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.
Dear Friends,
Hey! Get involved. Sign up. You love Ski for Light, right? You love the week. You love the skiing. You love the socializing. Sign up for SFL 2012. Come ski with your pals and new friends at SFL 2012 in Provo and Soldier Hollow. It's a great hotel and a great ski area and Nordic center. Plus you can ski the official Ski for Light 5 K Trail, which the great folks at Soldier Hollow named in our honor after our second year there in 2010.
The Planning Committee is busily working to assemble a week of on and off-snow activities to make for yet another memorable Ski for Light week. You'll read more in Event Chairman Scott McCall's note later in this Bulletin. And, if you have any ideas or suggestions for the week, let Scott know.
Elections for the Ski for Light Board are coming up. The SFL Board of Directors has the important job of managing the affairs of the organization. Over the years, many dedicated SFLers have served on the board, directing it in ways that have kept Ski for Light the vibrant organization it is. If you are interested in running for the Board, you may have someone nominate you, or you can nominate yourself. Judy Dixon is chair of the Board Development and Elections committee and you can submit your nomination to her. Nominations will be due around December 24.
I look forward to seeing you in Provo in early February, so get your applications in, and think snow!
Marion
By now I hope that you have visited www.sfl.org and filled out your 2012 application. The Planning Committee is working hard to make certain that everyone has a spectacular winter vacation. The Provo Marriott Hotel and Conference Center is a modern facility with beautifully appointed guest rooms; indoor fitness facilities including a pool, whirlpool, and sauna; and plenty of space to relax with friends. Within a few blocks of the hotel are shops, restaurants, and a wonderful ice cream parlor. Skiing at the Soldier Hollow ski area promises to be an exhilarating experience. Whether you are a novice or experienced skier, we will have trails to match your ability. In addition to excellent skiing, Soldier Hollow offers a beautiful lodge for lunches and those occasional breaks from the snow. Of course the Ski for Light International week includes much more than skiing. Special interest sessions are offered most afternoons and cover a wide range of topics. These sessions are always entertaining and educational. Evening activities may include dancing, a lively and fun-filled silent auction, local entertainment, sing-alongs, and plenty of time to visit with friends. Many past attendees have described the SFL week as "the experience of a lifetime". In addition to the activities mentioned above, Ski for Light provides opportunities for personal and professional growth, improved health and fitness, and a chance to form life-long friendships. Did I mention that this is also an incredible value? The $850 price, based on double occupancy, includes:
*Seven nights in a beautiful hotel
*All meals
*Skiing at a premier cross-country facility
*All ground transportation and Someone to make your bed each day.
The rest is up to you! Reserve your place by filling out the on line application at www.sfl.org and I'll see you in Provo in February 2012.
Plans are already being made for the Silent Auction in Provo, Utah for SFL 2012! Please help us by donating items--large or small. Handmade items, something local from your area, unique items for dogs, specialty foods--all are welcome and are sure to be popular in this year's silent auction. This is a great opportunity to showcase your work and directly make a huge impact on our community with your contribution. The Silent Auction is a fun and very important part of our week. The auction plays an important role in financing our Ski for Light events. One of the highlights for many includes previewing the goodies during the afternoon and being awed by the generosity and talent within our community. The bidding becomes lively and spirited - an event surely not to miss.
You can bring your donation with you or you can send it to:
Provo Mini-Storage
Ski for Light
472 East 500 South
Provo, UT 84606
Your item will be stored until the SFL week. Thanks so much - we can't wait to find out what you are bringing!!
Any questions? Contact Brook Yates Or call us at 970-333-4035.
Would you like to be involved in making decisions about Ski for Light? Are you interested in Running for Election to the Ski for Light Board of Directors? Now is your chance, read on.
Ski for Light is governed and managed by an elected Board of Directors made up of guides, participants, and others. The Board is a working Board, with each member expected to take an active role in some aspect of the work we do. Approximately half of the seats on the Board will be up for election in February 2012.
Any interested person may nominate himself/herself. You may also nominate another person, as long as you have that person's permission. Nominations should include the nominee's name, address, phone, e-mail address and a biographical paragraph that contains a description of past and/or current involvement in the work of Ski for Light, a statement about possible future areas of involvement or responsibility that would be of interest to the nominee, and anything else that the nominee thinks is important or relevant. All nominations will be considered and the election will be held on Friday, February 3, 2012 in Provo, Utah. The deadline for receipt of nominations this year is December 24, 2011. Please send all nominations by e-mail to Judy Dixon, Chair of the SFL Board Development and Elections committee at judy@judydixon.net by December 24, 2011. If you have any questions, please send Judy an e-mail at the above address or call her at 703-276-9191.
