News and Information about the People and Programs of SFL International
Skiing. Sharing. Learning
The mission of Ski for Light is to enhance the quality of life and independence of visually or mobility-impaired adults through a program of cross country skiing.
Hi all,
I hope your summer got off to a good start, with lots of fun in the sun and outdoor activities. The weather has been bizarre this Spring, and I know our thoughts are with those who have been affected by tornadoes, floods, fire and unseasonably hot temperatures. Of course, for those of us who survived the "Freeze of SFL 2011" in Granby, maybe the warmth is a good thing.
I have been in frequent contact with the folks at Soldier Hollow and the Provo Marriott and they all are very excited to see us again in 2012. The Marriott people-from convention services to front desk to bellmen to dining staff and more--say that we are their favorite group. I haven't yet talked with Steve of Kumbayah Catering, our wonderful lunch guy-their voice mail recording said they were on vacation, no doubt enjoying "mud season" at a non-Utah location (or, just taking a break from the phone and hiding out at home). Nevertheless, we're on his calendar, and I can't wait to enjoy those lunches-don't forget the cookies--again this time around
I know that Event Chairman Scott McCall and Team 2012, which he is now assembling, will put together yet another stellar week of skiing and fun evening activities. The amount of talent and energy our group possesses never ceases to amaze me. In a "normal" year it's great; in a year as we just had in Colorado, or in New Hampshire, in 2007, everyone just jumped in and did what needed to be done to deal with the challenging situations that arose, demonstrating that the love and commitment to SFL knew no bounds. To borrow Nike's tagline, we "Just Do It."
The applications for SFL 2012 will be on line on or about July 1. Most of us apply online these days, and you can find the applications, FAQs, and other information about SFL 2012 at www.sfl.org. Apply soon, start working out, THINK SNOW (it will keep you cool in the 90-degree temperatures) and, of course, tell your friends!
JUST DO IT.
The 37th annual Ski for Light International Week will take place from Sunday, February 5 through Sunday, February 12, 2012 in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. For the third time in four years, we will return to the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in downtown Provo, and ski at the Soldier Hollow cross-country ski area in nearby Midway, Utah.
I am honored to serve as Event Chair for 2012. An enthusiastic and dedicated planning committee has been assembled and is hard at work planning for our return to Utah to ensure a fun and friendship-filled week. Many of you will recall, from 2009 and 2010, the warm hospitality extended to our group by the staff at the Provo Marriott, the delicious lunches at the Nordic center, and of course the incredible skiing conditions and challenging trails at the Soldier Hollow ski area, where in 2010 US Olympic Team skiers sometimes raced past us as they practiced for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. It was a thrill to share the course with them.
For those of you who have never attended a Ski for Light International Week, I can only encourage you to "give it a try." I attended my first SFL International in 1982 and 2012 will be number 27 for me - so clearly, I found something special in the experience. That hasn't changed. SFL has given me numerous opportunities to make life-long friendships, conquer physical challenges, develop self-confidence and create more good memories than can be expressed in these paragraphs. So, if you are excited by the opportunity to create lasting relationships, participate in an exhilarating physical activity, and share a week of fun and fellowship, then SFL 2012 is definitely for YOU!
For additional information about Ski for Light and to get more event details including on-line applications, please visit www.sfl.org. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the upcoming event, feel free to email me at scottmccall3@comcast.net. I look forward to greeting you in Utah next February!
With the on-line applications for Ski for Light 2012 now available for all - VIPs, MIPs and Guides - we want to make sure everyone knows just how much we welcome new applicants from every corner of the land and beyond. While reuniting with our friends from prior years is certainly one of the greatest pleasures Ski for Light has to offer, meeting new people and learning what they have to offer while offering them the great Ski for Light experience is right up there. I'm sure you remember your first SFL year and the thrill of discovery, adventure and self-recognition it brought you. Imagine opening the Ski for Light door to a friend or colleague who may never have dreamed of their own abilities - either as a skier or as a guide and helping them to feel that thrill for the first time themselves. It really is better to give than to receive, and Ski for Light is a gift that keeps on giving.
