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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.
Greetings from Alaska, where I've been lucky enough to land some summer theater work—one of the many "day jobs" that help sustain my real passion, which is, of course, Ski for Light.
Fittingly, I'm in the 49th state as we are gearing up for the 49th Annual SFL International Event, set for January 28 to February 4 in Rhinelander, Wis. Is everybody ready for a week of great skiing and good times in the beautiful Northwoods? Keep reading for more details from our unstoppable 2024 Event Chair, Marie Huston; Rhinelander local ambassador (and noted Hodag historian) Mike Evelo, and some of the others who are already working overtime to make our next ski week together, in this fantastic new location, one we all enjoy and remember.
Meanwhile, the Ski for Light Board of Directors has been remarkably busy by "off-season" standards. Among a wide range of organizational projects and general housekeeping over the past few months, our re-energized Long-Range Planning Committee, led by Vice President Krista Erickson, worked with the wonderful OneSource consultant Judy Mitchell on a series of shared goals grounded in our mission of skiing, sharing, learning; all were approved at our summer Board meeting on June 27. We also voted in some important reforms to our officer nomination and election process, thanks to many hours of thoughtful work from our Constitution and Bylaws committee, led by Judy Dixon. And, to help ensure we always have capable volunteers ready to step into leadership roles, our new Board Development chair Karen Wood has developed a comprehensive plan for director recruitment, training, mentorship, and continued engagement, even after we've stepped down from Board service.
Something you realize when you get to be Ski for Light President: This organization has a brain trust like no other! And I already knew what kind of hearts live here. These are riches beyond anything produced by the Alaska Gold Rush. Thanks to your committed support, we are doing the hard work of stewarding those human resources, preserving and sharing all that collected knowledge and care, for future generations of happy SFLers.
I'll say "thanks" in the languages of the Indigenous peoples (Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian) whose Southeast Alaskan lands and waters I am so lucky to see outside my window: gunalcheech, haw'aa, t'oyaxsn. Thank you.
The 49th annual Ski for Light International event will be held January 28 to February 4, 2024, in the Northwoods of Rhinelander, Wis., where the Hodag roams!
Prior to my first trip to Rhinelander last fall to check out our next SFL location, the Hodag was introduced to me via my travelling companion and amazing vice-chair Cara Barnes. Described as a bright green, fearsome beast that has horns, spikes, fangs, and a long tail with spears, I was intrigued. So, our first stop with local and SFL guide Mike Evelo was to the large Hodag statue at the Chamber of Commerce. It literally took me all weekend to learn how to pronounce the name of this mythical creature. It is official—I've got Hodag (Hoh-dahg) fever!
Our SFL home for the week will be at the Quality Inn & AmericInn, located across a small parking lot from each other. As I write this, The Quality Inn is going through a huge remodel, which includes a new bar with golf simulators for us to enjoy! With quick access to the welcoming downtown of Rhinelander, we hope to have activities embracing the Midwest like a brewery tour, cheese tastings, and a team-building evening in the Hodag Dome.
A three-mile daily bus ride will take us to Northwoods Nordic. Our trails will begin at the Northwood Golf course clubhouse, but will quickly move into a pristine forest of snow-covered pines, tamarack bogs, and groves of hemlocks.
Most Locals believe that the Hodag is real, and we are sure to catch a glimpse as we glide through the woods of Rhinelander. They say that it has a soft spot for music and dancing—so maybe it will join in our SFL sing-alongs or grace the dance floor on Saturday night. You can view rare footage of this reclusive creature skiing at this link. There is a Rhinelander Welcomes SFL video featuring a bright green Hodag cross-country skiing through the forests and hills of Rhinelander. The message at the end of the video reads: "49th International Ski for Light. Ski-ya in 2024 Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Home of the Hodag."
Additional information about the 49th annual Ski for Light International event, January 28 to February 4, 2024, including links to the online application to attend the week, is now available on the Ski for Light website at www.sfl.org/events/next.
Don't miss this opportunity to ski, share, and learn with the SFL family! And who knows? Maybe you'll even get to meet the Hodag!
At the 2022 American Birkebeiner, Ski for Light decided to try recruiting guides by having a booth at the Birkie Expo. This was a success and opened the door to a much larger SFL presence at the 2023 American Birkebeiner (Birkie). Ski for Light became the proud Presenting Sponsor of the ParaBirkie Ski Event. The sponsorship included: Our Ski for Light logo appearing on race bibs, on the podium banner, and on the event page at Birkie.com with a link to our website. Also, SFL had large banners on display at the Birkie start line Cable, Wis., the "OO" aid station and the finish line, Main Street in Hayward, Wis. (The potential exposure of the three banners was 40,000 people!)
