Event Applications and Forms

The 2027 Ski for Light International week will take place from Sunday evening January 17 through Sunday morning January 24, 2027, in West Yellowstone, Montana. First- and second-year guides will need to arrive one day early, by Saturday evening January 16, for guide orientation and training.

The Application Process and Acceptance to the Event

In order to attend the Ski for Light International Week in 2027 you must first complete and submit an online event application, which is LINKED BELOW. The application asks for:

your personal and contact information
your desired meal and housing options for the week
Your skiing ability and experience
Your skiing goals and expectations for the week
Your confirmation that if accepted to attend the 2027 event you agree to accept and abide by the terms of:

Ski for Light will review your application and determine whether or not you can be sent an invitation to attend the event. The most important considerations in making this determination will be:

Your classic cross-country skiing experience and ability, if you are applying to be an Instructor/Guide
The number of Instructor/Guides who have applied, if you are applying to be a visually- or mobility-impaired participant
Your probable ability to fully participate in the skiing portion of the week, if you are applying to be a first-time visually- or mobility- impaired participant
Your level of involvement and participation with the Ski for Light organization and/or the Ski for Light Event, your level of participation in the skiing portion of your previous events attended, and how much you have benefited from your participation at previous events, if you are applying to be a repeat visually- or mobility-impaired participant
The amount of available space in the event hotel, if applying to be a Worker-Bee, Companion or Guest

The application deadline for visually- or mobility-impaired participants is September 15, 2026. Acceptances to the event will be issued to as many applicants as possible beginning soon after this date. The number of visually- and mobility-impaired participants who can be admitted to attend is dependent on the number of guides who have applied. Approximately 25% of those admitted will be first-time participants, while alumni participants will represent the remaining 75%. After the initial wave of acceptances is issued, additional acceptances will be issued when made possible by the receipt of additional guide applications. Applications received after the application deadline of September 15 will be considered only on a space available basis.

If you are applying to be a guide you will be notified of your acceptance to the week quickly. While there is no application deadline for guides, you are urged to apply by September 15 so that as many visually- and mobility-impaired applicants as possible may be admitted in late September.

The application deadline for worker-bees, companions and guests is also September 15, 2026. Acceptances to the event will be issued shortly after the application deadline to as many of these applicants as possible. The number of such applicants to be accepted will depend on how much space is still available in the event hotel. The acceptance of companions will also be linked to the acceptance status of their companion, if that companion is a guide or disabled skier. Additional applications will be accepted and acted upon on a space available basis.

Ski for Light will endeavor to insure that the number of guides is approximately equal to the number of visually- and mobility-impaired participants. Last minute cancellations, or illnesses, of either guides or disabled participants, may result in the final numbers being slightly out of balance. If this occurs, SFL will work with all attendees to ensure that everyone has the experience that they want for the week.

Cost for the Week

The total cost for the week will depend on which of the three available housing options you select, as shown below. Remember that your room could be in either the Holiday Inn or the Gray Wolf Inn and Suites, unless you select a triple-occupancy room which will only be available in the Holiday Inn.

Triple-occupancy, Holiday Inn, if available (only 8 available), $775 per person
Double-occupancy, in either the Holiday Inn or the Gray Wolf Inn and Suites, $975 per person
Single-occupancy, in either the Holiday Inn or the Gray Wolf Inn and Suites, if available (only 40 available), $1,650

The cost shown includes: room and all meals from Sunday evening January 17 through Sunday morning January 24; round-trip transportation between the Bozeman airport and West Yellowstone (on designated days and at designated times); all cross-country trail and other resort fees; and all afternoon and evening programs and activities. There is no extra charge for first- and second-time guides arriving early for guide training, on a double-occupancy basis. Cross-country skis, boots and poles will be provided free of charge to first-time visually-impaired participants and first-time guides. The cost of transportation from home to and from Bozeman is the responsibility of the participant.

Full payment is due from all accepted applicants by November 1, 2026.

Please be aware that for the 2027 event each participant is paying only about 60% of the actual cost of their participation. The remainder of the event fee, amounting to about $700 per each person in a double-occupancy room, is being provided by funds donated to SFL by individuals, foundations and Sons of Norway lodges, and by the investment earnings of the SFL Endowment Fund. If you are financially able, we encourage you to become one of our financial supporters by going to the online donation form and making a tax-deductible contribution to SFL.

Application Forms

To apply to attend the Ski for Light International Week in 2027, please complete and submit the appropriate application form below. Before you apply, please be sure to read the frequently asked questions about the 2027 week as it includes much information that you will want to know before submitting your application.

Forms for Accepted Applicants

If you have received a notification of acceptance to the 2027 Ski for Light event, please follow the links below to let SFL know how and when you will be travelling to and from the event, to learn about the Special-Interest sessions that will be held during the week and to volunteer to lead such a session, and to make your event payment.

Guide Handbook

The Ski for Light Guide Handbook contains a wealth of general skiing tips, SFL-specific terminology, a standard progression of instruction for beginners, and other information to help new guides approach their first event with confidence, and to help everyone ski together more safely and enjoyably.

The Narrated Video Accompaniment to the Guide Handbook brings the concepts presented in the PDF Guide Handbook to life. (MP4 format, 8 minutes, 38 seconds)