So as you prepare for and anticipate the trails of Soldier Hollow, please think about who you know who would both benefit from SFL International Week and has something special of their own to offer, whether it's a sparkling sense of humor, a dedication to skiing and sharing, or just a wish to explore. Reach out to them and urge them to join us. Once they make that decision, the rest is easy.
Of course, you can always point your recruits to www.sfl.org, and if they - or you - have questions, here's who to contact with any questions:
Guide Recruitment Brook Yates
Mobility-impaired Participant Recruitment Dianne Brunswick
and Heather Hall
Visually-impaired Participant Recruitment Robert Hartt
Thanks!
At the 48th Annual Ridderrenn The four Ski for Light delegates, included VIPs Larry Povinelli and Peter Slatin along with Guides John Klemaseski and Al Volkers, and two Ridderrenn-sponsored delegates, Nino and Marie Pacini. This year's event, held April 2-9, was marked by the great camaraderie you might expect, even though the snow season this year was less than abundant. I think you'll find that we all have something special to say about this very special event.
By Nino & Marie Pacini
We were so excited and honored to be an adjunct part of the Ski for Light Ridderrenn team this year - especially as guests of the Ridderrenn organization itself!!! Our journey started long before we actually left for Oslo. We were told that, though Norway is a fine place to visit, it's an expensive one, too. So we started by doing online research. We researched the local currency (the kroner) and checked where we could get some before arrival. We discovered, among other things, that Norwegians love coffee and beer. This is good since both Marie and I LOVE coffee! We discovered that there is a tactile sculpture park in downtown Oslo consisting of hundreds of statues (each of which depicts a story or idea). And, last but not least, we learned that Norwegians are friendly and welcoming (no surprise there after many encounters during SFL International over the years). On arriving in Oslo from Detroit, we wandered out into the lobby area with our escorts, wondering how we would make contact with our hosts. Whipping out our paperwork, we convened a group discussion - when up rushed Marion Elmquist. The SFL President was our welcoming committee. Unknown to us, Peter Slatin, was sitting not ten feet away from where we stopped to have our group discussion. O, the joys of being blind (smile)!!! (Editor's Note: Yes, I was right there - and in my usual oblivious fashion, didn't hear the lively discussion near by.- P.S.) After all team members had been rounded up, Marion shepherded us onto the bus going into Oslo. This was an experience in itself as Europeans don't really believe in lines. When the bus pulled up, there was a surge for the door, but we all managed to get onboard. I personally think it was because Charlie Wirth, an unofficial member of the SFL delegation traveling on his own - at age 90 - was so proper and dignified that no one dared nudge him out of line!
Along with Charlie, other unofficial SFL folks in attendance were Nancy McKinney and Rich Milsteadt, Gayle Fox, Bjorg Dunlop, Gunvor Satra, Brenda Seeger and - doing a drive-by - Dave Fisichella, on his way to a business meeting up north. "Just passing through," he told us. That first evening we gathered for dinner at a local pizza place, Pepes, traditionally the first-night stop for SFL teams in Oslo. The pizza was fabulous (I don't believe anyone ordered the taco flavorings) - and expensive. Marie and I paid about $45 for the large pizza we eagerly, and quickly, gobbled up. All the food we encountered in Norway was just wonderful! Coffee was quite good as well and ranged from $4 to $7 per cup. Perhaps expensive, but much less than the average cost of $15 per beer that our fellow teammates encountered - although that didn't seem to deter them. The following day, Sunday, we boarded a bus and headed up to Beitostolen. This would be our home for the following week. We arrived at the Radisson Blu hotel and were immediately engulfed by waves of other disabled/non-disabled individuals checking in. One of the coolest things they do is at meals. Each meal is a buffet - and a GOOOOOOD and plentiful buffet, with hot foods and cold smoked, cured and pickled fish and meats plus fabulous breads, cheeses, fruits, salads and, sigh, desserts. So how do hundreds of blind people navigate a buffet you ask? Ah, they utilized the volunteer services of students from United World College,.a small international school in rural Norway, one of many branches worldwide, which offers a brain-crunching International Baccalaureate to its very gifted students. We were delightedly served by 13 kids from about 10 different countries, ranging