The sponsorship led to four days of sharing awareness, recruiting guides, and promoting Ski for Light starting Wednesday, Feb. 22. That was set up day for the booth at the Birkie Expo. This Expo consists of 55 exhibits/vendors: You can check out skis, ski clothing, ski wax, energy foods, fat bikes, maple syrup products, and non-profit organizations, such as SFL, that promote the outdoor lifestyle.
After the booth was set up, Julie Coppens, Krista Erickson, and I attended the Birkie Welcome Reception held at the Derksen Family Great Hall at Cable, Wis. There, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation honored and showed appreciation for all the sponsors, area civic leaders, and affected individuals and businesses. We met Ben Popp, the Executive Director, some of the staff members, government officials, and other sponsors. We also had a great conversation with Ernie St. Germaine. At the age of 75, he is the only person have skied all 49 Birkies since 1973. He is a member of the Ojibwa Indian Tribe and is actively teaching X-C skiing to the young tribal members. Ernie is interested in coming to speak at SFL Week 2024 in Rhinelander, Wis.
With a snowstorm moving in, we were not able to stay as long as we would have liked, but our time there was very worthwhile. Thursday was opening day of the Birkie Expo. The halls were packed, which was amazing considering almost a foot of snow fell overnight. This celebration of winter was going to happen. We had a great day at the Expo with a lot of fellow skiers stopping to learn more about the mission of Ski for Light and showing interest in being guides. Friday was also a busy day at our SFL booth. One of the highlights was Larry Behne's display of medals and patches he had collected over the years. Larry would visit with people about how, without Ski for Light in his life, he would have never gone to all these wonderful places to ski. He would then go into talking about some of the interesting and amazing people he's met at ski week and how much richer his life has been because of this organization. Now after an intro like that, how could you not want to be a guide at SFL?
Thursday evening was the Giant Ski. Only the best skiers attempt this crazy feat. Six brave SFL VIPs and their guides strapped onto a pair of 25 foot long giant skis to race 50 yards up Main Street Hayward with excited crowds cheering them on. It took coordination and determination to get those insanely long, wooden sticks moving, but the "Ski for Light Driftbusters" triumphantly crossed the finish line. 2023 Giant Skiers were: VIP Krista Erickson, Guide Julie Coppens, VIP Rod Maccoux, Guide Brian Christoffel, VIP Brian Armbruster and Guide Mark Golomski.
Excitement permeated the air at the start line of Friday's ParaBirkie. We handed out neck gators with the SFL and ParaBirkie logos on them. With temps in the single digits, they were appreciated. After the countdown, MIP Jeff Pagels, guided by his son Corey, VIP Krista Erickson, guided by Julie Coppens, and VIP Rod Maccoux, guided by Brian Christoffel joined the other participants skiing 4K to Main Street Hayward. After some waiting at the finish line for the arrivals, Sheryl, the race announcer, invited me over for a live interview about Ski for Light. This was broadcast all over the Main Street finish area. She asked a lot of good questions about our organization, about ski week, about how new guides can get involved, and about how SFL has a great guide training program. We talked a lot about the upcoming 2024 ski week being hosted in Rhinelander. We also discussed how SFL is excited to be the new sponsor of the ParaBirkie. When Krista and Julie made their trek over the International Bridge, I introduced them, announced their arrival, and gave a play by play of their journey up Main Street as they neared and crossed the finish line. ParaBirkie 2023 concluded with MIP Jeff Pagels also making it over that finish line. There was a sense of accomplishment as medals were shown off, stories told, hugs and handshakes shared, and group photos taken.
Shortly after we moved off the finish area, Main Street came alive with cheering and cowbells ringing as the ski racers of the Kortelopet started arriving. The Kortelopet is a 29K race from the "OO" Trailhead to Hayward. We eagerly monitored the progress of SFL VIP Brian Armbruster, guided by Tim Feldman, after they left the start line. The crowds on Main Street enthusiastically cheered them on as they made their way up Main Street to the finish line. Brian gave his all to cross finish in 3:42:33. Great Job Brian! Tim Feldman said, "Skiing the Kortelopet with Brian was an incredibly rewarding experience. Thrills, chills and spills!"
