Ski for Light Bulletin Spring 2004 News and Information about the People and Programs of SFL International A program of cross country skiing benefiting blind, visually-impaired, and mobility-impaired individuals and their guides. Ski for Light, Inc.® 1455 West Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55408–2648 Phone: 612-827-3232 Web Site: www.sfl.org General Information: Info@sfl.org FROM THE PRESIDENT by Larry Showalter Spring is here in all of its glory, but for those who attended Ski for Light 2004 in Green Bay during February there are still many happy memories of snow and skiing. By all accounts the Green Bay event was one of the best events ever conducted by SFL. Great trails and tracks, lots of snow, good food, a comfortable and hospitable event hotel and convivial attendees all contributed to what many described as a magical week. The atmosphere was alive with excitement and the joy of people learning new skills and realizing that at SFL ability rather than disability is all that matters. Many thanks go to Event Chair Marie Huston and her entire committee for orchestrating such a great week. Plans are well under way for the 30th anniversary event to be held next year in Granby, Colorado, under the leadership of Event Chair Judy Dixon. The dates are January 30 to February 6, 2005. As in the past we will be staying at The Inn at Silver Creek and skiing at Snow Mountain Ranch, the YMCA of the Rockies. Put the dates on your calendar and look for detailed information about the 2005 event on the SFL website at www.sfl.org by July, and also in the summer bulletin. This was an election year for Ski for Light. During the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors held in February officers were elected for the next two years, and directors were elected to serve for the next four years. The roster of officers and directors is contained elsewhere in this issue of the bulletin. I especially want to recognize and thank departing directors John Amundson, George Bianculli, Bob Buchanan, Laurinda Lacey, Claire Morrissette and Judy Wilkinson, and departing members of the Executive Committee Nancy McKinney, Jeff Pagels and Deborah Wiese for their many years of leadership and service to our organization. You don't need to be an officer or board member to help with all of the work necessary to run Ski for Light. As always, we are looking for people with an interest in helping who have a skill or skills that we can use. Everything from web-surfing to grant writing to guide recruitment. If interested please drop me a note, to larry@sfl.org. You can also help us in another way, financially. We need to raise about $50,000 each year to keep the cost of the annual event affordable, and personal contributions are a major source of this income. Please consider a tax- deductible gift to SFL in whatever amount is comfortable for you. You can make your donation on our website, and earmark your contribution to the Endowment, Friends of Ski for Light or the Goodfellow Fund for Guide expenses, or simply as an undesignated contribution toward our general needs. Long-time readers of the Bulletin will notice a new section in this issue, a short description of the mission, goals and programs of Ski for Light, Inc. This is in recognition of the fact that many of the 900 people who receive each issue of the bulletin are not intimately involved with or aware of some of what we do. It is also meant as a recruiting tool, so please consider passing this issue on to someone who might be interested in our program. I hope that you take the time to remain active this summer, either on your own or with friends or by attending one of the affiliated regional summer programs that offer activities like hiking and canoeing. You will find information about these programs elsewhere in this issue. Have a great summer. GREEN BAY WRAP-UP Compiled by Vicki Post Ski for Light 2004 in Green Bay is being described by many as one of the best annual events ever. Even Event Chair, Marie Huston, wrote that it was a "fun event to coordinate!" It takes a lot of people and a lot of hard work to put on such an event, and this one was no exception; hats off to everyone who helped make this one such a success. Of course, one of the real highlights at this year's event was the weather. Green Bay is famous, or infamous, for its cold winters. Indeed, before we all arrived, temperatures were definitely hovering around the unpleasant range. But all during the Ski for Light week, temps soared to 28 degrees or thereabouts, making for great snow and very comfortable skiing. The trails were excellent, and all the first-timers got a first-class introduction to cross country skiing. Off the snow, the fun continued. Attendees were treated to an especially good talent show, songs and dances of the Onondaga tribe, and on Norway night, all the ladies were honored with a rose. This year's Silent Auction brought out a lot of wild and competitive bidding, and it was very successful. Thanks again to everyone whose hard work and dedication made such a magical week possible! This year, Ski for Light welcomed about 20 first-time participants and about a dozen new guides; we hope to see many of them next year in Granby. Here are just a couple of excerpts from the positive feedback some of them have sent us: >From first-time VIP