from Zimbabwe to Finland and Venezuela to Nepal. These students were very friendly and if their description didn't quite do the food justice, well, the food spoke for itself..... Their school had 200 students from 92 different countries. They even put on a show one evening, complete with a Latvian break dancer and a Bollywood dance number (not at the same time). Another group that volunteered to guide you through the food lines consisted of retired PanAm flight attendants. That evening we met our local guides. We formed a long line and one by one, as we approached the microphone we were introduced to our guide for the week. Both of our guides were young college students from Oslo. As at Ski for Light, we discussed how we like to ski and be guided and then we broke for the night. And thus started a week of fun and play!!! We skied every day, raced many of those days, ate bigtime, and partied just a bit!!! One interesting part of my experience was the Biathlon. I had never shot anything, but found I was good at it. Never missing, I managed to do quite well in that race as you were penalized time for every shot missed. The race featured three 2-K loops, stopping after the first and second loops to take five shots at a target, with time and accuracy both creating pressure. Hum, we should do that over here!!!! We both found the final race a bit daunting. It wasn't the terrain or effort as much as it was the competitive nature of the event. I should backtrack a bit and say that the weather was warm (and beautiful after Colorado), but the snow was melting quickly. For this reason all the races were shorter and thus had more participants on them per foot. The last race - in fact, that's the Ridderrenn - is typically 20K in two loops that might/might not intersect and/or share parts of the same trail. Conditions forced a contraction, so this year's course had us repeating a 4.6K loop for a total of 9.2K. A long, steep hill right after the start added to the confusion/scramble. People were slipping and sliding all over the place. Some 450 teams crowding the course and the added competitive pressure from so many expert native skiers made the event that much more exciting. On Sunday we packed up all our STUFF and memories and headed back down to Oslo for a couple more days of playing. Monday we met with a professional tour guide for a trip through Vigeland Park, where the aforementioned sculptures are arrayed. With her guidance, the park came alive. We also visited an outdoor heritage museum that contained buildings that were hundreds of years old. It was quite interesting to see how they built the food storage sheds many centuries ago. Tuesday it rained most of the day, but we still managed to visit three museums including the Kon-Tiki museum, where they were having a press unveiling for the new filming of the epic journey on a balsa raft across the Pacific undertaken in 1947 by Thor Heyerdahl to support his theory that ancient South American mariners could have crossed the ocean and populated the islands of the South Pacific. And there you have it! A very brief overview of 12 days in Norway! As an Orientation and Mobility instructor, I was very interested in different approaches to pedestrian traffic. There are, for example, cross-walks in the middle of the blocks, where vehicles stop and wait for you to cross; there is also a blind commuting discount, etc. They also use truncated domes, (bumpy strips at the end of curb cuts). My favorite discovery to bring back to students were the markings on elevators. One had a negative first floor and another had a zero floor. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions! We LOVED our journey and will happily share our experiences!!!
A Norway adventure with some of the nicest people on earth began with a flight to Oslo with Al Volkers and meeting up with the rest of our party at the hotel. I roomed with Larry Povinelli who kept me from getting lost in Oslo. The next afternoon we arrived in Beitostolen and Peter Slatin became my roommate and punished me all week long.
Skiing with Larry was great, even though I could barely keep up with him. Lesson learned - never stop abruptly when a guy like Larry is behind you. Yes, my error. The snow was soft and the temperature was warm, but not as warm as the good people of Norway who treated us with unsurpassed hospitality.
What fun it was. Besides skiing every day, the food was great, the music at night delighted us, especially with Ken Bodden playing and singing, the presentations were grand, and I had so many laughs with everyone.
Nino, Marie, Al and I went to the Maritime Museum in Oslo the last day, traveling by way of water transit. My memories of the Ridderrenn will always be cherished. Thank you Ski for Light for letting me represent us.