Saturday started with Don Evans and me getting to and joining the chaos at the start area of the American Birkebeiner. Don prepared to join the 50K skate ski course in a special group called Wave 70. It is a special wave for skiers age 70 or older. His wave left just ahead of my 53K Classic Wave 3. All the while, I was thinking of how, at a different location, a group of the SFL family was preparing for Birkie skiers seeking to replenish their bodies with energy and hydration as they passed through the "OO" aid station. There are seven aid stations along the Birkie race course. "OO" gets its name from Hwy OO which is next to it. "OO" is by far the busiest of the aid stations because it is about halfway, has a lot of area for cheering fans and has ease of access. Larry Behne, Mark Golomski, VIP Brian Armbruster, Barry Tulkki, Julie Coppens, VIP Krista Erickson, Tim Power, VIP Rod Maccoux, and Brian Christoffel, helped with the many duties that make an aid station work. Cutting bananas, preparing Gu energy packs, mixing energy drink, filling cups with water and energy drink, handing out prepped items to the skiers and continually cleaning up.
Larry Behne said "We had four fun filled days of events and volunteering at "OO" was very special because of our SFL family!" Randy Bates, friend and "OO" aid station chief, was enthused, thrilled, and honored to have SFL helping at his aid station. Don Evans said, "It was great seeing smiling SFL friends at the "OO" aid station on my Birkie Journey, Thanks!" For me, it definitely was the highlight of my race; coming around the corner into "OO" aid station and seeing SFL friends.
Another way the SFL Family participates in the Birkie is via ski patrol. SFL guides Rich Mah and Sarah Eisenberg have been doing ski patrol at the Birkie for many years. No offense to Rich and Sarah, but I hope I never need your services, although I really appreciate what you do. Whenever I pass by you or one of your fellow patrollers out on the trail, no matter how winded I am, you get a heartfelt, "Thank you for being there!"
Julie Coppens summed up her first Birkie experience saying, "It was such a thrill and joy to witness the 'Big Birkie' up close, to hear Mike's voice on the Main Street loudspeakers as we approached the ParaBirkie finish line amidst the cheering crowd, to meet so many Nordic skiing enthusiasts of all ages, from all over. It was truly an unforgettable experience." SFL guide Brian Christoffel added, "I think the whole Birkie weekend felt like being with a sports team on a road trip. All the things we did were very team-like. X-C skiing is often a solo sport." Julie continued, "The Birkie weekend was also a learning experience for me, seeing the level of organization, civic support and volunteer labor necessary to pull off such a massive, multi-faceted winter sports event, year after year, in the middle of the Wisconsin North Woods. Wow! I'm delighted Ski for Light has joined this huge community effort as the Presenting Sponsor of the ParaBirkie, and grateful to 'First Wave' donors Mike Evelo, Leslie Maclin, and Stan Smith for kicking in the bucks to initiate the relationship. I invite other Birkie enthusiasts in SFL (or the Birkie curious, as I was) to consider joining us in the coming year, either as sponsorship donors and/or event participants. We'd love to see this connection grow."
Feedback was recently collected from the SFL group who participated in Birkie 2023. The responses showed the group really saw the value of participating in the American Birkebeiner and the group sees how the Birkie provides an opportunity to help secure the future of SFL by raising awareness of who we are, and by increasing exposure so we might gain new guides and new supporters. The group saw how our presence was about a lot more than recruiting; it also served to demonstrate what blind people can accomplish with some enthusiasm, some grit, and some assistance from skilled and sighted ski guides. It was inspirational for me to listen to VIP Rod Maccoux visit with a couple of grade school children at the Expo booth as he patiently answered their many questions about what blindness is, why his eyes don't work, what daily life is like for him and how he can participate in outdoor sports such as X-C skiing.
As you read this article, I hope you kept in mind the title. You can be, as I am, proud of the group that represented the Ski for Light family as they were "Skiing, Sharing, Learning" in so many ways.
I think the last time I ski raced was at the Ridderrenn, at least 15 years ago or more, when a bunch of American MIPs invaded Norway. I remember I was in pretty good shape and beat my French opponent, who'd bested me three times in the 1994 Paralympics. I have to give my guide, Heather Hall, lots of credit for wisely waiting for me about 2K from the finish line to make me suck it up and finish strong. I also need to thank her for staying up late the night before, plying my French ski racer with copious quantities of whiskey!