A surprise call from Chris and Bill Witzke inviting me to be a guide on a camping trip with some of the VIPs put me in mind of that old - and true - saw, the Ski for Light motto: if I can do this I can do anything. Since the summer trip, which was being organized by Chris and Bill Witzke, was scheduled for a free weekend for me, I decided Why Not! The motto isn't just for VIPs and MIPs. I decided to just do it and see what happens. Bill and Chris, with Ski for Light Puget Sound VIP skier Deng Kong, Sharon Nyreen and, Richie (Richelle) and Kolin Franz had conceived of the plan, organized a planning meeting, made reservations at Fort Ebey State Park, WA and then proceeded to purchase the food for the entire camping weekend. That made it easy for me to pitch in a few bucks for the park fees and food and just pick up a couple of VIPs with their camping gear and head for the camp site. Ski for Light International folks would remember VIPs Ann Fagan and Sheri Richardson and guides Bill and Chris Witzke, Patrick McManus, John Drobnick and yours truly. By Friday afternoon August 12, all had arrived: six blind participants and eight guides at Fort Ebey State Park on the west shore of Whidbey Island. With Bill and Chris' big trailer, Patrick's camper and lots of tents, we settled in on three adjoining camp sites with a huge campfire blazing in the middle. Bill and Chris did most of the cooking in their trailer and John looked like a seasoned professional chef - or maybe a short-order cook - flipping pancakes and scrambling eggs on an outdoor Coleman stove/grill by the campfire on Saturday morning. Food for every meal was delicious and plentiful. My favorite was Hobo Stew on Saturday night with a wide variety of ingredients including veggies, rice, chicken and all kinds of condiments, wrapped in foil and roasted in the fire pit for about a half hour. Now that is gourmet dining! Then there was Richie, Kolin and Chris' special oatmeal Sunday morning, cooked with nuts, plus fresh blueberries. As I have often said at Ski for Light, "We do not come here to suffer." We hiked for three and a half hours on Saturday, along the bluff trail above the Straits of Juan de Fuca, into the forest and to Lake Pondilla, and the Grampa Tree. We learned to identify certain trees by feeling the features of the bark and needles. Chris helped us all to identify berries, wildflowers and forest fungi. On Saturday evening the group enjoyed a lecture and tour of a World War II gun battery at the fort. There was also much laughing, sharing, singing and camaraderie as everybody had great times around two evening campfires. Before leaving the island on Sunday some of the group visited nearby Fort Casey. Our VIP campers wanted to "see" whatever we could explain and to touch everything reachable. There were no limits to exploring, even climbing the spiral steel staircase at the Fort Casey Lighthouse. Before we all departed I heard some of the participants talking about camping next summer - and I'm ready!
The dates for RidderWeek 2012 are March 18 to 25, with the actual 20 kilometer Ridderrenn race on Saturday, March 24. It should be great skiing at that time in Beitostolen, Norway.
As many of you know, the Ridderrenn and RidderWeek are what the Ski for Light International week is based on.
The skiing is fantastic on sets of trails that are part of a region wide network of trails that cover many parts of Norway. Much of the skiing is done at or just above tree line. The scenery, if it could be compared to anything, is reminiscent of the scenery at Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado.
Join the "official" team that SFL sends each year to this event and be part of the Ski for Light group. The week is full of activities similar to SFL week, with entertainment, a talent show, awards ceremonies after each of the week's competitions-complete with drumming and trumpeting from the King's Guards. In addition to the 20-kilometer race on Saturday, there is a biathlon one day and a 5-k or 10-k race on another. There is also a downhill alpine race on Friday, and spectators can feast on hot dogs wrapped in lefse or hamburgers while cheering the racers on. There's also an auction with more things auctioned off than you can imagine, including each year a hand-carved chair. And, there is plenty of time to socialize and meet participants from a number of other countries.
The main event hotel is a mile or two from the ski trails, and just outside the hotel is a small downhill ski area. In the little village down from the hotel are some ski shops, gift shops, restaurants and bars, and a small grocery store.
After the excitement of a week of cross-country skiing, the group tours some of the outstanding sights in Oslo, led by a good Norwegian SFL friend who is an official Oslo tour guide.
You will want to plan to arrive in Oslo no later than Saturday, March 17, which means leaving the U.S. no later than Friday, March 16.
I will lead a Special Interest session on RidderWeek during SFL International week if you would like to learn more about the trip to Norway. Or, if you can't wait, please contact me via e-mail at mlelmquist@gmail.com or by phone at 515-279-3681.
