Here are some photos of guides and skiers in action during several recent Ski for Light events.
Larry Rinke, Sigurd Dalen and Tom Meyer -- Blind skier Larry Rinke (left) and guide Tom Meyer (right) prepare to start the 10 kilometer race with the assistance of race official Sigurd Dalen (center). Tom must have been anxious about making it back in time for lunch as he is checking his watch!
Ambassador Knut Vollebaek -- Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Knut Vollebaek (left) and his wife Ellen (right) flank Suzanne Pedersen, blind skier Judy Dixon and guide Nancy McKinney at Snow Mountain Ranch, Colorado in 2005.
The Ski for Light Ridderrenn Team -- Each year SFL sends a team of two guides and two skiers to the Ridderrenn in Beitostolen, Norway. The Ridderrenn is the event on which Ski for Light is modeled. The 2005 team, Guide Glenn Beachy, blind skier Ray Charles Harrison, blind skier Dave Thomas and guide Velma McMeekin flank a troll statue outside the Holmenkollen Ski Museum in Oslo
MIPs Near Finish Line -- Mobility-impaired participants (MIPs) Jeff Pagels, and Dianne Brunswick approach the finish line in their sit skis, while guide Marie Houston urges them on. The International week ends with a 10 K race/5 K rally for all participants.
Kristin Johnson and Heather Blundell enjoying the trails
-- SFL matches guides and skiers for the International week so they can work together as a team, developing confidence and skiing skills. Classic guide/skier pair, guide Kristin and first-time blind skier, Heather are gliding along nicely in good tracks.
Dave Thomas and Val Keever enjoying a sunny day --
After an invigorating morning of skiing, skiers rest, have lunch and often go out for more skiing in the afternoon.
Ashley, Scharfenberg, Keever and Permar rush to the finish line --
Skier Dick Ashley and his guide, Bruce Scharfenberg (Bib #6) are in the lead with skier Glenn Permar and guide Keith Keever (Bib #4) trying to close the gap during a 10 K race.
Keith and Satra --
Bud Keith and Gunvor Satra are enjoying the race and a beautiful day on the skis, all possible during the SFL International week. Bud is a long-time leader of SFL, and Gunvor, born in Norway, lives in the U.S. recently joined the SFL community.
Seeger and Slatin --
Guide Brenda Seeger and skier Peter Slatin strike a pose under the Norwegian flag after the race. Ski for Light maintains strong links with the Norwegian community. Many of its earliest organizers and supporters were from the Norwegian community, it SFL was modeled after the Norwegian Ridderrenn.
Long time guides show their strong commitment to SFL --
Jeanne Mackenzie, Bruce Scharfenberg, Jean and Gordon Larson, Marvin Liewer and Maury Witteveen celebrate 20 years of guiding at the 2004 event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Pat Beattie rides with musher, Gerald Sousa, in the 2003 Iditarod -- On its second visit to Anchorage, Alaska, SFL overlapped with the Iditarod dog sled race. SFL bid on and won a slot for an honorary starter, which was then offered in a raffle for event attendees. Pat was the winner and got to ride XX kilometers during the beginning of the race.
Iditarod --
A group shot with our Iditarod musher, Gerry Sousa (#49), and the SFL Idita-Rider, Pat Beattie. Pat has been positioned in the sled by Gerry and his pit crew. She is wearing a team jacket, a pink neck warmer, hat, mittens and sunglasses. She is tucked in
snuggly and warmly with a thick Polartec covering around her legs
and pulled up waist high. "Trapper Jack's Trading Post - Alaskan Gifts" storefront is clearly visible behind the team.
Glenn Beachy stands on his head for SFL --
A yoga devotee, Glenn demonstrates his form for skier Suzanne Brown. It's unclear whether Glenn guided Suzanne in the race on his head, or in the traditional classical skiing style.
Norwegians at the start line --
Blind skier Tore Henriksen on the left, and his guide, Jan Roger Kristiansen, are #1 at the start line at the start of the race. The pair has traveled from Norway to participate at SFL International for several years.
Moe-Krohn and Karlsen -- Kristin Moe Krohn and sit skier, Solveig Karlsen, regulars to SFL from Norway, push hard starting down a hill.
Mayumi Aoyagi --
Mayumi Aoyagi, a Japanese skier, stands on a bridge with a snowy landscape and fast-running stream in the background. In addition to Japan, attendees come from a variety of countries, including Australia, France, Scotland, Norway and England, to give the annual event an international flair.
Alan Schlank and Burt Draeger are checking out skis -- Blind skier, Alan, (left) is double checking out his state-of-the-art equipment before heading out for a hard ski with guide, Burt, who is wearing a JanSport long-sleeved t-shirt. JanSport, a long-time sponsor of SFL generously donates the shirts as well as other items, which help to underwrite the cost of the program.
Brit Peterson and
Robb Rasmussen -- Brit Peterson and Robb Rasmussen have long commitments to SFL. Brit, of Sterling, Virginia, a long-time guide, then mobility-impaired participant, and now a continuing avid supporter of SFL is shown with long-time guide, Robb from Brookings, South Dakota at the start line on race day in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 2001.
Mary Kozy and John Soucheray
-- Mary Kozy, Wheaton, Illinois, and guide, John Soucheray, Shoreview, Minnesota, take a break from skiing for a photo op at the Brown County Reforestation Camp trails in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 2001. The annual international event has been held in a variety of locations since its beginning in Colorado, such as Vermont, New Hampshire, Montana, Minnesota, and Michigan.
Olav Pedersen with members of his SFL "family."
-- Olav, who emigrated from Norway to Breckenridge, Colorado, is known as the Father of Ski for Light. Here, at Green Bay in 2001, Olav stopped for a pose with Carolee Miller, Georgetown, Massachusetts, Nancy, Koehler, Chicago, Illinois, and Robert Bennett, Green Valley, Arizona.
Terry Nelson giving tips
-- Guide Terry Nelson, Slayton, Minnesota, working with blind skier, Lynda Boose, Houghton, Michigan on some advanced techniques, including how to feel comfortable leaning out on the diagonal stride technique. Special technique sessions are an important part of the SFL week.