Thanks to my Ski for Light family, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Norway, the mecca of cross country skiing. What an exciting week of skiing, eating, drinking, sleepless nights, more eating and skiing and so it went. A highlight of my week of skiing was my participation in my very first Biathlon event on Wednesday, where from time to time I would hit the target with my laser gun and ski 2K and so on - and nobody got hurt! On Thursday there was a scheduled 10K race, which because of the melting snow was shortened to only a 4.3 K. The Ridderrenn on Saturday saw me actually beat a Norwegian in my category - how exciting is that? Very!! Skiing was only part of the excitement. We had a chance to enjoy Norwegian culture, food, worship and of course the night life. Right, Peter!!(Editor's Note: Night life? Not sure what you are talking about, Larry. - P.S.) The King's Guard was very gracious when it came to waxing skis, carrying luggage, providing transportation and a dozen other tasks they would perform. Needless to say, the week gave us all a chance to get to know our fellow Ski for Light friends better and to come to know some new friends from Norway, the UK, Spain, Belgium and all points beyond. I will never look at a Norwegian who attends Ski for Light in the same way again. I have come to understand their compassion for people and their true passion for skiing and just plain enjoying life at its fullest. I really enjoyed my week in Beitostolen as well as our time in Oslo. I urge everyone to consider attending a Ridderrenn as you will experience skiing and Norwegian culture at its fullest. Don't forget, in 2013 the Ridderrenn will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and it's my hope and prayer that I can be in attendance.
Thank you Ski for Light for sending me to the Ridderrenn. Norway is a terrific place to ski. Saturday's Ridderrenn course was prepared with three sets of parallel tracks and worked quite well given the high volume of skiers leaving the starting gate at 30 second intervals.The weather for the week was seasonally warm and required numerous applications of klister for the folks using waxable skis. I was assigned to guide Peter Slatin and we progressed quite well once we got the appropriate amount of klister on his skis. Congratulations to the whole team for their effort and performance. The hospitality we received from our Norwegian hosts was first rate. Military personnel from the King's Royal Guard chauffeured us to and from the ski area each day. Participating in the Ridderrenn week and visiting Norway for the first time was a great experience.
Thank you, Ski for Light community, for sending this great team to the 48th Annual Ridderrenn in 2011. It was a very special trip, and I hope to return as soon as possible. I loved skiing with my guide: purposeful and confident, focused and unflappable Al Volkers was dedicated to making sure that we skied as well and as safely as we possibly could, and we did just that - and had a blast. I learned so much in one short week of skiing, often on "smashed potatoes," and I also learned that I am not now nor ever will be a shootist. The biathlon was fun and challenging, - and let's face it, even clay pigeons can feel safe when I'm at the trigger.
Although we were disappointed at the Ridderrenn's shorter-than-usual course, we made the most of the race, despite getting stuck in traffic and worrying about zooming Norwegians zipping by on alternate tracks at lightning speed. But when you can step off the trails for a quick hit of saft (the warm sports juice, either currant or citrus-based) or grab a bite of banana before shoving off again, it just feels wonderful to quickly pause and gather yourself for the next leg of the race.
On our first Saturday afternoon in Oslo, we all walked over to see the new Opera House, which is widely regarded as a major triumph of global architecture and was designed by the Norwegian firm Snohetta It can be walked upon, around and inside and experienced as a place in the city and not just some monumental building sitting alone in a plaza - I recommend it. In early evening Al Volkers and I strolled from the hotel in the cool spring mist over to the harborfront, checking out the historic fortifications and absorbing the scene. On the way back we found a small grocery store where Al was relieved of about $7 for a bottle of water.
The treat on Sunday in our drive up to Beitostolen was a stop along the way for freshly made waffles topped with berries and cream. Yum Yum Yummy.
After we checked in, my new roomie, John Klemaseski, a clinically evil man who was at the Ridderrenn in the early 1990s and has harassed me tirelessly throughout my many years at Ski for Light, graciously gave me a tour of the hotel so I could familiarize myself with it. Sharing a room with John made the week pass too quickly, especially because he also helped us find appropriate provisions (i.e., wine, beer and chips) for the parties we hosted and visited!
The Ridderrenn is both more and less structured than Ski for Light. Each buffet meal is available for a couple of hours back at the hotel, and there are no formal announcements during meal time; transportation to and from the ski venue is also more loosely organized, with cars, minibuses and buses making the journey. But the races are highly structured, as are the award ceremonies - and nothing beats the thrill of the King's Royal Guard playing a flourish or two to kick off the Ridderrenn itself.
