From the Ski for Light Bulletin - Spring 2003
compiled by Vicki Post
SFL 2003 was, in many ways a very unusual week! Those of us who attended it will, no doubt, be telling stories about the Event for years! First, the numbers! This year, we welcomed 113 VIPs (visually-impaired participants), 11 MIPs (mobility-impaired participants), 128 guides, 14 Norwegians, and about 15 workers. The Captain Cook Hotel greeted us with warmth and graciousness, and we had a lot of room for all the usual SFL fun.
The skiing, of course, was not exactly ideal! Gliding along on a thin layer of ice made the waxless skis quite loud, leaving guides' voices very hard to hear! But it was truly amazing to see just what some people could do with a bit of ice! At any given time, someone was out there shoveling what snow they could find into a usable place; someone else was roughing up the ice so that it would be a little less glacial, and some of us found out how good our wedging was -- or wasn't. And when all that failed, there came a new event; namely, the SFL games. These included the lap sprint, the herringbone race, the distance glide, and the thrilling orange toss. It's true, there is a limit to how many times an orange can be recycled for throwing purposes!
The end of our event coincided with the start of the well-known Iditarod dog sled race. The ceremonial start of that race is always in Anchorage, and the public is allowed to bid for a chance to ride in that ceremony. SFL bid on one slot, which skier Pat Beattie won in a very successful fund-raising raffle. She represented SFL very well, and delighted us with her stories!
This year challenged everyone to be just a little more creative, flexible and adventurous! Many people found themselves wearing hats they never imagined, and many first-time skiers truly tested the edges of their courage. Hats off to everyone who kept the spirit of SFL alive and well, despite all the challenges. And as we completed another amazing race/rally, it was clear to this editor that there is nothing a little determination and a lot of love can't accomplish. And for the first-timers who are wondering about this crazy sport, we recommend that you give it another try -- on snow!
I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on my first experience with Ski for Light the past few days. Perhaps too much. It was such an incredible experience; I find it hard to put to words. I know when I arrived I was terrified. I knew that I loved to ski, and I've always enjoyed passing on this passion to anyone willing to give it a try. But this was so very different, I didn't know if I was capable. Those fears were put to rest by the end of the evening guide trainers meeting. It was helpful talking with other "Rookies" who shared the same fears that I had; hearing from the more experienced guides on what to expect and how to approach different situations; and, most importantly, hearing from visually impaired skiers and having them relay their experiences and thoughts to me. I remember approaching the first hill with my skier. It was only about 10 feet in length and dropped maybe four feet over that span. I was terrified and stopped at the top, unsure how to proceed, or if I could at all. She talked me through, and together we descended. We never looked back. As the week proceeded, (much to quickly) I began to relax and truly take in the spirit of Ski for Light. It is a spirit that I hope to carry with me through the year and onto Green Bay. What I was totally unprepared for was the overwhelming feeling of emotions that came with this program. I have never felt so alive before; so important, yet so small. I went to Anchorage to ski, to do something for someone other than myself. I came away with so much more. It was truly a life changing experience.
Turk
Ski for Light was one BIG unknown frontier that I was determined to explore, and it opened me to a whole new world.
My guide trainers, Roger Young, the skier (and dancer!) and Ray Charles Harrisson; a great man and visually impaired skier, who described with such ease his own experience of being blind, were the first ones to open the door.
After training, we were teamed up with our skiers; and that first moment I met with Tom Torvie will forever remind me of my own impairments!
Tom, partially blind, made my week a blast! "Turn left, no, no, turn right! Not that left!" Not always knowing which one of us was guiding, we both enjoyed cross-country skiing! And Tom, with great understanding, forgave me my lack of experience. " Tom, we're coming to a hill!" "Yes, Eija, it would help if you told me if it's uphill or downhill." "Kinky curves, let's go; we gonna love it!" Finally both agreeing! Yes, we learned to communicate, with clues we both understood. It was not me being his eyes; it was Tom guiding me with such ease that I was finding new ways to look at the world around us.
Never before have I felt such happiness in my life. SKI FOR LIGHT is about sharing the experience of skiing, having fun, growing and learning! And "seeing" a glimpse of the world of a visually impaired skier, is something I would never exchange for anything.
I want more of this experience. There will be more to come! I will learn more and I will give more of myself in Green Bay in 2004!
With ever so humble thoughts,
Eija
SFL 2003 was absolutely, unquestionably an incredible experience, and I am certain I am not the only first-time attendee to think so. No, the skiing was not good; it was downright scary sometimes to skim over glacial tracks. It was not ideal and it was not what I would have chosen for my first time on skis. However, I had so much fun with the other attendees, my roommate, and my guide. I haven't laughed so much in such a long time - it truly was, and shall remain, one of the best, most memorable experiences of my life. The opportunities to have fun, to be challenged, were available, even if the snow was not. What we make of anything in life, after all, is up to us. So, in all likelihood, I'll see you all in Green Bay next year. You should definitely invite the snow, but if it declines, it is only missing an opportunity for fun. So thanks again to everyone for all of their hard work!