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News and Information about the People and Programs of Ski for Light, Inc.
Skiing. Sharing. LearningThe mission of Ski for Light is to enhance the quality of life and independence of visually or mobility-impaired adults through a program of cross-country skiing.
Hello Ski for Light Friends!
I hope this finds you all well and enjoying summer. In mid-June, Renee Abernathy, her guide dog, Henley, and I spent 3 days in Colorado, traipsing around the Denver Convention Center at the Outdoor Retailer trade show, soliciting our corporate sponsors for product donations to add to our sales room and silent auction for the upcoming SFL week in Casper, Wyoming. Then I spent a few days in the Colorado mountains before returning to Iowa. Talk about contrasts! It snowed; it was cold and rainy; Steamboat Springs had 20 inches of snow, and the Arapahoe Basin ski area was talking about being open on the Fourth of July. Now, back in Iowa, it's in the high '90s and plenty humid.
Yes, we will be in a brand new location in February, Casper, Wyoming and skiing at Casper Mountain Outdoor Center at McMurry Mountain Park. Mark these dates on your calendar: February 9 to February 16. I'm looking forward to our stay there, and we understand that Casper boasts a fun downtown area with lots of things to do when we're not skiing. Later in this edition of the Bulletin, 2020 event chair, Judy Dixon, will fill you in on more details.
As I write this, members of the planning committee are already working on what we'll be doing that week. I should note that it will be the 45th anniversary of SFL, so there no doubt will be some special things associated with that.
The fact that Judy and her team are already working on the event and that Renee and I were doing corporate sponsor work -- that Melinda Hollands, PR Chair, and her team are working on public relations and publicity tasks -- that many, many others are working on fundraising, finances, and numerous other projects - all reminds us that Ski for Light is not just a one-week event. It's a year-long enterprise in which many dedicated volunteers are deeply engaged.
Please reach out if you are interested in getting involved in all that Ski for Light is and does. You can reach me in Iowa at (515) 279-3681, on my mobile at (515) 240-6701, or via e-mail at MLElmquist@aol.com.
I look forward to seeing all of you next February in Casper. Yee Haw!
On February 9th, 2020, Ski For Light kicks off a week of skiing and fun in a brand new location. For the first time in its 45 year history, SFL will hold its international event in the state of Wyoming. We are very excited to be going to a brand-new location. It will be a great opportunity to see a new place, to stay at a new hotel, to meet new people, and to ski at a new venue.
The 2020 Ski for Light, Inc. International Week will take place in Casper (Wyoming's second-largest city) from Sunday evening, February 9 through Sunday morning, February 16. As always, first- and second-year guides will need to arrive one day early, by Saturday afternoon, February 8th, for guide orientation and training.
Casper is located in east-central Wyoming at the foot of a mountain that shares its namesake, and that stands on the north end of the Laramie Mountain Range, along the North Platte River. The city has a population of about 60,000, and is situated at an elevation of about 5,100 feet.
Located only thirteen miles from the Ramkota Hotel, our ski area for the week will be Casper Mountain Outdoor Center at McMurry Mountain Park, at an elevation of 7,900 feet. The center is a joint venture of Natrona County and the Casper Mountain Biathlon Club, and boasts 42 kilometers of wide, double-tracked cross-country trails! Because of its reliable snow, the venue serves as a competition and training site for biathlon, cross-country skiing, and adaptive recreation programs for people with disabilities.
The Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in downtown Casper will serve as our event hotel and home away from home. It is a six-story hotel, with 230 rooms and suites, plus extensive convention facilities, a restaurant, a lounge, a workout room with equipment, a hot-tub, and an indoor heated swimming pool and water playland. Look forward to more news about the fun as details are finalized over the coming months.
Applications for visually-impaired and mobility-impaired skiers, instructor/guides, and other volunteers are now available on the SFL website at www.sfl.org. Be sure to check the site often for updated information about the upcoming ski week, and get ready to make some great memories!
One of the best things about retirement is being able to travel. I have traveled a great deal for work and pleasure. I've been fortunate to visit every state in the U.S, as well as more than 29 countries. But the one type of travel I haven't done since my Girl Scout years is camping.
My mode for the past 40-some years has been "give me a bed and a shower, not outside on the ground with dirt and bugs, and even bears in some places!" But as I started checking out new things to do with time on my hands, I was pleased to discover two organizations that offer inclusive outdoor adventure experiences. All of the trips I've participated in have been well-organized with great staff and volunteers and good healthy food. Don't worry, there always seem to be Oreos around in case you need sugar.