Fast-forward to late last year, when I learned the famous Birkie race collection was going to add the ParaBirkie for disabled skiers to their February, 2023, Birkie event in Wisconsin. (See Mike Evelo's report on this event elsewhere in this newsletter.) Here I was, grossly out of shape, overweight and weaker than I had ever been. But like many of you, I follow Charlie Wirth's exploits. I quickly came to the conclusion, "If he can do it at age 102, I can do it at 74."
One day after New Year's, I joined a fitness gym and dug out the longest pair of skis I had and mounted them on my 1989 model sit ski. The 4 to 5 days per week gym workouts were and are great as I continue to exercise. Skiing was another story. While my strength grew, my cardio was poor, and lack of snow in this part of Wisconsin did not help.
Race day arrived for me and my guide, my son, Corey. There were maybe 20 racers with a variety of disabilities lined up at the start. The start gun went off and I shot ahead, flying down the tracks and into second place for 100 yards of a 4K race. Not surprisingly, my endurance gas tank was already almost empty. One by one or two, the others in the race passed me. At about 15 yards from the finish line, the last sit skier overtook me, too. I was totally out of strength and endurance, and I crawled across the finish line officially in last place.
Julie Coppens gave me a big hug and said something that made me feel better. "No one will remember your finish, but they will remember you did the race."
Happy Summer, SFL family!
Hi. I'm Boston. I am a guide dog for Bob Hartt and a pal of his wife Bonnie O'Day. Bonnie's SFL job is to raise funds from foundations for SFL and she's doing it all wrong. Bob and I want to go for a walk, and she said she wants to go with us, but she's pounding away on her computer, writing applications to foundations she thinks might give money to SFL.
And what's her success rate at writing letters to foundations that have never heard of SFL and where she doesn't know anyone? Zero. Nada. Zip. I keep trying to explain to her that's not how you raise money. You raise money through personal contact, but she won't listen. She thinks that, if something doesn't work, she should just keep doing more of it and she will be successful. She ought to know better.
She's had great success at working with foundations that have supported us in the past. And she's had even better luck when SFL members, who know people affiliated with family foundations, end up talking to them about SFL.
For example, one of our long-time guides mentioned SFL to a friend of hers, and the friend is now a regular contributor. Bonnie's great at following up with those foundations and sending all the right materials. Then voila! A donation appears. It's so easy to talk to friends about Ski for Light. A few years ago, Bonnie opened a bottle of wine with a friend and began discussing it. Turns out this friend has a family foundation and was looking to make contributions to good organizations. Bonnie talked so enthusiastically about SFL that the friend's foundation has been a regular contributor for many years. It was as easy as that!
So, if you know anyone who is connected to a family foundation or another group that might want to support SFL, please give Bonnie a call. She'll talk to you about how you should approach the foundation and she'll send the foundation all the information they need. Also, if you have a good connection with a fraternity like a Lion's Club, she'd like to talk to you as well. Give Bonnie a call at 703 965-2501 or email her at bonnoday@gmail.com. You can also talk to her at our upcoming event in Rhinelander, Wis. If you see her at breakfast or dinner with Bob, I'll be right under the table waiting for food to drop. I love helping kitchen staff with clean-up; Bob says anything that inadvertently drops to the floor is fair game!
Your SFL board of directors has been busy fine tuning the workings of our wonderful organization. Would you like to get involved in helping to shape the future of Ski for Light? Do you relish the opportunity to add your talents to the body of twenty-five individuals who work together to keep SFL going in the right direction? This is your chance!
Every two years, we hold an election in order to bring new people with new ideas and a real commitment to SFL onto this working board of directors. We are seeking those individuals who are enthusiastic attendees of our events who are willing to run for a four-year term. We are especially interested in candidates who are skilled in one or more of the following areas: communication, computer/ spread sheets, finance/budgeting, social media, organization, fund-raising and web site management.
The election will take place before the event in Wisconsin. Watch for the Fall Bulletin this year. It will include information about how to nominate yourself or someone else for a board seat. If you would like to learn more about what is involved in being a Ski for Light board member please contact our Board Development and Elections Committee chair, Karen Wood. Cell phone 317 506-8837 or karenawood58@icloud.com.
Ski for Light is saddened by the recent passing of two long-time guides and volunteers:
We extend our condolences to the families and friends of both Jerry and John, and thank each of them for all that they did for so many people for so many years. Rest in peace.
