover)
If you have seen some of my other reviews, you will correctly surmise that I like fast-paced true adventure stories in the tradition of "Into The Wild". This book did not disappoint.
Since I appear to be writing the first review of this book, I will provide some background information on the story. A day-long adventure race called the Fundy Multi-Sport Race is organized by a couple, Sara Vlug and Jayme Frank. The couple became involved in adventure racing in 1998 when the sport was gaining popularity because of the success of Mark Burnett's (of 'Survivor' fame) Eco-challenge adventure races. After training and competing in various races, involving variations of paddling, bushwacking, off-road biking, and alpine events, they began organizing their own races. On June 1, 2002, 68 competitors ranging in ages from 17 to 70 participate in Vlug and Frank's Fundy Multi-Sport Race involving 15 km of trail running, over 30 km of mountain biking and 12 km of sea kayaking on the Bay of Fundy. A storm comes up, sea conditions worsen and the event ends in tragedy. I found the book extremely well written, providing enough information about the competitors to make it interesting without bogging you down in too much background, like many other books. The pace of the book doesn't let up and I found it difficult to put down. Pictures of some of the people involved and an accounting of the aftermath make it even more interesting and unforgettable. If you like fast-paced adventure stories, you won't want to miss this one. Highly recommended. For other books that I found gripping and well worth reading, see my other reviews or my listmania list. I am an avid reader of true adventure and/or survival stories. |
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