- The Bjarne Eikevik President’s Award
- The Jan Haug Award
- SFL Ridderrenn Teams
- The Brit Peterson Award
The Bjarne Eikevik President’s Award
The traveling Bjarne Eikevik President’s Award is a pewter drinking horn given to SFL by the Norwegians to give to a deserving person(s) for their hard work and dedication in working for and improving Ski for Light.
The award is named in memory and honor of Bjarne Eikevik, one of the founders of Ski for Light and President from 1976 to 1981. Bjarne is the person who created the recreational skiing model that became the basis of SFL. Much more about him may be read in the In Memorium section of this website.
- 2024: Michael Evelo
- 2023: Tim McCorcle
- 2022: The Entire SFL Community
- 2021: Renee Abernathy
- 2020: Catherine Sandell
- 2019: Bonnie O’Day
- 2018: Marie Huston
- 2017: Ken Leghorn
- 2016: Robert Civiak
- 2015: Jim Steele
- 2014: Bjorg Dunlop
- 2013: Cara Barnes
- 2012: John Olnes
- 2011: Julie York Coppens
- 2010: Doug and Lynda Boose
- 2009: Jeanne Mackenzie
- 2008: Marion Elmquist
- 2007: Suzanne Brown
- 2006: Scott McCall
- 2005: Laurinda Steele Lacey
- 2004: Brenda Seeger
- 2003: Nancy McKinney Milsteadt
- 2002: Deb Wiese
- 2001: Claire Morrissette
- 2000: Lisa Wangberg
- 1999: Laura Oftedahl
- 1998: Larry Showalter
- 1997: Raymond (Bud) Keith
- 1996: Scott Bertrand
- 1995: JoAnne Jorud
- 1994: Kari Heistad
- 1993: Gordon Larson
- 1992: Bob Norbie
- 1991: Jeff Pagels
- 1990: Marty Mahler
- 1989: Egil Almaas
- 1988: Judith Dixon
- 1987: John and Marge Hogenson
- 1986: Leif Andol
- 1985: Jean Replinger
The Jan Haug Award has been presented annually since 1989 to a first time disabled skier who has shown real enthusiasm and potential for the sport of cross country skiing. Three finalists for this award are selected by the guide trainers and recommended to the SFL President who makes the final selection. The award consists of a full ski package of skis, boots, and poles.
The Jan Haug award was named to honor a man who was one of the founders of Ski for Light, and one of its most generous early supporters. Jan was born in Oslo and moved to the United States as a student. He married an American woman and began a career as a businessman. Years before cross-country skiing became popular in the United States, Jan became the first to import and sell Norwegian-made skis.
Jan was one of the three men who signed Ski for Light’s Articles of Incorporation, and was a charter Board Member. Beginning with the 1976 event in Minneapolis, Jan provided all the skis for blind skiers. For a few years the skis were given to all new skiers, and for some years thereafter, ski packages were made available for a minimal cost.
Jan was the first Treasurer of Ski for Light, and when he found that job to be too much, he invited Egil Almaas to take over. While still a fairly young man, Jan Haug died suddenly of a heart attack and left a big hole in the Ski for Light family. We remember him as a kind and generous man who gave and gave and gave.
- 2024: Lucas Rice
- 2023: Lillian Goodman
- 2020: Audrey Farnum
- 2019: Michelle Curtis
- 2018: Yolanda Shaw
- 2017: Cuqui Soto
- 2016: AnnaLisa Anderson
- 2015: Karen Wood
- 2014: Lucy Zapata
- 2013: Eun gyong Lee
- 2012: Jodie Kluthe
- 2011: Denise Avant
- 2010: Martin Courcelles
- 2009: Tara Annis
- 2008: Adriana Parra
- 2007: Susan Fluri
- 2006: Margaret Zalenska
- 2005: Ivonne Mosquera
- 2004: Fernando Rivera
- 2003: Vita Zavoli
- 2002: Kevin Dunn
- 2001: Kent Keever
- 2000: Gary Bergman
- 1999: Chad Morey
- 1998: Debra Hernstrom
- 1997: Dave Wilkinson
- 1996: Marie Verrastro
- 1995: Sue Cielens
- 1994: Victoria Roberts
- 1993: Ray Charles Harrison
- 1992: Jennifer Sutton
- 1991: Frank Welte
- 1990: Randy Hunnicutt
- 1989: Michael Holmes
Ski for Light was created in 1975 by Olav Pedersen with the support of other Norwegian Americans, and was modeled after the Norwegian Ridderrennet, which took place for the first time in 1964.
