Winner of the International Skiing History Association’s 2023 Baldur Award

Presented for an outstanding work of general interest that sheds significant light on an aspect of skiing history.

Praise for Junior Bounous and the Joys of Skiing

“Throughout my life, I have had the pleasure and honor of being associated with many great skiers who are now recognized as legends in the sport of skiing. I believe that there are a few who rise to the level of ‘supreme legends’...those who go beyond being outstanding athletes in winter sports. Junior Bounous qualifies for that honor. There is no question that Junior has provided records that will forever remain part of skiing history. However, for me…his greatest attribute is his humble demeanor, which underscores the kind of quiet, persuasive, and gentle man he is inside.”

–Alan Engen, coauthor of First Tracks: A Century of Skiing in Utah

“The Bounous family is Snowbird royalty and that starts with Junior. Ayja’s thorough biography is a detailed account of the amazing life of one of skiing’s pioneers.”

–Dave Fields, Snowbird President and GM

“To experience the pure joy and freedom of powder skiing is to know the essence of Junior Bounous. This story of his life chronicles the evolution of powder skiing in the Wild West and also the unique recipe that created one of our sport’s greatest ambassadors. Bounous pioneered ski instruction in America by teaching it the American way—with good humor, encouragement, and a human connection. Ayja Bounous’s book is a love letter to her grandfather, whose life has been a love letter to skiing.”

–Edie Thys Morgan, 1988 & ‘92 Olympian; ski journalist, author of Shut Up and Ski

“For nearly a century, Junior Bounous has introduced generations of skiers to the magic forces dwelling in the higher, steeper peaks of the Wasatch Range. He is the Yoda of powder skiing, but vastly more fun and effective as a teacher. His life is a testament to the power of following one’s passions. Ayja Bounous has written a fascinating biography of her grandfather, as well as an insider’s history of one of skiing’s most beloved destinations, Little Cottonwood Canyon. The stories and photographs in Junior Bounous and the Joys of Skiing will inspire anyone who loves this sport.”

–Nathaniel Vinton, author of The Fall Line

“I think Junior Bounous and the Joys of Skiing is three stories. It’s about a dedicated man, who, with enough luck and the work ethic to act on it, discovered the passion that has driven him throughout the century of his life. The second story is about how one man’s history overlaps the history of modern skiing, the globe-changing industry and lifestyle it has become…skiing and Junior Bounous exist on parallel lifelines. Love is the third story. Intimate love of his wife, his family, his lifelong friends. And a love of wild places. I have one question: Has there ever been a life lived like Junior’s?”

–Brooke Williams, author of Mary Jane Wild: Two Walks and a Rant; Open Midnight