Ski map illustrator James Niehues’s Man Behind the Maps book project came about in 2017 when he received an email from fans Todd Bennett and Ben Farrow offering to help him. They presented a package to produce the book and they signed a deal, raising a whopping $590,000 on Kickstarter from 5,156 backers for the project. Then they added such partners as writer Jason Blevins; Cory Grosser & Associates for design; and Lindsay Pierce Martin for video and photography.
“I really want to thank all the skiers and riders out there; it’s because of you that I had a dream job made up of travel, seeing and skiing great places, flying over some of the most dynamic spots on Earth, and photographing and painting for an industry that relies on recreation,” Niehues says.
While he’s amazed, humbled and grateful at the response the book has received, he’s also glad he’s been able to help people get out and ski and ride.
“The book continues to do well and I think I know why,” he says. “We all need to hope and dream of better times ahead. The book is a dream book in which skiers can envision the slopes this coming season.”
See the maps from the book and others at jamesniehues.com/collections/art/colorado. Colorado ski resorts include Aspen Highlands, Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Eldora, Keystone, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Snowmass, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, Vail and Winter Park.