Steven Kotler tests his knowledge and theories on his own aging body in his quest to become an expert skier at the age of 53.

Gnar (short for gnarly) is any high-level environment or situation perceived risk and high levels of actual risk.

Advanced discoveries in network neuroscience should enable older athletes to progress in supposedly “impossible” sports such as park skiing (jumps and stunts). To test whether the theory worked in practice, Kotler conducted his own experiment in the field of applied neuroscience and skill acquisition in later life. Steven Kotler has been studying human performance for thirty years and has taught hundreds of thousands of people of all skill levels, age groups, and walks of life how to reach their peak performance. Could his own advice work for him?

Gnar Country is a chronicle of his experiences, a book about purpose, perseverance and progress. Whether it's rushing down a mountainside, running your first 10K, or taking your career to new heights, Kotler encourages us to challenge ourselves, push our limits, and achieve the impossible, no matter what it may be. Part personal journey, part science experiment, part action guide.

Steven Kotler is a journalist and executive director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world's leading experts in the field of human performance. Author of more than a dozen books. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into more than forty languages, and published in more than 100 publications.