2025 Ski for Light International Week

Provo and Midway, Utah
January 26 February 2, 2025

Please first read carefully the information below about cross country skiing and the Ski for Light International Week. Then read the General Waiver of Liability for the 2025 International Week. If you accept the terms and conditions of the General Waiver of Liability please so indicate on your event application.

About Cross country Skiing and the Ski for Light International Week

Cross country skiing is generally regarded as one of the best fitness activities in the world, because it involves the simultaneous use of most major muscle groups, supported by the work of several different systems of the body. For those not familiar with skiing, cross country skiing differs from downhill skiing in several important ways. In cross country skiing, the skier’s boot is attached to the ski by only the toe, with the heel of the boot “free.” The unconstrained heel allows a cross country skier to climb hills and traverse level terrain, as well as to travel down hills, making the sport a truly “cross country” activity. In downhill skiing, the entire boot is attached to the ski, which limits the skier to downhill terrain. In addition, the cross country skier wears lighter clothing than the downhill skier, because of the body heat generated by the exercise.

At the Ski for Light International Week each visually or mobility impaired skier is matched with an experienced sighted, able bodied ski guide for the week. As a pair, they ski together both mornings and afternoons, from Monday through Saturday. The visually or mobility impaired person skis in pre set tracks or grooves in the snow, while the guide skis in a similar set of tracks alongside. For visually impaired skiers, the guide informs the skier of changes in the direction and level of the tracks, offers instructional tips and suggestions, and tells the skier about the countryside; for mobility impaired skiers, the guide provides physical assistance and stability as needed. Each guide/skier pair decides together how far, how long, and on what kind of terrain they will ski.

Depending on the skier’s approach to the sport, cross country skiing can be as gentle as a stroll through a park, or as physically demanding as any aerobic workout. The sport, however, may not be right for every single person, any more than jogging, bicycling, or any other fitness activity is right for every single person. This will depend on the person’s general health and physical condition, lifestyle, heredity, and other factors.

Ski for Light, Inc. believes that each person who is considering cross country skiing at the International Week should make his/her own personal decision about participation in this activity. To best make this decision, it is advised that each prospective participant consult with a physician, who can best inform the applicant about the risks of participation, given the individual’s medical history and physical condition. This is especially important for any applicant with any underlying medical condition, as cross country skiing might exacerbate the effects of any such condition. It is also advised that each prospective participant try to get into better physical condition in the months before the event. This is just common sense for anyone considering any physically demanding activity.

In addition to possible health related risks, applicants should be aware that all active sports do have a number of other inherent risks. Taking part in cross country skiing at the Ski for Light International Week obviously involves the risk of accident or injury as well as the risk of human error on the part of any guide or participant.

While attending the Ski for Light International Week each participant is responsible for his/her own safety. This means, among other things, that if at any time a participant feels physical discomfort, or is uncomfortable skiing at a given pace or on specific terrain, he/she should immediately inform the skiing partner and stop.

If each participant understands the physical demands of the sport, the limitations of the body, sets and pursues reasonable goals, and exercises common sense, he/she should be able to enjoy this great sport, and to learn why so many people love it. And once these basic safety and common sense guidelines are understood and under control, each participant can begin to recognize cross country skiing as not only an enjoyable activity, but also as a vehicle for improving overall fitness, and for accomplishing things once thought impossible. That is what Ski for Light, Inc. is all about.

General Waiver of Liability

In consideration of being allowed to participate in the 2025 Ski for Light International Week, I hereby release Ski for Light, Inc. and all Directors, agents, volunteers, employees or any person either officially or unofficially connected with Ski for Light, Inc. activities (the “Providers”) from any duty of care toward me associated with activities connected with the International Week.

In so participating I knowingly assume full responsibility for and risk of damage to personal property, personal injury, or death arising from the International Week’s activities.

I understand that this release covers all aspects of the act of cross country skiing, instruction, guiding, collision, condition of terrain, accommodations, board, travel, the use of my image, likeness and/or voice in publicity and marketing materials and activities, and any and all other aspects of the International Week’s activities.

I have knowledge of the above mentioned specific dangers associated with the sport of cross country skiing and the Ski for Light International Week, and I choose to participate in the Ski for Light International Week while waiving all rights to bring any action against the Providers for activities connected with the International Week.

If any one or more of the agreements, provisions or terms of this agreement shall be held invalid for any reason whatsoever, then such agreements, provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining agreements, provisions or terms of this agreement and shall in no way affect the validity of enforceability of the other provisions of this agreement.