In order to maintain ties with the Norwegian heritage of Ski for Light, the organization sends a team usually consisting of two disabled skiers and two guides to each Ridderrennett, as official representatives of SFL.
The members of each team are selected based on their service to the SFL program over the years, or in recognition of the leadership potential that they exhibit.
- 2024: Rod Maccoux, Anthony Nelson and Sheri Richardson; Marion Elmquist, Michael Evelo and Betsy Fischer
- 2023: Michael McCulloch, Nancy Stevens and Charles Wirth; Carl Lantz, Kent Moore and Astrid Mullen
- 2022: Charles Wirth
- 2019: Karen Wood and Joseph Yee, Daniel Beckman and Leslie Maclin
- 2018: Eric Bleich and Kevin Whitley, Julie Coppens and Patrick McManus
- 2017: Melinda Hollands and Dave Wilkinson, John Elliott and Lars Johanson
- 2016: Denise Avant and Sheila Styron, Richard Milsteadt
- 2015: Krista Erickson and Deng Kong, Larry Behne and Betty Johnson
- 2014: Tim McCorcle and Bonnie O’Day, Gerald Cox and Lynn Cox
- 2013: Heather Berg and Andrea Goddard, Tim Byas, Kristen Johnson and Marion Elmquist
- 2012: Mike Cain and Larry Ngayan, David Fisk and Heather Hall
- 2011: Lawrence Povinelli and Peter Slatin, John Klemaseski and Al Volkers, Mariano Pacini and Marie Pacini
- 2010: Theresa Montano, Bob Civiak
- 2009: Bob Hartt, Amy Brannan
- 2008: John Hollenbach and Linda Mumford, Doug Boose and Dale Severson
- 2007: Renee Abernathy and Chris Leghorn, Willie Aldrich and Mark Cullen
- 2006: Larry Showalter and Kathy Strahan, John Amundson and John Olnes
- 2005: Ray Charles Harrison and David Thomas, Glenn Beachy and Velma McMeekin
- 2004: Donna Permar and Vicki Post, Art Bunn and Richard Epstein
- 2003: Lynda Boose and Robin Smithtro Van Lant, David Fisichella and Roger Young
- 2002: Dianne Brunswick and Duane Farrar, Jean Larson and Marvin Liewer
- 2001: Judy Wilkinson and Cara Barnes, Brenda Seeger and Marion Elmquist
- 2000: Bob Buchanan and Kathy Wood, Terry Nelson and Bjorg Dunlop
- 1999: George Bianculli and Brit Peterson, Maury Witteveen and Claire Morrissette
- 1998: Amy Bower, Mary Mosbey and Marie Huston
- 1997: Suzanne Brown and Lori Hamner, Pat Gabriel and Vicki O’Brien
- 1996: Laurinda Steele Lacey and Wendy David, Nancy McKinney Milsteadt and Lisa Wangberg
- 1995: Bud Keith and Lil Johnson, Gordon Larson and Jeanne Mackenzie
- 1994: Betsy Rowell, Marianne Olsaker
- 1993: Scott McCall and Annemarie Cooke, Robb Rasmussen and Kari Heistad
- 1992: Dick Ashley and Kathy Larson, Scott Bertrand and Cathie Sandell
- 1991: Jack Newbury and Mary Hiland, Bruce Scharfenberg and Liv Markle
- 1990: Stan Smith and Deb Wiese, Mike Graper and Paula Berardi
- 1989: Dick Harris and Celeste Lopes, Jim Steele and Berit Prunty
- 1988: Jeff Pagels and Caryl Barnett, Tip Ray and JoAnne Jorud
- 1987: Jim Barnes and Michelle Drolet, Arne Landvik Larsen and Vicki Van Gelderen
- 1986: Dan Ramier and Dorothy Yucha, Harrold Spicknall and Susan Friedman
- 1985: Elmer Fischer and Maria Hansen, Kjell Skavnes and Nancy Tuznik
- 1984: Bob Norbie
- 1983: Scott McCall and Gail Downey Lord, Olav Pedersen and Jean Replinger
- 1982: Tom Burgunder and Laura Oftedahl, Leif Andol and Leslee Lane Hoyum
- 1981: Oral Miller and Eileen Goff, Egil Almaas and Sheilah Rennesund Lambert
- 1980: Dick Brunvand and Petra Gibbons Janes, Dick Johnson and Svea Karlsen
- 1979: Nathan Mickay and Mary Kozy, Tor Dahl and Grethe Winther
- 1978: Mike Geno and Judy Dixon, Jan Henriksen and Aastrid Scott
