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News and Information about the People and Programs of Ski for Light, Inc.
Skiing. Sharing. LearningThe 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.
The leaves aren't changing color yet in Des Moines, but the days are getting shorter and cooler, so winter can't be far away. Some folks dread that, but for us SFL'ers, it's good news because that means snow -- which means skiing -- isn't far away. And Ski for Light 2020, our 45th Anniversary, will be here before we know it!
A few weekends ago in Casper, Wyoming, a brand-new venue for us, members of the SFL Planning Committee met with hotel staff, with Nordic center officials, and with locals to do some in-person planning and organizing. At a new location, it can be particularly hard to visualize what the meeting and dining areas really are like and how they will meet our needs until we are at the venue in person. Our site selection team, who visited in January, gave us a good overview of what to expect, but it's when the event chairperson and others can walk the property with the daily schedule in hand, consulting with the hotel staff, that the pieces for the week fall into place and that decisions can be made.
The group traveled to the Nordic center that Saturday afternoon and left feeling confident that we would have a good ski experience, including a biathlon.
As you know, as soon as an SFL week finishes, planning and organizing are already beginning for the next event. It takes a hard-working and dedicated team to jump in to arrange and to anticipate what we will need the next time around. It's a huge help that we have a planning manual that was developed by SFL volunteers over the years and that continues to be updated. The manual has 25 plus chapters that describe each of the event jobs, such as meals, trails, special interest sessions, evening programs, announcer, housing and registration, and on. But, as always, Ski for Light seems to excel in accommodating the unexpected that can arise during a week-long event. I'm always amazed at how effortlessly we seem to respond to the unexpected and to handle the situation effectively, while often, most folks don't know there was a problem. I like to say that we're really good at making lemonade.
So, if you aren't already doing so, it's time to get fit and ready to head to Casper for what should prove to be a great week of skiing, learning, and sharing with friends old and new. Visit the SFL website at www.sfl.org to learn the complete details of the 2020 event, and to complete and submit your online application to attend.
One last comment: Above, I mentioned the volunteers who are involved in planning for the event. But, there are many other things that are necessary to make Ski for Light a thriving and vibrant organization. SFL is managed by a working board of directors. Our next year, 2020, is an election year when we will be electing or re-electing members of the board and officers. If you want to get involved and share your ideas, energy and expertise, please consider running for the board. More information will be in a later article in this Bulletin.
I look forward to seeing you on the trails!
The SFL 2020 event is coming together and it is going to be terrific. In late September, members of the SFL planning committee visited Casper, Wyoming, to see firsthand the specifics of our venue for the 45th annual Ski for Light International week. While we were there, the temperatures dropped into the low 40's and it was actually possible to imagine that one day, it might snow again. We were delighted to find a small Western town with lots of local interest and very friendly people.
Mike Evelo, our SFL 2020 Trails Coordinator, found that the Casper Mountain Outdoor Center, where we will be skiing, has that wonderful combination of both flat and gently rolling areas great for teaching beginners and for holding technique sessions, and that it also boasts forested areas with trails that have a lot of variety and many intersections to build up 5k and 10k courses. This ski area is famous for its biathlon competitions, including accessible equipment, so we are planning a Ski for Light biathlon on Thursday with plenty of time to practice.
The Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center, the event hotel for the week, is a compact facility that is very easy to navigate. There is an indoor pool on the first floor, the same floor on which all our meetings and activities will take place.
Again this year, we will hold our incredible silent auction and, by popular demand, we are bringing back the Ski for Light talent show. So, be sure and bring your talent with you to the event and be ready to audition on Tuesday afternoon. Other evening activities will feature a highly-recommended local deejay and several surprises.
If you haven't already applied to attend, please do so soon by going to www.sfl.org/events/next
I look forward to seeing each of you at the 2020 Ski for Light event. The excitement of a new venue in a state rarely visited by many of us will no doubt make this a very special SFL year!
Everyone else, close your ears, this message is only for guides. Have you applied yet? It looks like quite a few of you may not have found time to fill out your application. Ski for Light needs you. We are anticipating a fabulous SFL year! So, while you are at your computer reading this Bulletin, please click right here www.sfl.org/applications/guide and fill out your application.
