My 2024 Ridderrenn Experience

Imagine the sound of enthusiastic mens' and womens' voices, most speaking Norwegian with several other languages sprinkled in, along with the clomping of their boots as they head out into the brisk mountain air for their morning ski on perfectly groomed tracks with views of nearby mountain peaks and the Norwegian woods. Then smell the light wood smoke and feel the warmth of the fire as very tired, but very satisfied, skiers gather in front of the large fireplace in the hotel lobby for a little conversation and winding down time at the end of the day. This was only a part of what I experienced every day of the week I spent at the Ridderrenn in Beitostolen, Norway.

I was honored to be a member of this year's team. This is a tremendous opportunity to learn more about the program on which Ski for Light is based, while promoting our own program internationally. I met several skiers from Norway and other countries who may have heard of SFL, but did not know the details. Several of the people I spoke to are now excited about our upcoming 50th anniversary and are eager to attend our event in Provo, Utah.

In addition to the six team members, there were several other SFL guides and skiers who traveled with us and participated in the event. I was very fortunate to be guided by Betsy and Scott Fisher, from whom I learned some new skills while sharing many other exciting experiences. In addition to attending the Ridderrenn, the group did some sightseeing in Oslo, Norway's capitol. Many thanks to Marion Elmquist, who has coordinated the Ridderrenn trip for several years. She put together some wonderful experiences there!

If you have ever thought about traveling to Norway to experience the Ridderrenn, I highly recommend doing it. For me, it was a dream come true!