I asked - and some of you told me - about the athletic events you have participated in. It's the first annual survey of the SFL Family's hyper-active enjoyment of sports and recreation in our communities. Even though it's a short list because so many of you appear to be too shy to speak up, it's impressive and inspirational. I hope it gets a lot longer in the future! Don't hide your light under a bushel - let yourself be counted.
Rod Maccoux Green Bay, Wisconsin
Door County Half Iron Triathlon, Fish Creek,
Wisconsin This event included a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a half marathon
(13.1 miles).
Chris Leghorn Beverly, Massachusetts
Chris took up the Blackburn Challenge in Gloucester,
Mass.: The Blackburn is a 22-mile kayak race around Cape Ann Guide: Gretchen Webster
Walt Ranieri of San Francisco also did the Blackburn - and won it. Chris also did the Ohio
Sckoyoto River Valley Tour, a 215-mile two-day bike ride; I'm exhausted just thinking about
it!
Duane Farrar Watertown, Mass.
Bronze Medal Newport Blind Sailing National
Championship Held in conjunction with the C. Thomas Clagett Memorial Clinic and
Regatta for Sailors With Disabilities Newport, R.I. August 20 - 22, 2011 Teams of two blind
and two sighted guide sailors compete in J22 sloops Blind Helmsman: Duane Farrar;
Sighted Tactician: Solomon Marini, Littleton, Mass.; Blind Crew: Deborah Keating,
Woburn, Mass.; Sighted Crew: Bob Costello, Medfield, Mass./Paul Gelenitis, N.J.
Barbara Lewis (Saraswati)
Barbara participated in the Adaptive Rowing and Kayaking Program
sponsored by the Groton Parks and Recreation Dept. in Groton CT; she was also in the
Mystic River Regatta. September 18.
Sean Oden
Annual Kewpie-YMCA Sprint Triathlon in Lima Ohio on July 31. Guide: April
Dorman This event included a 500-yard swim, 15-mile bike ride and a 5-K run. Time:
2:04:10, a third-place finish. Sean writes: "That day was so hot. I don't remember receiving
my medal. The next thing I remember I'm sitting in a shelter house getting iced down, and
being given a banana and some ice water. If anyone asks me if I would do another triathlon
I will tell them heavens yes! They are a lot of fun, and it's worth the hard training. I'm very
thankful that I was given an opportunity to do the Triathlon. I'm going to do another one
next year."
Peter Slatin
N.Y.C. Five-Borough Bike Tour May 4, 2011 (with 38,000 riders) 43-mile bike
ride touching each one of New York City's five boroughs. Captain: Dan Shefelman
Sharlene Wills, Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition's 50-mile River Ride
on my tandem with my captain, Bill Lockton, The Santa Cruz half-marathon with guide, Ed
Gillis The El Prieto Handicap, a very short but technically challenging trail race; was not
last! My guide, again, Bill Lockton.
Janice Newman
The indefatigable Janice Newman of London ran us all into the ground.
Here's her tally of events: July: 3,000-meter race Time: 15:57 June: 3,000-meter race. Time:
16:21; 400-meter race: Time: 1:41, for a first-place finish May:1,500-meter race. Time: 7:58;
10-K road race. Time: 59:38; 5-mile road race. Time; 47:41. Phew!
Here are some things we know because we know them, not because we heard from the
participants:
Simon Butler ran the London Marathon.
Maya Jonas will be running the New York City Marathon on November 6.
Finally, here's a challenge thrown down by Bonnie O'Day and Bob Hartt at home in DC that Bonnie describes. It's a perfect reminder of what we should all be doing as we prepare for Soldier Hollow: Bob and I both remember the steep climb at the beginning of the 10k race in Provo, Bonnie writes. We agreed that in 2012, getting up that hill would NOT be a struggle. So we signed up for a spinning class. Spinning is done on a stationary bicycle so you can do it without a guide. There are three positions--seated, standing, and climbing. The music sets the pace, and you can increase or decrease your resistance to make the ride more challenging. Twice a week should help give us the aerobic capacity we need for the hills, so we'll see you at the top!
In addition to our wonderful bulletin, informative web site, mail and e-mail updates, SFL is also communicating and conversing via social media sites.
Why?
* Social media sites are effective as word of mouth tools to raise awareness of SFL with
skiers, guides and sponsors
* Recruit new guides and skiers
* Receive reminders about important events, dates & deadlines
* Share SFL pictures with the group, friends and family
* Keep in touch with SFL friends and the SFL community year 'round!
How?
* Our primary social networking site is FACEBOOK, the number one global social
networking site.
