How It All Began

The idea of teaching blind people to cross-country ski began in Norway in the 1950's with a blind Norwegian musician named Erling Stordahl. His work led in 1964 to the creation of the Ridderrenn, which today annually attracts more than 1,000 disabled participants and guides from around the world to the mountains of Norway for a week-long event. The Ridderrenn concept was brought to the United States in 1975 through the efforts of Olav Pedersen, with the support and involvement of many others. Olav was at the time a ski instructor in Colorado and had immigrated from Norway a decade earlier. He had known Erling in Norway and been aware from the very beginning of Erling's dreams and plans. The following article, written by Olav in 1995 just prior to the twentieth anniversary Ski for Light event, presents Olav's recollections of those days in Norway, the first U.S. event, and his belief that his involvement with Erling Stordahl and the SFL concept was truly a matter of fate.

A Matter of Trust and Fate

Certain experiences in life, which first seem to have little significance, may later turn out to be a sign of things about to happen to you. And when people ask me, "How did you get involved with Ski for Light?" I tell how one such experience transformed my life. It goes like this: A young, blind musician and entertainer, Erling Stordahl and his two companions, also blind, came to my hometown, Voss, Norway, to give a concert. It was October 1952. I was working at the railway station and when the three arrived on the train that morning, I assisted them to their hotel nearby. As I was about to leave them, I said, "Good Luck." Then Erling said, "By the way, would you be able to be our M.C. tonight?" I hesitated for a moment and then answered, "I'll try, Erling." That night the three men turned my outlook on life almost upside down. The concert hall had never seen an audience more jubilant and appreciative; the applause wouldn't stop. And later that night in an interview, Erling told me his life's story. Since I also worked as a free- lance journalist at that time, the article I wrote about this young blind man was printed in several national newspapers. Today -- more than forty years later -- I wish I had saved that article, because I know that was what got me involved in Ski for Light. It bonded me to Erling in a manner which I personally explain as an act of God; it was part of my destiny, my fate.

I became even more convinced of that when in 1955, Erling again came to Voss, only this time on my invitation to entertain at the Norwegian Skiing Championships. As the chairman of the event, I was also host of H. M. King Olav V. One afternoon Erling asked me to meet with him in his room. It happened to be my 38th birthday. He made me curious about what he had in mind. He said, "Olav, what I am telling you now nobody else has ever heard, not even Anna. I have had this idea for some time that I will give up what I am doing now and try to start a program to teach cross-country skiing to blind people." Was I surprised to hear what he said to me? Yes, of course. Was he really serious? And why was he revealing this to me? But when he added, "I'll tell you, because I trust you," I knew he wanted an honest reaction to his idea, which he knew many people would find pretty crazy. However skepticism could not stop him. His vision found understanding and support from the public, the media, members of the government and last -- but not least -- from King Olav and the Royal Family.

We all know the results of his groundbreaking efforts: The Ridderrenn and Beitostolen Healthsport Center, an institution for development of equal opportunities for disabled and able-bodied people.

In September, 1973 I traveled to Norway to seek Erling's advice and help to try to export the concept to the U.S. As I explained my plan to him, I found that his trust in me was as strong as ever. He was glad to hear what I told him, and we reminisced about our conversation in 1955. We talked in some detail about how we could coordinate our efforts and laughingly he said: "We have to get the King with us." With a strong handshake, I said good-bye knowing that having gotten his blessing of my plan, the next step would be to find interested people back home.

Luckily my friends in the Summit Lions Club were ready. A committee was formed and a year of regular planning meetings were conducted. We heard that some newspapers in Norway enthusiastically had endorsed the idea of an American Ridderrenn, and private persons wrote to us and encouraged us to go ahead. Soon our plans had settled on February, 1975 as the date for the first event, to be held in Summit County. But during the last few months of preparations it looked like economic shortfalls might threaten the final lap to our goal. And here is where the Sons of Norway Foundation came to the rescue. On February 17 (my birthday), we welcomed 40 blind Norwegian skiers and their guides to our very first Race for Light. Erling Stordahl and his wife, Anna, were among them. Also from Norway came some expert help from the National Guard to do the technical part of the event. Twenty American and Canadian blind people got their first experience in cross-country skiing. Some of them we will most likely see at this 20th anniversary.

We also know that Erling had planned to be here, but cancer didn't give him the opportunity to once more show us that "If I can do this, I can do anything." How we are missing you, Erling, and thanking you for helping us to sow the seed in the United States