I've always loved the water, and now that I live practically on the water in the San Francisco Bay Area, I've discovered that I love sea kayaking, canoeing and river rafting. San Francisco-based ETC (Environmental Traveling Companions) offers trips that offer participants to the wilderness and to develop an environmental stewardship ethic. They run sea kayaking, river rafting and cross-country ski adventures. They have an accessible base camp on the south fork of the American River in the foothills of the Sierra.
I have kayaked the caves in Mendocino County and on Santa Cruz in the Channel Islands. I've experienced thousands of sea otters and paddled through a giant shimmering smack of jellyfish in Monterey Bay. Yes, I learned that a group of jellyfish is called a "smack!"
This past year, one of my best experiences was camping and canoeing on the beautiful white sand island of Espiritu Santo on the Sea of Cortez in Baja, Mexico. Most of ETC's water sports trips are camping, with the ski trips, of course, having indoor accommodations. Although ETC trips take place on the west coast (and Costa Rica in 2020), people from anywhere can register.
Minneapolis-based Wilderness Inquiry (WI) is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to experience the great outdoors. WI has trips all over the world. They have a very nice accessible base camp on the Wisconsin shore of Lake Superior where daily kayaking excursions go to the Apostle Islands. I spent four days there, kayaking by day and tasting local beer and wine by night.
The other WI trip I took this year was camping and canoeing on Whitehorse Key in the south Florida "10,000 Islands." We paddled to this island and slept on the beach with waves lapping at our feet. We carried in food and water, and were the only humans on the small island. Before paddling to the island, we visited the Everglades and saw birds of all types, plus alligators, of course.
Here is contact information for these organizations:
Wilderness Inquiry www.wildernessinquiry.org Call ( (800) 728-0719 or (612) 676-9400 to request a trip catalogue.
ETC Environmental Traveling Companions www.ETCTrips.org Phone (415) 474-7662
Each year, Ski for Light selects four individuals to attend the Ridderrenn, the program upon which Ski for Light is modeled. This year the team comprised VIPs Joe Yee and Karen Wood and guides Dan Beckman and Leslie Maclin. Following are some remembrances from the team members.
Joe YeeMy trip to Norway for Ridderrenn week started with excitement, and apprehension. With such a long flight ahead, and needing to navigate the international terminal at the airports, I thought to myself, am I really doing this? Cross-country skiing is so much fun, and I will be fine once I get out onto the snow, but this trip will challenge my orientation and mobility skills. To my surprise, once I got to my seat on the airplane, feelings of "I am doing this!" came flooding out. Picturing myself among other athletes on the ski trail was so motivating, and I just sat back in my seat, and relaxed for the duration of the flight.
Throughout the week in Beitostolen, the love of skiing was felt everywhere: From the perfect trail conditions on Monday, to the crowded field during the 20K race at the end of the week. The energy was high, and conversation and laughter permeated everything. This has been a trip of a lifetime for me. A big thank you to Ski for Light, to my guide Leslie, to the 2019 Ridderrenn Team, and to Marion for making this all happen
Dan BeckmanPeople join organizations or try new things for a variety of reasons, but in general, they usually stay because of the people. Ski for Light is no different. We had a good group of 11 this year, many of whom I did not know very well. That did change over the week, which was actually 11 days for me. We had 2 nights in Oslo, 7 at the ski area in Beitostolen, and then 2 more in Oslo. It was a good mix of skiing and tourism. Marion was our coordinator and she recruited a local lady who gave us an Oslo tour on our return from skiing.
In addition to our group, we met SFL friends from England, Denmark and of course Norway. Most of us met several new skiers from the UK. Some were interested in snowboarding and downhill skiing, which are also offered at the event.
Since I do not get to ski much, I am not sure how good the trail conditions were that week. They seemed good to me though. The terrain was not too tough and the weather fine with minimal snow and no rain. Recently I have had beginners at SFL, but my skier, Karen Wood, gave me all I could handle. She has had some very good guides in the past, and, basically, I just had to keep up with her! We had a good week. She opted not to do the 20 km race and that was fine with me. Others in our group did very well in the 20 K.
I do have a suggestion for new SFL people: get to know Charlie Wirth. He won't be here forever; none of us will. He was my roommate and although I know him fairly well, there were some new things. They love him in Norway and interview him when they can. He does not ski too fast anymore, but is a real inspiration for living your own life within your limits. He had a birthday at the beginning of the week.