Like everyone, I so appreciated the presence of the student (and a few teacher) volunteers from United World College, who were all unfailingly polite, friendly and helpful. The hotel staff was also courteous and caring, as were townspeople in the shops and restaurants I went to.
One evening I had my very own Norway Night at the small lobby bar in the hotel. I stopped in for a beer and found myself the only American in the crowded place, at least for a while until Marion Elmquist joined me - or I joined her, I don't recall. Anyway, on the stage was a Norwegian troubadour/folk singer, who the bartender told me lives in Beitostolen and travels the country as a performer. Without understanding a word, I fell into the embrace of the crowd as they all sang along to tunes that ranged from children's songs that had everyone singing wistfully to seemingly bawdy numbers that got plenty of guffaws and laughter to love songs that rendered everyone tender and moonstruck. I didn't need to share the language to feel welcomed. I knew I was not in Kansas - or New York City - any more.
Special in a very different way was my visit with Marion to the Resistance Museum, also in the Oslo Harbor. We tramped there and back in a cold rain that seemed to underscore the toughness of the Norwegian spirit that refused to capitulate to the Nazi invaders. Marion, who has been to the museum many times, patiently took me through the exhibits, reading about or simply explaining what we were passing. It was both very moving and inspiring, and put a fine, serious frame around this wonderful, fun-filled trip as I contemplated the vast sacrifice and bravery that made this all possible for all of us not so very long ago.
The Ski for Light International family mourns the passing this May of Egil Almaas at age 83. A longtime guide at Ski for Light, Egil became an Honorary Director and served as a board member and Treasurer for 18 years. He took on that important role in 1978, when Ski for Light was only three years old, and he helped guide the fledgling organization into its vibrant youth, stepping down in 1996.
That same year, Egil was awarded the St. Olav Medal by King Harald of Norway.
Egil is survived by his beloved wife, Janice, and leaves behind a large family, including ten grandchildren and a brother and sister in Norway.
He was active in many organizations, but Ski for Light and the Sons of Norway headed the list after his church.
Although there is no Colorado Trekk for Light this summer, the following events are taking place:
Dates: August 21 - 25, 2011
July 24 - 31, 2011
Land of the Vikings, Sherman, Pennsylvania
Hiking, tandem biking, swimming, canoeing and other activities.
Contact for guides:
Joan Chelsen
Telephone: 718-477-7477
Contacts for participants:
Donna Goodman (410) 730-9430
or Sigi Kay (201) 327-5493
Our thanks go to the following companies that have provided products or services to help support Ski for Light. Many of these companies have stood behind us for years - and we're grateful. Be sure to think of our friends when you're gearing up for your next adventure.
Jansport
Alps Mountaineering
CamelBak Products
Canine Hardware
Columbia Sportswear
Crazy Creek Products
ExOfficio
Granite Gear
Haiku
Hog Wild
Ingebretsen's Scandinavian Gifts
Isis
LARABAR
LEKI USA
National Geographic Maps
Native Eyewear
Rocky Mountain Sunscreen
Ruffwear
Running Funky
Sperry Top-Sider
Superfeet
Timex
Editor: Peter Slatin
Layout and graphics: Bjorg Dunlop
Electronic version: Duane Farrar and Larry Showalter
Special thanks to: Fram Lodge #3-564, Sons of Norway
The SFL Bulletin is published three times a year. It is available in ink-print, on audio cassette, or via e-mail. If you wish to change formats, please send your request to: bulletin@sfl.org.
The current as well as past issues of the Bulletin are also available online at www.sfl.org/bulletin.html. In addition to an online edition that may be read in your browser, you will find a downloadable pdf version of the current issue.
For future Bulletins, remember that your contributions and feedback are always most welcome. You may submit articles as e-mail or as a word attachment; if you do not have e-mail, you may send a typed article through the mail. Send all items to:
Peter Slatin
255 West 108th Street, Apt. 8A-1
New York, NY 10025
The deadline for the Fall Bulletin is September 15, 2011. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ski for Light, Inc. is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
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