Norman Ollestad's CRAZY FOR THE STORM: A Memoir of Survival

http://www.harpercollins.com/book/buy.aspx?isbn13=9780061766787

From the age of three, Norman Ollestad was thrust into the world of surfing and competitive downhill
skiing by the intense, charismatic father he both idolized and resented. While his friends were riding bikes, playing ball, and going to birthday parties, young Norman was whisked away in pursuit of wild and demanding adventures. Yet it were these exhilarating tests of skill that prepared Boy Wonder, as his father called him, to become a fearless champion—and ultimately saved his life.

Flying to a ski championship ceremony in February 1979, the chartered Cessna carrying Norman, his father, his fathers girlfriend, and the pilot crashed into the San Gabriel Mountains and was suspended at 8,200 feet, engulfed in a blizzard. Dad and I were a team, and he was Superman, Ollestad writes. But now Normans father was dead, and the devastated eleven-year-old had to descend the treacherous, icy mountain alone.

Set amid the spontaneous, uninhibited surf culture of Malibu and Mexico in the late 1970s, this riveting memoir, written in crisp Hemingwayesque prose, recalls Ollestads childhood and the magnetic man whose determination and love infuriated and inspired him—and also taught him to overcome the indomitable. As it illuminates the complicated bond between an extraordinary father and his son, Ollestads powerful and unforgettable true story offers remarkable insight for us all.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Surfing
• skiing
• surf
• ski
• memoir
• California
• Malibu
• plane
• crash
• mountains
• Norman Ollestad
• book

[Knega13]

My favourite book!

[beastar55]

Just finished reading this GREAT MEMOIR! If you are a son, father, or both, you owe it to yourself to read this well written book. Way to inspire us "Boy Wonder"

[jwezzy7]

Saw his story from a film and had to learn more about him. It's great when two amazing pieces of art can converge and lead you down a rabbit hole of possiblities. Finding Joe was that for me, great doc.

[MyLifeList]

A tragic story well told. As a Father I truly appreciate the way Norman allows the past to be without judgment. Too often we judge yesterday by today's standards. Parenting was different a generation ago. Let it be. Thank you Norman.

[tessaring]

@deniseobx252

if your family wouldn't be war crazy you wouldn't need these survival skills! - Same with little Ollestadt: Why was he in this plane flying in bad weather conditions first place, pilot not listening to the warnings on radio, why didn't his Dad protect him? I am a mother of three and I taught my son to not join the army, but other languages, nonviolantly communicate and being tolerant of other nations, supported him to think his own thoughts, feelings and not follow blindly others

[yourmaaama]

@TjzFilms absolutely, i'm going to read it again now

[TjzFilms]

So amazing to see pictures from different parts of the book.

[gentoo65]

Interesting to watch this short video after reading the book...I always like to see pictures or video to give a book more perspective! Great book, one you can hardly put down!

[ioriorioriorio]

thanks for the great period footage- reminds me of morris cove in east haven ct. where all the freaks hung out and waterskied then

[ipv4]

An amazing story. I cannot imagined what it must of felt like to lose my father in such a tragic acccident.