skier, Alex Bradstreet: It was a life-changing event, such that I want to be more active in other activities for the blind and have more motivation to exercise. It was what I needed to get motivated again to do things I have wanted to do for a while and I met some really wonderful people. I had a super time, and it has boosted my self-esteem 100% for the better. I was not down before I went, but just not as motivated as I should have been, and now after going, I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart; I should have done this 10 years ago! >From first-time Mip skier, Gina Hackel: Thank you so much Ski for Light for giving me the opportunity to meet the most amazing people, and to reconnect with the loves I thought I had lost after my spinal cord injury in 1988. Growing up in Montana, I loved to ski and ice skate every chance I got. I went every weekend skiing and during the week I ice skated with my girlfriends. I loved being outside on the ice or on the snow in the mountains. How those memories came flooding back while I was in Green Bay. By the end of the week I, my body and emotions were on overload, but it was worth it. It was like a dream and I was afraid that I would wake up. Ted Ellickson was the BEST guide!!! I have no words to describe how good he was to me. Ted is the kindest, sweetest fellow. I can not thank him enough for all the joy he brought back to my life. He made my days out on the trails so wonderful. It was great being out there and having him and Jeff give me pointers. They and the other skiers had words of wisdom and took a lot of the frustration out of learning how to maneuver and gave me the energy to work on my form and take in the sights and smells of the snow-covered hills. What a crew! Everyone and I mean everyone was so kind and caring, and of course they all knew how to have Fun! Every day it was something new and exciting I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to attend and to be apart of the Ski for Light family. I am grateful that this event was in Green Bay and that my family could attend and see first-hand how I was able to skate and ski. But more importantly, they met those who were so good to me and made it all possible. My dreams really did come true! I am forever grateful to those whose determination brought winter sports back to the blind and disabled. Without them, my dreams would have remained only dreams. Thank You, Thank YOU! Finally, this from Cindy Olson, director of the Sons of Norway Foundation who visited us in Green Bay on Friday and Saturday: I can't begin to tell you of the wonderful experience I had at the Green Bay, Ski for Light event this past week. I knew it would be a great event. Little did I know how truly life-changing your event is for all the skiers, both guides and students. The entire event committee should be proud of your accomplishments. You will always have support from the Sons of Norway Foundation. LONG-TIME GUIDES HONORED IN GREEN BAY One of the highlights of the SFL week in Green Bay occurred on Tuesday night when six individuals were honored for participating in their twentieth event as guides. Each of the six attended their first Ski for Light event in 1985, and none has missed a year since. Honored were Gordon Larson, Jean Larson, Marvin Liewer, Jeanne Mackenzie, Bruce Scharfenberg and Maury Witteveen. SFL could not have grown and flourished as it has over the intervening years without their support, and the support of the many other guides who come back year after year. Ski for Light thanks all of you. RIDDERRENN 2004 Reclaiming My Edge by Vicki Post Everyone told me what a great experience Norway would be; I had a lot of good information about the schedule of events; in short, I was well-prepared. And yet, what I gained from this experience was truly unexpected. As I write this, a rather amazing toothless old troll sits on my computer, surveying my every move, and reminding me, as trolls do, to stay on track and not be tentative about it. Or was that my guide? More in a minute! When Larry first told me that I had been selected to be part of the official team, I was stunned and delighted. But it wasn't truly real until I stood there in Green Bay with the other three members of the team. I had the privilege of being guided by the incomparable Richard Epstein, and of sharing the experience with Art Bunn and Donna Permar. I also truly appreciated the support and good wishes I received from so many SFLers, and I felt as though I took many of you with me. The weather and snow conditions reminded me a bit of what we had this year in Green Bay, and I must say, the tracks were by far the best I've ever experienced. As I said, my guide was the old troll, Utnar, aka Richard Epstein. One of our drivers from the King's Guard described Utnar as "the evil, giant troll who preceded humans." I haven't yet found any details about old Utnar, but I'm still researching. However, the modern-day Utnar (Richard) certainly never missed an opportunity to correct or perfect my technique and my attitude; he demanded the best of me at all times, and he sometimes actually got it! One of the highlights for both of us was the 5-kilometer race. Somehow, our teamwork was just clicking that day, and we spent the last kilometer or so challenging and being challenged by a sixteen-year-old