So it was fun to be there where it all started. I saw Erling Stordal's son and said hello to him. It is similar to SFL but has its differences. Thank you to SFL for sending me. I hope to go again in the future and be part of the little SFL group.
Leslie MaclinMagic: "The power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces." "Wonderful, exciting" Ridderrenn: The world's largest annual winter sports success for visually impaired and disabled people. Arranged for the 56th time in 2019. Memories: "The act of recalling impressions and recollections." Fondest when made and shared with friends!
Wow, what an experience! I will forever hold dear in my heart the people and adventures that I had the pleasure of experiencing at the 2019 Ridderrenn. From the first day of trying out my rental skis, which were much faster than my own skis, to crossing the finish line and receiving my medal from the Norwegian Prime Minister, the entire week was filled with wonderful moments.
It was a joy to see people whom I had gotten to know at the previous Ridderrenn I attended in 2016, and making new friends from England, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, and other places. Watching Charlie Wirth's guides fight over him was fun, as was watching this 98 year old skier conquer the trails with confidence and grace. I think this was the first time that I have heard a guide tell me he had trouble keeping up with me at times. That is because I had rental skis with skins and they were properly waxed. I couldn't believe how fast I was able to go! I had my best personal time, in spite of having to water ski much of the course on Saturday. Guess who is going to get new skis with skins and who is going to start waxing them? Double poling up hills is really fun!
The trails were great except for Saturday race day. Still, the exhilaration of racing in the Ridderrenn is something to treasure. Participating in the Biathlon was a lot of fun! The soldiers who were running it were very patient and helpful with me since I am a terrible shot. Members of the Norwegian military were also helping by carrying luggage, by driving us back and forth from the hotel to the ski area, by grooming the trails, by providing us with snacks and drinks along those trails, and by helping with the functions of the race, including at the start and finish lines. They all were very friendly and I could hear the smiles on their faces. I think they were enjoying themselves. I just want to know what they put in the water there that causes all Norwegians to be so tall!
Seeing people from many countries with many different disabilities compete and have fun together was amazing and something that I will always remember. The friendship, love, and compassion in the air was like nothing I have ever experienced before. Thanks to our Norwegian hosts who ran a very well organized event, thanks to my team members who were fun to get to know better and were encouraging all week long, thanks to my guide dog, Dolly, who perfectly guided me as we went sight-seeing in Oslo, including trips to the Opera House, Folk Museum, Viking Ship Museum, statue park, shops and restaurants, and all around town. Thanks to my guide, Dan, who was a fun ski companion and teacher, and even helped me get out of freezing water up to my knees when we attempted to ski across ice and fell through while going back to the bus after the race. Thank you Ski for Light for making this magical trip possible for me. Being a Ski for Light team member is a dream come true.
Do you remember your first Ski for Light? For some of you, it was last year. For others, it was decades ago. Whenever it was, I dare to guess each of us had a bit of apprehension about attending a week, which sounded so fun, and yet felt a bit foreboding at the same time.
For me, it was the traveling by myself that made me nervous. For others, it was the first time in snow, let alone on skinny sticks that glide down hills. And, for our more introverted friends, the thought of socializing with others for a whole week may have made their skin crawl. Perhaps the intimidation of being so physically active all week was formidable. For guides, the thought of being around people who were blind or physically impaired was anxiety-provoking; what do you say? How do you act? What if I do the wrong thing?
But somehow, we all did it! We stepped out of our comfort zones, went outside the box, entered the arena, etc. Each of us either faced our fears, or ignored them, and made our way to some wonderful place to ski, greeted total strangers, strapped on skis, and went for it!
Maybe we fell. Maybe we did not fall. Perhaps we hid in our room the first night. Maybe we went to a cocktail party. We may have been tired. Perhaps, we were so exhilarated that we stayed up all night. We may have laughed at our blunders. We might have cried over them. No matter what each individual experienced, we all grew.
Somehow the magic of SFL touched each of us in a unique way: Whether it was the incredible friends we made, the realization of physical and emotional strength we did not know we had, the new bright T-shirts and heavy, tactile medals we acquired, or that power surge of confidence that comes at the end of the week -- It all changed us so that we left Ski for Light as a slightly different person from the one we were when we arrived. And if we took some of that positive energy home to our corners of the world, maybe we made Ski for Light even bigger than a cool week of skiing.