In the late 1970s, I began my running career to try and improve my fitness, and to be able to get more enjoyment out of my cross-country skiing. I could see better in those days, so could manage to jog on my own in our London streets. Now I need a guide when I run, so it's not always easy to get the training in when I need it.
It was in the mid '90s, or thereabouts, when I first met Nancy Stevens, and we all know how accomplished she has become at every sport she attempts! Anyway, she and I were talking one day, and she told me of Achilles. I had never heard of them before, but we can usually be assured that what starts in America soon comes over here to The UK.
The years rolled by, I'd gotten older and slower, and just before our first COVID Lockdown, I heard that a running group called Achilles was starting up in the London area! I went along to their first meeting, and found a handful of VIPs, together with several sighted guides prepared to run with us. A very friendly and sociable group they turned out to be, providing both guides for those of us who need it, and people to walk our guide dogs while we ran.
Of course, during Lockdown, nothing much happened, but now things are pretty much back to normal, we meet once a week, at various locations in the London area, and we can choose for how long we want to run. Some run and walk, and others gallop away for an hour.
It was last week when, after our run, we stopped off at a pub, and I was introduced to a New York couple who act as Achilles guides in their local area. Of course, I told them all about SFL, in which they seemed very interested, saying they would find out more when they returned home.
Well, Nancy, it's a small world, and thanks for planting this lucky seed by mentioning Achilles to me all those years ago. By the way, I love the song you wrote and sang this year at the Ridderrenn talent show!
Walking on a glacier has been on my bucket list for many years. Given the publicity about glacial melting, I figured I'd better get to it soon. When husband Bob Hartt and I told our SFL guide friends Scott and Betsy Fischer that our planned cruise would end in their Juneau, Alaska neighborhood, they generously invited us to stay a few days. Scott suggested a helicopter ride with a glacier walk and I was all in.
A glacier is a big mass of ice formed on land, often in valleys. It is created from falling and accumulated snow over time, where temperatures are exceedingly cold. Glaciers form when snow remains on the ground year-round. Each year, new layers of snow bury and compress the previous layers, and this forces the snow to recrystallize into ice.
Located in the Mendenhall Valley about 12 miles from downtown Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier is about 13.6 miles long. To get to the glacier, you must either climb a very steep mountain or take a helicopter. Scott (my partner for the day) and I opted for the latter. The helicopter, which seated six people plus the pilot was equipped with microphones and headsets so we could communicate with each other over the racket of the engines. Did you know that helicopters do not taxi like airplanes? They go straight up!
The helicopter flew around for about 20 minutes so we could take in views of the glacier and the surrounding mountains from various angles. I was privileged to sit in the front seat and, even with my low vision, could enjoy some of the scenery.
Upon exiting the plane, we were given non-slip boots with spikes and a walking stick, though I still chose to hang onto Scott's arm. The glacier's surface is not smooth, as I expected. It is quite choppy and rough, with holes and crevices that must be avoided. I lowered my walking stick into a small hole that turned out to be several feet deep. I also expected the ice to be clear or frosty, as it is in the freezer. In fact, the ice is various shades of blue, brown, and white. The blue is caused by the heavy layers of snow that push the air out of the deeper layers of ice, causing the ice to form large, dense crystals. We see only the blue color when looking at layers of ice. The brown color is from all the rocks and soil that are dragged with the glacier as it slides down the mountain. The colors make the glacier quite stunning!
This experience is just one born of many great connections I have made through our SFL family, and I'd like to extend a big thank you to Scott and to our helicopter guide, Mark, for making this adventure possible!
Ski for Light, Inc. is loosely affiliated with eight regional organizations around the United States that share our name, but are independent organizations. They are located in New England, Northeast Pennsylvania, Michigan, South Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Northern California, and Washington. Each group holds one or more winter events that include teaching and guiding visually- and mobility-impaired adults in cross-country skiing. Many of them also offer summer and Fall programs, ranging from single-day hikes to week-long adventures. To check out the offerings of each organization for this year, visit their respective websites, all linked from the Regionals page on the SFL website.
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.
Black Diamond * Beyond Coastal/Chums Sun Care * Borton Overseas Travel * Darn Tough Socks * Haiku Bags * Kuhl Clothing * Lodge Cast Iron * Ruffwear * Spyderco * Wallaroo Hat Company
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Andrea GoddardThe deadline for the Fall 2023 Bulletin is September 15, 2023. We look forward to hearing from you.
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