Norwegian girl. No, she wasn't in my class, but at that moment, she provided exactly the competition I needed. After a series of maneuvers, she and her guide wound up between utnar and me; her guide was hollering and encouraging her in Norwegian; Richard was hollering instructions over their heads to me, and it was exhillarating for all four of us. The result was not a medal, but it was my best race ever. And to make it even sweeter, Donna Permar and I discovered that we had both skied that 5K in just over 34 minutes, and we each placed fourth in our respective classes. Now that's teamwork! Other highlights on the snow included picnics with different people, including two delightful young Dutch skiers, the hot drinks that appeared along the ski trails, cheering on Robin Smithtro who just keeps getting better, and the experience of the much quieter waxable skis. But it was probably the final race which gave me the most learning. Weather conditions had changed a bit; it was quite windy, so what is normally a 20K race became a 15K. For me, everything felt different that day, and somehow, I just wasn't quite on my game. Richard and I discovered at the last minute that our skis weren't waxed for the conditions, so we hurried back to the waxing tent, which was very busy. As a result, we missed our official starting time. Fortunately, we were allowed to have a manual start, but I was a little thrown by it, I must admit. So, my start was not all that it might have been. But remember the troll? No, it wasn't my best race, but I hung in there and finished much stronger than I started. I learned in my muscles that no matter how difficult a goal or project may be in the beginning, it is achievable if you just hang in there long enough. And yes, support is essential. Richard never gave up on me; he prodded, pushed, coached and encouraged me right across the finish line, and I truly owe the stronger finish to both of us! Off the snow, I just loved being surrounded by all the different languages. Being a language nut, I practiced my Danish a lot, and took some ribbing from the Norwegians who tried to teach me some Norwegian pronunciation, But as they put it, I "just couldn't get that potato out of my mouth!" Speaking of language, Donna Permar, who hails from North Carolina, delighted many people with her accent. One day, she was casually chatting with one of the young soldiers at the waxing tent when he turned to his companion and remarked: "Now she really talks country!" Finally, I absolutely loved meeting people from different countries, and this trip rekindled my love for language and culture. I have now started a couple of wonderful correspondences, the result of two quick, casual conversations; and while sightseeing, I truly loved the opportunity to experience the Norwegian soul through art and history. After this trip, I honestly feel as though I have regained some of my edge, and reclaimed part of my life that had been a bit on hold! Thank you, Richard, for your great skill and life wisdom; and thank you, thank you, Ski for Light, for giving me such an incredible opportunity. And yes, I came home with both my eyes! “SFL FAMILY” NEWS In Memorium Errol Honhoinewa by Dick Ashley Late in October 2003, Errol Honhoinewa was hospitalized in Phoenix, Arizona and the diagnosis was lung cancer. He passed away November 12th while still hospitalized. In a traditional Hopi ceremony, he was interred in Second Mesa, his home village, on the Hopi reservation in northeastern Arizona. Errol is survived by a sister, brother-in-law, four adult children and several grandchildren. Errol was known for his gentle, friendly and quiet demeanor. He will be missed by all of his SFL friends. Errol attended his first Ski for Light in 1989 and participated in numerous events since then. He was a regular participant at the Sierra Regional SFL. Errol attended the Ridderweek in Norway and he was a participant at the Colorado Trekk for Light. In honor of Errol's memory, plans are under way to refurbish and restore the kiva in his home village. He had expressed his desire to undertake just such an effort. If you care to take part in this tribute, you may donate by making a check payable to the "Honhoinewa Fund" and sending it to: Dick Ashley 738-B So. 15th St. Arlington, VA. 22202 For further information, contact Dick at dickashley@juno.com or by phone: (703) 892-9082. SFL REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT by Vicki Post In each issue of the Bulletin, we will turn the spotlight on one of our nine Regional programs. These regional groups were established by people who were inspired to recreate their own SFL experiences in a more local and intimate setting. It is our hope that you will enjoy their stories, and that you will support them in their efforts. In this issue, we travel eastward to visit the Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Ski for Light. Have you ever skied for a week with no tracks? Made a snow angel? Played indoor shuffleboard with sighted people in blindfolds? Have you ever gone tandem biking, kayaking, swimming, horseback riding and yoga, all in the same day? If you can answer yes, you may have been one of the lucky ones to attend a program at the Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Ski for Light. NEPA, as it is called, is the second oldest