So, as you reflect on your SFL adventures, think about the probability that someone is out there, pondering whether to sign up to join us. Perhaps they are experiencing similar questions or doubts to those you may have had before your first event. Reflect upon that person who encouraged you to sign on the dotted line, or nowadays, to click the submit button. I challenge each of you to be that encourager for someone else! Tell your story. Share your reactions. Support one another's efforts. So the word is out. People all over the country, actually the world, are hearing about Ski for Light. And those of us who have participated in the amazing event know why: it is just impossible to keep quiet about something so great! Feel free to join the many SFL participants who have chosen to share their adventures with others. No doubt you have told your tales, accurate or perhaps a bit exaggerated, to family and friends. Some of us have delivered presentations to community groups such as the Lions' Club or Sons of Norway lodges. Others have documented their thoughts in articles for the Bulletin and other publications. For our sighted friends, photos posted on social media depict exciting activities and smiling faces.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to add information about next year's event! Invite those you know to join us in Casper as we explore new territory in Wyoming. Applications are available for skiers, guides, and worker bees. Direct people to the website at www.sfl.org, or to specific coordinators to answer questions. Know that your efforts are appreciated, as the best method of recruitment is word of mouth from someone who knows what they are talking about! Looking forward to seeing you and your friends on the trails in Casper!
Ski for Light (SFL) has been around for nearly 45 years, affecting the lives of thousands of visually and mobility impaired participants, as well as sighted guides, and a growing number of volunteers. If you have ever been involved, we suspect you'd like to see SFL around for many years to come.
You can help ensure a solid future for SFL by becoming a Life Member of Friends of Ski for Light. Or, if you are one of the nearly 400 people who are already Life Members, you can renew your membership. Just think of all of the "life" you've gotten out of SFL so far!
A new or renewed Life Membership is $400 or more. These contributions go into the SFL Endowment Fund, which is a pool of money that is invested, and only a portion of the interest generated is available to help run the organization. The original donations are preserved to earn income for use in subsequent years. So you can see why your contribution really is an investment in our future. The current value of the SFL Endowment Fund is around $405,000 and should provide around $20,000 in cash to help fund the 2020 annual event in Wyoming. As the value of the Fund goes up, so does the amount of cash payout we can spend on financial assistance for skiers and guides, and on keeping the event fees as low as possible for everyone. To become a new or renewed Life Member, go online to www.sfl.org/donate and give via credit card. Or mail a check to Ski for Light, 1455 West Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408. Gifts of $50 or more to the Endowment Fund are recognized in the SFL Annual Report (unless otherwise requested) with donors of $400 or more becoming Life Members of Friends of Ski for Light. The list of Life Members is at www.sfl.org/donate/supporters.
For more information on the Endowment Fund and Life Members, contact Laura Oftedahl via email: lauraofte52@gmail.com.
With the crossbar at my back, I first touch the left post with my stick blade -- then the right one with the shaft. A Canadian-accented someone calls out from across the ice sheet, "Keeper, are you ready?" I nod, the loose-fitting, borrowed mask exaggerating my movements. A sound like a cookie tin filled with ball bearings comes toward me on my right, followed by the quiet vroomf, vroomf, vroomf of a skater in full stride. I slide to the right, dropping down low, and preparing for what may come.
Suddenly, the metallic cacophony skitters across to my left. I kick out with both my skates, stacking my leg pads and desperately reaching for the far post. As I slide across the ice, I hear the crack of a shot followed by a dull thud to my right knee. A large steel puck falls clattering to the ice beside me.
"Good save, Keeper. Now find your posts." With the grace of a beached walrus, I roll over and get to my skates in order to start the process all over again. This was what it was like to play goaltender for the first time at blind hockey practice.
Blind hockey has been around for nearly 30 years in Canada and has grown in the past five years in the eastern U.S. Mark DeFlorio, a member of the U.S. National Blind Hockey team, is attempting to establish the first such West coast team -- the Seattle Insights. I became connected with Mark through the Northwest Association of Blind Athletes at an on ice event in January.
About a week before our last SFL event at Snow Mountain Ranch, I found myself covered in a hodgepodge of borrowed hockey gear, soon to step on the ice at a new rink in Tacoma, Wash., at the first ever blind hockey event in the Pacific Northwest. Twenty or so of us had decided to brave the ill-fitting rental skates and smelly shoulder pads to experience this amazing sport. For some of us, it was a first. For others like me, it was the first time in ages. Once on the ice, I was partnered with a volunteer named Zack. As we slid away from the boards, he asked, "Can you skate?" I nodded yes, and we were off.