* Click on the link below to go to the SFL Facebook Page, or paste it into your browser
address window.
If you don't have a Facebook account, follow the simple instructions to set one up.
Our secondary social networking site is LinkedIn.
* LinkedIn is the number two global social networking site, and is used for professional and
business networking.
* Click on the link below to go to the SFL LinkedIN group page.
If you don't have an account, follow the simple instructions to set one up.
Questions or Ideas:
* Contact Leslie, SFL ad hoc Social Media Chair.
* You can reach her at either of the SFL group sites above, or @ lesliemaclin@att.net
Scott attended his first Ski for Light International in 1982, in Deadwood, South Dakota. Raised in Georgia, Scott had never encountered skis or snowfall of any significance despite leading an active life in which athletics played an important role. At the time, he was working at Atlanta's Center for the Visually Impaired, and was tempted into attending SFL by an enthusiastic representative from the Seeing Eye guide dog school in New Jersey. "I fell in love with skiing and with Ski for Light," he recalls.
Scott, who has been blind since birth, credits his family for creating an environment "from a very early age where blindness wasn't a big deal." Their approach to Scott's disability was so matter-of-fact that, he recalls, "it took a while for me to realize I was blind. It was a gradual realization that most other people had this ability - this sense - that they could see - and that was OK. My parents had the same expectations of me that they had for my sighted sister and brother. It was a marvelous environment to grow up in."
Scott has been married for 33 years - yes, to the same woman - and says that his wife, Marilyn, doesn't come to Ski for Light because "she is not much of a cold-weather person." They are both happily retired; Marilyn was a social worker, and Scott worked for 34 years in vision rehabilitation administration, most of that time at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta, although he also was at the American Foundation for the Blind. In retirement, Scott says he is enjoying having the time "to give something back to Ski for Light" - although as a past SLF President (1992-93), board member and committee volunteer over the years, he was "giving back" long before he reached retirement. Scott is currently the SFL Vice President, and looks forward to continuing to serve in a leadership role with the organization. He also gives back in his community, continuing his long affiliation with CVI as a volunteer; he describes his role as an "on-call assistive technology instructor" although he is not a "hard-core" tech guy. He also enjoys having time to travel and more time to spend with friends and family, as well as doing projects around the house. He and Marilyn have lived for 20 years in a nice walkable neighborhood of Atlanta known as Morningside.
Scott admits to being "obsessed about fitness and conditioning." Skiing is a very demanding activity, and the older I get the more demanding it gets. If I'm going to go to Ski for Light, I want to be able to ski several hours a day." Much of his workout routine at home is directed toward skiing, improving balance and flexibility. Clearly a flexible man from any standpoint, we are thrilled that Scott is serving as Event Chair for 2012, and we look forward to sharing a wonderful time with him in Provo.
Skiing at Snow Mountain Ranch this year was an excellent opportunity to test cold weather clothing. In my 30- plus years of skiing, I have never skied in minus 20-degree weather before. In spite of the cold, Larry Povinelli and I were able to ski every day. Wearing the right clothing was the key to enjoying the experience.
Here is what worked for me. Next to my skin I wore polyester underwear designed to transfer moisture to the outer layers of clothing where it evaporated. Avoid cotton in cold weather: It gets damp as you sweat, and you only get more chilled. My next layer for my upper body was a heavy fleece jacket. A heavy woven and breathable pair of ski pants covered my lower body. My outer layer was a loose fitting windproof nylon parka complete with a large hood. Lightweight nylon windbreaker pants covered my legs. The parka and nylon pants were not coated to shed rain. Coated material is not desirable in subzero temperatures, as it only traps the moisture inside your coat. With three layers I was comfortable while skiing.
I have poor circulation in my hands and feet, and have trouble keeping them warm. To keep my feet warm I start with ski boots that are about 1 size larger than my street shoes. This gives me room to place a felt insole in the boot. I wear a pair of light-weight wool liner socks and a second pair of medium-weight wool socks. When the temperature is below zero I add a foot warmer pad on the top of my foot just behind the toes. This system worked for me in Colorado in spite of the extreme cold. I wear mittens on my hands. Gloves separate the fingers and will not keep my hands warm. I wear a pair of wool liners inside of a leather outer mitten. On warmer days I wear only the leather outer mittens. On cold days like those we had this year I put a handwarmer on the inside of the mitten. Hand and toe warmers were the key to my staying comfortable in the cold temperatures we experienced at Snow Mountain. Information on these warmers can be viewed on the internet www.heatmax.com.