regional affiliate, founded in 1976. It actually began as a summer program, which is still going strong. That program, now known as Sports for Health, draws participants from all around the country. This is a weeklong program, which includes a host of activities, many already mentioned. Each day, participants decide how much they wish to do, and they are then matched with the appropriate people. For instance, over the last couple of years, one person designated himself the captain of the tandem, and anyone who wanted to cycle was paired with him for a few hours at a time. The week concludes with a "fun run" rally, actually held before breakfast; now, that's commitment! The winter event is much more easygoing, according to Bjorg Dunlop. Skiing here may not produce the huge adrenaline rush brought on by big hills, but it will challenge and improve basic technique. Skiers take off right from the lodge, and ski on wide trails with no tracks. One skier, Jay Kronfeld reports that he became a much better skier after his week there. For those who want a break from skiing, there are plenty of opportunities for playing in the snow, including snowshoeing, toboganning and sledding, and yes, making snow angels. Word is that the snow is usually fairly good and consistent, but the Event is never canceled, no matter the conditions. The event attracts all levels of folks, from those who just enjoy the company but no longer ski, to an experienced guide who was so enthralled that she followed up by going to Norway to guide for a member of the SFL contingent. Both the summer and winter programs are held at the Land of the Vikings in Sherman, PA. This is a rustic lodge owned by the Sons of Norway. Some of its features include a bar built by an old Norwegian boatbuilder to look like a Viking ship, buffet-style home-cooked meals, a cozy fireplace, and lots of games and evening fun. One of the more popular is the indoor shuffleboard, during which the sighted guides are indeed blindfolded. NEPA offers people a chance to enjoy a variety of fitness activities in the summer, skiing as many people practice it during the winter, and, according to Bjorg Dunlop, the chance to spend time with some incredibly great people! For more information about NEPA, you may contact Bjorg at bjorgmd@aol.com. For more specific information about this summer's program, see the Regional Round-Up below, or contact Allison Holder at sports4health.com. The land of the Vikings is not as far away as you might have thought! REGIONAL ROUND-UP New England Regional Ski for Light June 12-tandem bike trip in and around Lincoln and Carlisle MA. there'll be a choice of a 20 or a 30 mile trip. August 13-15 Hiking and canoeing in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. For more information please contact: NERSFL P.O. Box 2170 West Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 E-mail: info@nersfl.org Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Sports for Health July 25 - August 1, 2004: Land of the Vikings, Sherman, PA Cost: $415 per person, double occupancy Activities include Tandem Biking, Hiking, Canoeing, Swimming, etc. Riding lessons available at your own expense. For more information please contact: Allison Holder 31 Buckingham Drive Toms River, NJ 08753 Phone: (732) 255-3625 E-mail: sports4health.com Black hills Summer Light: July 23-25, 2004: This weekend camping trip is at the Angostura Reservoir near Hot Springs, SD. Activities include adaptive water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, hiking, and fishing. Camp sites for tents, campers, and Rvs available with electrical hookups. Cost: $25 per person (non-refundable). September 10-12, 2004: Bob Marshall Camp Spend a weekend in the pine forests of beautiful Custer State Park. Private lake access for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Complete with cabins, hot showers, and a kitchen/dining room for great meals. Cost: $25 per person (TBD) (non-refundable). For more information please contact: Black Hills Regional Ski For Light P.O. Box 3707 Rapid City, SD. 57709-3707 Phone: 605 341-3626 Fax: 605 342-0094 Applications: apps@bhsfl.org Kayak for Light This event is sponsored by the West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association. All visually impaired participants are encouraged to come join in the fun. Place: Ramona Park, Kalamazoo, Michigan Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 Time: 10 am to 4 pm Lunch is provided. Please e-mail Jim Ellickson if you are planning to attend so he can get an idea of how many will be there for lunch. Sorry but WMCKA does not believe they are ready to serve the mobility-impaired at this time. For more information please contact Jim Ellickson at msfl@msfl.org or Phone: (989)224-8288. NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS During the recent Annual Meeting of the SFL Board fifteen people were elected to the Board. Re- elected to additional four-year terms as Directors were Suzanne Brown, Art Bunn, Wendy David, Nancy McKinney, Laura Oftedahl, Jeff Pagels, Brenda Seeger, Larry Showalter and Deborah Wiese. Elected to the Board were new members Cara Barnes, Dianne Brunswick, Ted Ellickson, Robin Smithtro, Kathy Strahan and David Thomas. The Board also elected officers for the next two years. Re-elected were President Larry Showalter, vice-president Marion Elmquist, Secretary Brenda Seeger and Treasurer Judy Dixon. Elected to the Executive Committee, as Directors-at-Large, were new officers Suzanne Brown and Duane Farrar. Congratulations to all of those elected to the Board and/or Executive Committee. The complete Board roster follows. Ski for Light, Inc.