Thank you much and see you soon.
Because flights into Casper are limited, on Sunday, February 9 and Sunday, February 16, SFL is offering round-trip bus transportation from the Denver airport at a cost of $50 per person. On Sunday the 9th, the bus will leave the Denver airport at 12:30 P.M for the five- hour trip to Casper. On Sunday, the 16th, the bus will depart from the Ramkota at 6:00 A.M. If you are interested, contact your coordinator to make your reservation.
Editor's Note: The following article first appeared in our 2018 fall issue, and it is so packed with useful tips that we decided to run it again!
You have signed up for the 45th annual SFL event. You've probably started wondering who else will attend, what kind of clothes to wear, and what your week-long skiing partner will be like. And you may have started thinking about things you might do to get yourself in physical shape for the week.
What does "getting in shape" mean? Fitness differs for each person and is highly dependent upon current physical condition, on health and age, on whether you exercise routinely, and on your goals for the week. For some, getting in shape might mean increasing flexibility through yoga and stretching and taking a brisk walk a couple times a week. For those training for an Iron Man, it means hours of rigorous exercise several times each week. Most of us, including me, are somewhere in between.
We've put together some resources to guide you on your fitness journey. First, Ten Easy Steps to Increase Fitness contains ten actions you can easily build into your everyday routine to increase movement and flexibility. For example, you can make sure to get up out of your chair every hour and walk around a bit. That advice really helped me when I was working. I would become very engrossed in a task, and soon, I'd realize I'd been sitting in front of my computer without moving for three hours. My shoulders and neck really felt it. Another idea, taking the stairs instead of the elevator will increase your leg strength and make you a stronger skier. Take a short walk in your neighborhood each day and gradually increase your distance and quicken your pace. Walking is a great way to meet your neighbors and to get to know your surrounding community. These are just a few examples. You can find more ideas at www.sfl.org/events/steps
Cross-country skiing is a total body workout and you'll be doing it for a week. It can be as mellow as a relaxing ski in the woods or as rigorous as a 10k race. But even if you opt for the mellow ski in the woods, it uses most of your muscle groups and involves some level of balance, coordination, strength, and endurance. Whether you are a visually-impaired skier, a sit-skier, or a guide, you can enhance your experience by embarking on some conditioning and training before you arrive.
We've developed some resources for those who want more detailed and rigorous conditioning, found at www.sfl.org/events/fitness. These resources will help you prepare for the week. We offer some suggestions for ski-specific strength and stamina training that you can customize to your needs and fitness goals. The conditioning and training guidelines are grouped into several categories, including:
We also discuss how much exercise is sufficient and tips for skiing at high altitudes. There is a handy weekly training calendar to help you set goals and track your progress over several weeks before coming to SFL, and a list of additional resources. These activities are all optional. Pick and choose the ones that are fun for you and that work with your schedule, current fitness level, and goals. Or, come up with your own ideas to improve your fitness. Start now, start slowly, and gradually build up your strength and stamina. You'll feel better and ski better for it!
Would you like to be involved in the inner workings of Ski for Light? Are you interested in running for Election to our Board of Directors? Now is your chance to get involved by submitting your nomination to the SFL Board.
Ski for Light is governed and managed by an elected Board of Directors made up of approximately 25 guides, participants, and others. It is a working Board, with each member expected to take an active role in some aspect of the work we do.
If you have great ideas about how to improve Ski for Light, simply want to know how the organization works from an inside seat, or want to do your part to ensure that SFL continues on its groundbreaking path, then this is the time and opportunity to put your name or someone else's (but ask them first!) in the hat.
Approximately half of the seats on the Board will be up for election in February 2020; directors serve terms of four years and may stand for re-election at the ends of those terms.
Any interested person may nominate himself/herself. You may also nominate someone else, as long as you have that person's permission. Nominations should include:
All nominations will be considered and the election results will be announced on Friday, February 7 at the annual Board Meeting. The deadline for receipt of nominations is December 27, 2019.