As Zach skated backwards, audibly tapping his stick to indicate the direction I should go, I was able to maneuver with him around the ice. We began to weave our way through the rest of the skaters, picking up more and more speed. Zack yelled out, "let's go, really open up your stride." I did my best Paul Coffey impression and really started to dig in. Though my crossovers were shaky and I felt on the verge of losing an edge, flying across the ice was simply exhilarating. Guided by Zach, I came to a slow stop with a pounding heart and pleasantly burning quads. Turning to me, he said, "You actually look like a hockey player out there." I shrugged and just smiled. That is when Mark skated up without introduction and said, "You need a puck."
Blind hockey pucks are big, heavy, and made of steel. They are fairly easy to track without vision as long as they are moving; they make a heck of a racket while in motion, however, they are aurally invisible if they come to rest. More than once I found myself spinning in circles, tapping my stick for a puck hidden between my skates. For the most part, though, Zack's passes were tape to tape, making passing and shooting on net seem easy. After about a half hour of knocking that heavy, metal puck around, my strained wrist was happy to be called off the ice for a quick resurfacing before the scrimmage.
Blind hockey is closely linked to sighted hockey in the same way that the demands of blind skiing (the use of a guide) don't differ much from the necessary techniques, equipment, training, etc. of skiing sighted. With only a few tweaks, the speed and strategy of blind hockey is virtually the same as the game that someone with full vision would play.
After the Zamboni left the ice, the Vancouver Eclipse (a blind hockey team from B.C. with whom the Insights would be natural rivals), put on a demonstration game for us. The speed was astonishing and it made my heart race. I could not turn down the invitation to join the scrimmage.
The next twenty minutes were a blur. I ran into the boards, nearly took out the referee, and blocked a shot (of which team I did not know). As much fun as it was to fly around chasing the puck, I had no idea where I was on the ice. As the final whistle blew, I knew I needed a better strategy if I wanted to continue playing this game I had loved for so long. As a volunteer guided me to a group picture, I said, "I might want to try playing in goal." He said, "Goalies are a bit odd." I said, "I am a bit of an odd guy."
Somehow, this brief exchange got back to Mark and I received a phone call. After a long conversation, I made a decision. For the same reason I love the steep uphill climbs and the coordinating of meals for SFL, I asked to play goaltender for the Insights!
In truth, I grew up idolizing guys like Belfour, Roy, and Hasek. After losing my sight, I never thought I would ever be able to step between the pipes again. Being able to put on a thick layer of foam padding and skate in front of a regulation goal on ice was a boyhood dream come true. Despite my save percentage in the 60's, I plan to be between the pipes for the Insights in the future!
If you are in the Seattle area (meaning Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or Montana), or if you would like more information on blind hockey , please contact SeattleBlindHockey@gmail.com
There are eight local affiliates of Ski for Light, Inc. scattered throughout the United States. All of them have a winter program centered on cross-country skiing, and several of them also have a summer and/or fall program as well. The summer and fall programs range from week-long programs to single day trips or hikes. The Regionals that usually offer such activities are the Black Hills, Montana, New England, Northeast Pennsylvania and Sierra affiliates. You can learn the details of what each Regional is offering this year by visiting their respective websites for their latest news. Each is linked directly from the Regionals page on the SFL website at www.sfl.org/events/regionals.
Our thanks go to the following companies that have provided products or services to help support Ski for Light. Many of these companies have stood behind us for years - and we're grateful. Be sure to think of our friends when you're gearing up for your next adventure.
JanSport * Beyond Coastal Sun Care * Black Diamond * Borton Overseas Travel * Clif Bar * Columbia * Dansko * Darn Tough Socks * Energizer * Farm to Feet * Fjallraven * Glerups * Haiku * Injinji * Kavu * Klean Kanteen * Kuhl * Leki * Lodge Cast Iron * Peet Shoe Dryers * Travelon * Wallaroo Hat Company
The SFL Bulletin is published three times a year. It is available in ink-print or via
e-mail. If you wish to change formats, please send your request to: webmaster@sfl.org
The current as well as past issues of the Bulletin are also available online at www.sfl.org/bulletin. In addition to an online edition that may be read in your browser, you will find a downloadable pdf version of the current issue.
For future Bulletins, remember that your contributions and feedback are always most welcome. You may submit articles as e-mail or as a word or text attachment. Send all items to:
Andrea GoddardThe deadline for the Fall 2019 Bulletin is October 15, 2019. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ski for Light, Inc. is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.