® Board of Directors 2004-2006 Larry Showalter, President, Bellevue, Washington Marion Elmquist, vice-president, Des Moines, Iowa Brenda Seeger, Secretary, Westbrook, Minnesota Judith Dixon, Treasurer, Arlington, Virginia Suzanne Brown, Director-at-Large, Smyrna, Georgia Duane Farrar, Director-at-Large, Malden, Massachusetts Cara Barnes, Eureka, California Scott Bertrand, Lakewood, Colorado Amy Brannan, Fort Collins, Colorado Dianne Brunswick, Glendale, Arizona Arthur Bunn, Fort Collins, Colorado Wendy David, Bellevue, Washington Bjorg Dunlop, Earlton, New York Ted Ellickson, St. Johns, Michigan David Fisichella, Falmouth, Massachusetts Marie Huston, Winter Park, Colorado Raymond Bud Keith, Arlington, Virginia John Klemaseski, Lino Lakes, Minnesota Nancy McKinney, Seattle, Washington Laura Oftedahl, Berkeley, California Jeff Pagels, Green Bay, Wisconsin Robin Smithtro, Boulder, Colorado Kathy Strahan, Brea, California David Thomas, Denver, Colorado Deborah Wiese, East Lansing, Michigan SKI FOR LIGHT SPONSORS Our thanks to the following companies that provided products or other support for the 2004 event in Green Bay. Please remember to support them whenever you can. Jansport, Atomic Ski, Bison Designs, Bula, Canine Hardware, Cascade Designs, Chuck Roast, Col'd Lizard, Crazy Creek, Dahlgren, Devold, DreamSacks, Extreme Optiks, Freestyle, Grabber, Granite Gear, Gregory, Hog Wild, Hot Chillys, InSport, Isis, Jytte Mau, Kelty, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, National Geographic Maps, Native Eyewear, New Hall's Wheels, Optic Nerve, Outdoor Research, Pantropic, Patagonia, Planet Dog, Princeton Tec, Royal Robbins, Ruffwear, Salomon, Sierra Designs and Thor-lo. WHAT IS SKI FOR LIGHT? Ski for Light, Inc.® is a nonprofit organization founded in 1975 to promote the physical fitness of visually- and mobility-impaired adults, in an environment where "we can't" is replaced with "we can." Disabled and able-bodied people join together in a one-on-one partnership to learn from each other through physically-demanding activities. To this end, Ski for Light conducts an annual, week-long cross country ski program, held in a different US location each year. During the Event, each visually and mobility impaired skier is matched with an instructor/guide for the entire week; this one-on-one partnership approach allows participants to learn in a relaxed and positive atmosphere. New participants are encouraged to move past self-imposed limitations, and to embrace the SFL motto, "If I can do this, I can do anything," in all aspects of their lives. The week concludes with a thrilling race/rally, in which everyone can experience success in a sport once thought impossible for disabled people. Beyond daily cross-country ski instruction and outings for both the novice and experienced athlete, SFL also offers a wide variety of workshops and cultural activities designed to promote education and interaction among all its participants. These might include fitness workshops, cultural programs by local residents, and an introduction to the Norwegian culture and heritage that are integral to skiing at SFL. Ski for Light has also inspired the creation of nine independent state and regional organizations. Located in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, these offshoots offer ongoing weekend and week-long programs to teach disabled individuals to cross country ski. In addition, many of these regional affiliates now offer a variety of other sports as well. As part of its mission, SFL places an emphasis on exposing new people to the sport of skiing, thus making the idea of physical fitness available to people who have not previously had the opportunity to participate in sports. As skills and confidence are developed, many SFL participants then go on to take part in more "mainstream" community recreational activities. Through Ski for Light, many people discover new friendships, increased energy, boosted morale, rewarding careers and fuller lives. Run entirely by volunteers, SFL has positively affected thousands of visually and mobility- impaired people and the guides who ski with them. For more information about Ski for Light, including how you can help, you may visit our website at www.sfl.org. The SFL Bulletin is published three times a year. It is available in ink-print, on audio cassette, or via e-mail. Remember that your contributions and feedback are always most welcome. You may submit articles as e-mail or as a word attachment; if you do not have e-mail, you may send a typed article through the mail. Send all items to: Vicki Post: E-mail: vickip@sfl.org Address: 1849 Clay St. #2, San Francisco, CA 94109. The deadline for the summer Bulletin is July 15, 2004. We look forward to hearing from you. Ski for Light, Inc. is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Editor: Vicki Post E-mail: vickip@sfl.org Electronic version: Duane Farrar E-mail: duane@sfl.org Special thanks to: Judy Dixon E-mail: judy@sfl.org and Larry Showalter E-mail: Larry@sfl.org.