Please send all nominations by e-mail to Renee Abernathy at reneabne@bellsouth.net by December 27, 2019.
Thank you for your willingness to support Ski for Light!
During SFL week, we will again hold the ever-popular silent auction. This is your chance to bid on more than 150 items usually including jackets, gloves, and useful dog gear products donated by our generous corporate sponsors. Lots of other unique and fun items are donated by SFL attendees. Many of us especially look forward to bidding on those great locally sourced edible goodies such as wild rice from Minnesota, almond roca from Seattle, and chocolate-covered cherries from Michigan. And who could forget Lynn and Jerry Cox's homemade caramels. Sometimes, there is even a nice bottle of wine or two!
So, if you have a one-of-a-kind something from your corner of the world, please consider donating it to the silent auction. You will be amazed at how much money such items raise for Ski for Light! Here are just a few guidelines to keep in mind:
If you have any questions about the silent auction, please contact Bonnie Hartman via e- mail at BonnieJeanHartman@gmail.com. If you would like to donate something to the auction, you may bring it with you to SFL. If you would prefer to send your item in advance, you may send it to yourself at the Ramkota within two weeks of the event.
Ramkota Hotel and Conference CenterHappy bidding!
The 2020 annual Ridderweek will be held in Beitostolen, Norway beginning Sunday, March 22 and wrapping up on Sunday, March 29, with the actual 20 kilometer race on Saturday, March 28.
Ridderweek is a wonderful opportunity to ski, to make new ski friends, to enjoy outstanding Norwegian hospitality, and to learn more about the program that spawned SFL.
The event is much like the Ski for Light International week, with evening programs, dances, a talent show, and a live auction that raises money for the Ridderrenn.
There are several opportunities to challenge yourself on the trails during the week: a biathlon, using laser rifles, and a 5 K race for women and a 10K race for men. In addition, there is an alpine slalom race for mobility-impaired skiers and VIPs with some vision. During the alpine race on Friday, there's also a picnic, so you can enjoy hot dogs wrapped in lefse or hamburgers, while cheering on the racers.
Located about three hours from Oslo, Beitostolen is a summer and winter resort town that boasts a downhill ski area and many kilometers of Nordic ski trails.
There are some gift shops, restaurants, bars, a couple of grocery stores, and ski shops.
After the week in Beitostolen, we'll spend a couple of days sightseeing in Oslo, a beautiful and easy to navigate city.
It's a great time, and I'll be having a gathering during SFL week to fill you in on what to expect for the trip to Norway.
You will want to plan to leave the U.S. no later than Friday, March 20 for the overnight trip and arrival in Oslo on Saturday, March 21.
If you have questions about the Ridderrenn, feel free to contact me via e-mail, at MLElmquist@aol.com or by phone at (515) 279-3681.
In recent months, two long-time members of the Ski for Light community left us:
Susan Friedman, 75, of Lansdale, Penn. died on July 24, 2019, at her home after suffering a fatal heart attack. For 30 years, Susan was an orientation and mobility instructor for blind and visually impaired people. She attended 31 Ski for Light events as an instructor guide, the last in 2018.
Eileen Goff, 82, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, died on August 3, 2019, after a brief illness. She was the founding executive director of Heightened Independence and Progress (HIP), a large agency that helps individuals with disabilities achieve increased independence. Eileen attended 36 Ski for Light events as a visually-impaired participant or worker-bee, the last in 2018.
Please join us in offering our condolences to Susan's and Eileen's families. They each made a significant contribution to the organization that SFL became during their time with us, and they will be sorely missed.
February 23, 2019: I was behind the start gate of the American Birkebeiner, looking over the expanse of other skiers ready to take their shot at the challenging 55K Classic race course. Anxiously awaiting the release, although I'd skied nine previous Birkies, my mind was focused on something else entirely: I would be guiding Tim McCorcle, who is totally blind, through the race. I was experiencing a flood of thoughts: Did we prepare enough, how are the other skiers going to interact with us, are we in over our heads, what if something happens to one of us, how well will we adapt to what we could not prepare for, will my voice hold out, and will the trail conditions hold up? These questions were offset by the realization that we could also be ambassadors for Ski For Light, and that we might inspire others to go after their dreams, to set goals, and to overcome obstacles.