- 1977: Bill Gibney and Diane Lemke Ziegler, Bjarne Eikevik and Einar Bergh
- 1976: John Novotny and Carolyn Crotty, Olav Pedersen
The Brit Peterson Award is presented to individuals whose cumulative lifetime generosity to Ski for Light is in excess of $25,000. The award is named in honor of Brit Peterson, who was also the first recipient of the award, in recognition of her nearly thirty years of support to SFL. Our thanks and gratitude go to Brit and the other recipients of this honor. What a difference they have made to the lives of Ski for Light attendees over the years.
Brit Aabakken Peterson
Brit and her husband Roy gave to SFL in many, many ways for nearly 30 years. She was a guide from 1979 to 1985, when a car accident crushed both of her ankles. Undaunted, Brit came back to SFL as a volunteer and mobility impaired skier, until retiring after the 2003 event in Alaska. Over many years Brit also solicited thousands of dollars worth of Norwegian food for our Norway Night dinners that so delighted attendees. Roy was a dedicated worker bee for many of those years. On the occasion of their 50th anniversary Brit and Roy asked that friends and family donate to SFL in lieu of gifts. Brit did this again when she turned 80 years old. She gave generously nearly every year to the Endowment, Goodfellow, or general operating funds. Brit donated and inspired others to donate more money to SFL over the years than any other individual.
Valerie Anders
Valerie Anders became acquainted with SFL back in the seventies when Bud Keith first journeyed to Norway to visit the Ridderrenn. At the time, her husband, former astronaut Bill Anders, was the United States Ambassador to Norway. Valerie and Bill attended Ridderrennet with Bud, and they became fast friends. They attended SFL in 1981, and again in 1999. Valerie got the SFL Endowment Fund off the ground with a gift of $25,000, in Bud’s honor, during the 1999 event. She has continued to support SFL with subsequent gifts to the fund.
Liv Markle
Liv Markle attended her first SFL event in 1980. She had known about Ridderrennet while growing up in Norway, and had heard of SFL after immigrating to the U.S. After attending her first event, she was struck by how much the program affected the lives of those who attended, and decided to do all that she could to support it. After that first event, she hosted holiday SFL fund raising parties in her home in Indiana nearly every year, while also continuing to guide at most events.
Jean Replinger
Jean Replinger attended nearly every SFL event as either a guide or worker bee for nearly 30 years, since her first event in 1980. A college professor in Minnesota, Jean found that SFL combined many of the things she valued in life: teaching, helping others and fun in the out of doors. She decided to do what she could to make the benefits of the SFL experience available to others, and over the years has sponsored about 40 attendees. She has also supported the program annually with significant gifts to the general operating, Goodfellow and/or endowment funds.
Kjell Skavnes
Kjell Skavnes emigrated to the U.S. from Norway back in the early seventies. He first attended SFL in 1977, and guided at most events for about 25 years since then. For more than a decade, he transported skis and equipment to and from each event, and handled ski fitting for participants. For many years he also donated his earnings from competitive sport car racing to Ski for Light, and flew the SFL flag on each of his cars.