“The author's descriptions of barreling down an icy track at 80 mph, when one ill-advised twitch of the body can send the slider to the hospital, are both harrowing and exhilarating. Vaughn is extremely close to the story he's telling. . . .[H]is passion for and intimate knowledge of the sport are what make this book glide along so easily.”
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian McKay
Publication Date: November, 2005
Tel. 972.381.0009
Cindy.Birne@BrownBooks.com
Ever heard of skeleton? In the world of sports, skeleton has been in the shadows of its more famous cousin, the luge. Skeleton is high-octane sledding that begins with a running leap onto a sled that appears no bigger than a cafeteria tray. Plunging headfirst—barely inches off the ice—down a winding, mile-long track, sliders achieve outrageous speeds—often surpassing 80 mph. This extreme sport requires incredible nerve and intense focus and will surely make for thrilling viewing this February at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
Ever heard of Robie Vaughn? An oil and gas entrepreneur from Dallas, Robie has recently been named interim executive director of the US Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. How does one go from the boardroom to directing sports on ice? Well, it helps when you are the unlikely hero for putting skeleton back into the Olympic circuit in 2002.
Headfirst: The Olympic Success Story of Skeleton (Brown Books Publishing Group; publication date January 10) by Robie Vaughn is the story of an obsession: first with the sheer thrill of sliding down tracks on skeleton sleds, which the author first tried at the age of thirty-nine, and then with the idea of representing the United States as a member of the Olympic skeleton team.
There were only a few obstacles to overcome. To begin with, most Olympic athletes start out at about half the age the author was when he first encountered skeleton. Also, there was no US Skeleton Team—simply because skeleton was no longer an Olympic sport after being dropped in 1948.
Headfirst is Robie Vaughn’s story how as an entrepreneur he applied business savvy to create, build, and man an organization spearheading the campaign to reinstate skeleton to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. This is a spirited tale of risk, leadership, and determination that will delight sport enthusiasts as well as readers seeking to be inspired by one man’s ambition for success.
The author is available for media interviews.
Headfirst: The Olympic Success Story of Skeleton
By Robie Vaughn
$24.95 cloth w/30 color photographs
ISBN: 1-933285-08-7
Publication Date: January 10, 2006