I also fondly recalled how the Ski For Light family came together and had a lot of fun the previous, two days: On Thursday, six "Ski For Light Drift Busters," consisting of skier Tim McCorcle, Ski For Light guides Michael Evelo, Don Evans, Larry Behne, Brian Christoffel, and Kent Moore were all attached to the same 24-foot long skies and pushed powder up Main Street Hayward in the Giant Ski Race. Friday, Tim McCorcle, guided by me, Melinda Hollands guided by Laura Jacobson and Krista Erickson guided by Sarah Eisenberg participated in the Adaptive Ski Race. All got to experience skiing across the expansive Lake Hayward and the thrill of climbing the American Birkebeiner International Bridge with its descent onto Main Street Hayward, followed by the final push to the finish line. The announcer did a great job of letting the crowd know how great the Ski For Light program is, and also of sharing with them Tim's goal of skiing the full Birkie the next day.
At the Birkie start gate, we got in the last minute photo, hugs of support and well wishes from my wife, Sheryl, and from my sister, Marietta. As we took our places before the big release, we said a prayer to the patron saints of eye disorders -- St. Lucy and St. Clare -- and to St. Sebastian patron saint of athletes, that they safely guide us and all skiers that day. Looking over the crowd outside the fence, we knew members of the SFL family were out there cheering and supporting us. Then evidence of that support arrived as guide Leslie Maclin had the announcer introduce Tim McCorcle and me, stating the feat on which we were about to embark: Skiing the American Birkebeiner! We raised our arms and cheered in anticipation of the day ahead.
The final countdown finished with the guns going off, and the gate came up, releasing the wave 5 classic skiers. All of the preparation of the last two years had come down to this moment, as we began the 55-kilometer journey.
My first concern was to keep the day safe, as I was humbled and honored that Tim considered me to be one of the few guides he would trust to "go fast." I would do my best to honor that, but I also had to not be too cautious. This was a timed event. It was time for the many hours of talking, planning, and years of skiing together - of forging that critical bond of communication and trust between skier and guide -- to culminate here; to allow us to surmount the challenges ahead with attunement and skill.
The first of these was to navigate the interactions with the sea of other skiers, which was something we knew we would have to figure out on the go. The other skiers were great! It didn't take long for the task of the day to set in, hill after hill after relentless hill. Some of the hills with their unique challenges required trust, preparation, and instincts to kick in. During the first third of the race, the tracks were in okay shape and I was able to guide Tim from beside or behind. Eventually, the tracks began to deteriorate, and it became better to have Tim follow my voice going up hills and the click of the poles downhill. Some of the downhill tracks were so worn out that snowplowing was difficult at best, and clicking poles was impossible. This would cause me to get ahead of Tim. I yelled guidance back to him as best I could, but at times, he was unable to pinpoint my position and instinctively sat down. These were the scariest and most stressful parts of the race, especially as fatigue started setting in.
The day also had its emotional ups and downs: The thrill of the start, the charge of encouragement from other skiers, the uplifting Powerline Drummers, the downer of another wipeout, the thrill of reaching the 'OO' halfway point, the downer of being told at 'OO' that we were ahead of the mandatory cutoff by only 10 minutes. When I heard this, it was, unquestionably, the low point of the race. I really began to doubt the outcome and, for a while, it was hard to stay positive, thinking, "can we pick up the pace enough to stay ahead of the cut-off times at the upcoming stations?" At that point, ooh! I felt down, but Tim rallied, as I have seen him do before and we stepped up the pace. As we approached the next station (the Gravel Pit), I realized that others were not being pulled for the cutoff - good news! We were still ahead of the cut off time! We got going again, keeping up the pace. There was a moment of light-heartedness when we passed the 39K partiers as they danced to their music in costumes and cheered on the passing skiers. Thrill again as we conquered the dreaded "Bitch Hill," despite the bad jokes from the ad hoc entertainment! When we left the last station, the Fish Hatchery, excitement surged again as we found out we had advanced to 25 minutes ahead of the cutoff time! Downer knowing we had some long, grueling climbs ahead of us as the fatigue of the day really set in: This was the time to dig in and to find what we did not know was there. Determination as we downed my special energy drink to power us through to the THRILL of knowing the next stop is the finish line!