For added insurance I kept a small down vest in my pack in case I needed it, but Larry kept up a good pace and I did not use it while skiing. I only wore the vest on race day while waiting to cheer on incoming skiers.
Ski for Light 2011 was certainly a year to remember. Hopefully it will be warmer in Provo Utah next year. If not, bring the right clothing and you will still be able to ski and enjoy.
A listing of winter events organized by SFL Regional Affiliates. Links can also be found on the Ski for Light website. Watch for info on SFL Canada and SFL Japan.
33rd Annual Event
January 23-26, 2012
Deadwood, South Dakota
Website: www.bhsfl.org
Contact:
George Lee: Office 605-394-1813; Cell: 605-430-6103
January 20-22, 2012
Snow Mountain Ranch
Contact: Brenda Bertrand at bbertrand@craighospital.org or
303-789-8342.
Website www.cosfl.org
January 13 - 15, 2012
www.msfl.org
Phone: 734-912-4619
Email registration@msfl.org
Online registration is now open
Our annual event will be held at the DNR - R.A. MacMullan Conference Center. Rooms, meals, and skiing all within the facility, set on the northern shores of pristine Higgins Lake.
104 Conservation Drive
Roscommon, Michigan 48653
(1.5 miles east of US27 and 5 miles West of I-75)
Transportation is available throughout the state of Michigan. Multi-passenger vans will depart from common pick up locations in Michigan - Detroit (east), Detroit (west), Lansing and Kalamazoo.
This year we are expanding our program hours, registration and skiing will start at 1:00 PM on Friday January 13, with a pizza bonfire Friday evening. We have also expanded our mobility program by adding four sit-skis. The schedule of events can be found on our website www.msfl.org
March 4 - 8, 2012
West Yellowstone, Montana
Double Occupancy: $376/ person
Applications Deadline: Feb. 1, 2012
Info: www.sfl.org/regional.html
781-667-9270
Website: www.nersfl.org
CRAFTSBURY OUTDOOR CENTER
January 6-9 2012
Craftsbury Common, VT
Our annual trip to one of NERSFL's favorite winter places. Ski right from the lodge. Great food! Trip includes three nights lodging double occupancy with hall baths, all meals from Friday evening through Monday lunchtime and trail passes are included.
Cost: $275 through Nov. 30. Late fee $20 after Nov. 30. (This trip fills fast, so register early!!)
NOTE: We will be holding a silent auction and raffle, so bring unused items or unwanted holiday gifts as well as any items you solicit from your favorite merchants.
March 2--4, 2012
THE WAYSIDE INN
Bethlehem, NH
Price includes ski pass, 2 breakfasts, 2 bag lunches and Saturday night dinner.
Cost: $180 through Jan. 30, 2012, plus $20 late fee for registrations after that date.
Come and cross-country ski or snowshoe at Bear Notch, offering all levels of cross country skiing without crowds at a family-friendly location in the white mountains of NH.
Please make payments by check made out to New England Regional Ski for Light and mail to NERSFL, P.O. Box 861, Georgetown, MA 01833.
January 15 - 22, 2012
The event is held at the Land of the Vikings Lodge near Sherman, PA. Contact:
Participants (VIPs & MIPs):
Ed Kenlon, 540-548-8866, or
ed@kenlon.com
Guides: Ken Mullen, 717-761-5792 or
kenmullen@aol.com
Trollhaugen Sons of Norway Lodge, Erling Stordahl Snow Park
Stampede Pass, Washington
Contact: Doug Sundberg, 206-297-7579
Regional events will be held on: January 14 & 28, February 18 & 25, March 10 & 24
20th Anniversary Three-Day Event
March 10-12, 2012
Tahoe Donner Cross Country, Truckee, CA
Bus departs from Sacramento early Saturday morning; those coming from out of town
will spend Friday night at the Fairfield Inn in Sacramento.
We plan to celebrate in style, so please do come
join us - incredible trails, incredible food, incredible people!
Contact: Cindy Quintana, Skier coordinator, 510-483-2948, or
cindyq12345@sbcglobal.net
SRSFL will also be hosting two day trips for children and adults.
Saturday, January 21and Saturday, February 11, 2012
Tahoe Cross Country, Tahoe City, California
Contact: Betsy Rowell, 916-362-5557, or
montbets@pacbell.net
For a complete calendar and all other information, visit our website www.srsfl.org
January 20-22, 2012
Wisconsin Lions Camp
Rosholt, WI
Guides contact: Mike Graper getgraper@gmail.com
VIPs contact: Bev Helland bevhelland@yahoo.com
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 Spring 2012 Bulletin is March 15, 2012. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ski for Light, Inc. is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
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