From the Ski for Light Bulletin - Summer 2014
by Lynn and Jerry Cox
The air was crisp. The sun was bright. We stood in the arena area for the opening ceremonies of the 51st Ridderrenn while the prestigious Kings Guard Band of brass instruments and drums performed with precision the "musical call" for visually and mobility impaired XC skiers to a personal challenge of the race event about to begin.
Flags were raised and speeches began ----- all in Norwegian, of course. Standing in the snow and feeling the anticipatory spirit of the event, we patiently listened until one speaker switched into English and the words spoken will not be forgotten:
"Look for opportunity, not for limitations....and never give up!!"
"Five, four, three, two, one, GO" and off our skis glided on the trails of what the Ridderrenn event states is the world's largest winter sports week for disabled skiers (2014 info details that 10 countries were represented including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Canada and the U.S.). From Ski for Light we were a group of 13 (skiers and guides) from a variety of states in the USA with ages ranging from 46 - 93. After following beautifully groomed trails under the warm sun, we each felt that moment of exhilaration when we crossed the finish line where outgoing SFL president, Marion Elmquist, was waiting to congratulate/greet each of us. Sweat dripped off foreheads and smiles were big.
Rolling back through time leading up to that moment, our reflections include the moment one night when Marion phoned us at our home and asked if we would be available in late March-early April to travel to Norway as guides for the USA SFL skiers. Gasp!!! This was definitely a moment of being speechless soon followed by thoughts of wondering if this was "for real?" and feeling so very honored and humbled. It surely became a reality when we packed up our skis and boarded the plane for Amsterdam to Oslo and met SFL folks at the Hotel Bondeheimen. Traveling together by bus into the mountains from Oslo to Beito (as the locals call it), we began our Ridderrenn adventures.
Whether it was helping each other out at times of lost luggage (interesting how one piece of luggage took additional tours of Paris, Amsterdam and stayed a little extra in Beito), being flexible with our skiing abilities and daily energies to mix and match guides and skiers to the advantage/success of all for the variety of events (options for the Biathlon with laser rifles, Men's 10 K, Women's 5 K, or the final Ridder Race), or enjoying the off the trails meals and events, we formed strong friendships/connections with those in our SFL group. A few SFL group special moments included the selection and performance of Andres (Gonzalez) at the talent show who kept the audience spellbound with his song and guitar, Dawn (Brock) providing our group with a special piano concert, Bjorg (Dunlop) and Gunvor (Satra) showing us how to hide-a-bed and turn a hotel suite into a reception room, and our heartfelt cheering for Charlie (Wirth) as he collected a few medals while sharing handshakes with Norwegian skier, Harald Vik.
It was turnabout hosting by Norwegians who have attended Ski for Light and a chance for us to experience their culture in their homeland. Meal conversations with old and new Norwegian friends were meaningful and touring the many museums and historical buildings in Oslo made a nice opportunity for Jerry to feel the roots of his ancestors. New friendships were created, and after our return back to the USA, E-mails began flying back and forth across the big pond.
The hospitality of the Ridderrenn staff, the hotel staff, the Kings Guard men and women (transportation, luggage handling, trail grooming, ski waxing, first aid stations, food stations along the trails, and biathlon training) was great. I never thought I would like hot lemonade when dripping with sweat as we skied into their trailside aid station, but it tasted sooooo good. The youth from the United World College who assisted with the meal buffet lines added a special multi-cultural perk to each meal. Speaking of meals, after all the amazing and wonderful choices of hot or cold food AND a huge dessert bar, it is no wonder that we needed to ski extra kilometers each day to work off all those calories. A first food experience for us was learning about "lompe" (Can you guess??? Hot dogs wrapped in lefse!!)
The ski trails, often three or four lanes tracked, were wonderful; they were long but without any treacherous hills up or down. Those who had attended before shared that the weather was some of the best ever. (No rain, no blizzards, no frostbite temps, little or no klister needed). The vistas were photo ready. Our skier-guide pairings were definitely an experience of enjoying XC skiing "with" a friend and not "for" and making a place for people of all abilities.
Our Ridderweek experience surely became an extension of the SFL mission as it enhanced the quality of our lives and independence for each of us through the common bond of enjoying XC skiing. The Ski for Light motto, "If I can do this, I can do anything" came along in our pockets. We carry forth the SFL legacy of living a healthy and active lifestyle. Find us in Granby in 2015 and we'd love to share more about our experience.
We continue to feel so very honored to have had this opportunity. Thank you Ski for Light!!! "Tusen Takk".