The final 3.7K normally is a mundane part of the race, with flat terrain and then the long crossing of Lake Hayward, but this time it was the second most galvanizing stretch of the course. Tim turned into a double-poling madman, passing at least 15 skiers, some looked astonished as Tim went flying by them, as they had passed us earlier! Tim really dug in and gave it his all - I could barely keep up! Then came the most electrifying part of the race -- climbing the American Birkebeiner International Bridge and making the final, steep descent onto Main Street Hayward. It was a big relief for Tim, as he didn't wipe out in front of the large, cheering crowd. The fans on Main Street were AMAZING! The number of supporters still there to cheer on those of us late-arriving skiers 8 hours after we left the start line at Cable, Wisc. was incredible. The calls, shouts, and yells of encouragement from the crowd were so loud, I had to get very close to Tim, guiding him to the final tracks where he continued his powerful double-poling to the finish!!
Crossing the finish line, Main Street Hayward, Wisc. 8:05 after we left the start at Cable, Wisc.! Where do I start with this one?! Our enthusiastic hug of "we did it." The announcer going crazy talking about Tim's accomplishment, telling the crowd about our being a part of SFL, and how Tim won the adaptive event the day before as a warm-up. Thankful we had a safe journey. Happiness, relief and sadness it was done. Also, Tim's receiving his medal for completing his first American Birkebeiner, and my picking up a 10 year skier medal. Most of all the hugs and words of congrats from my wife Sheryl, my sister Marietta and the Ski For Light family, Rich Mah, Melinda Hollands, Laura Jacobson, Brian Christoffel and Larry Behne, who greeted us at the finish. There were others at the start, but who had had to leave prior to our finish because of weather. Don Evans, Kent Moore, Krista Erickson, Sarah Eisenberg and a special shout out to Leslie Maclin who pulled off the side of the road to watch us via live web cam, and to cheer and cry as we crossed the finish line!
Congratulations, Tim! Out of the more than 260,000 skiers who have completed a Birkie, very few can say they have skied it totally blind: You are in a very elite group of skiers! For the record, at no point did we remove skis to walk through any challenging part of the race course, all of it was on skis.
It was great to see many in the SFL family get in on and catching "Birkie Fever." Either by promoting Ski For Light, by participating, by cheering, or via emails, texts and Facebook messages of encouragement and congratulations. The support was amazing.
A big part of the motivation in Ski For Light is not only to expand our horizons, but to inspire others to go the extra mile, to see the benefit of digging in to accomplish a goal, and to provide hope to those who have a dream -- not only for the annual ski week, but outside of and beyond that event. Tim and I felt it imperative that SFL was tied into our adventure to provide exposure for an amazing group of people dedicated to teaching those inspired to be a guide or a skier. Will the Ski For Light Drift Busters continue? Will SFL participants continue to ski the adaptive event? Maybe even the 15 kilometer Prince Haakon event? I would love to see our presence grow and to see more of us serve as a beacon of hope to those who feel they are limited, and as an inspiration to future guides who may be thinking, "how could I ever guide?" Let's bring them into the Ski For Light family.
Ski for Light, Inc. is loosely affiliated with eight regional organizations around the United States that share our name, but are independent organizations. They are located in New England, Northeast Pennsylvania, Michigan, South Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Northern California and Washington. Every winter, each group holds one or more local events that include teaching and guiding visually- and mobility-impaired adults in cross country skiing. Several of them also offer other activities such as snowshoeing and downhill skiing. The events range from a full week to day trips. To learn more visit the Regionals page on the SFL website at www.sfl.org/events/regionals. From there, you can find the website of each regional organization to learn about their programs for this winter.
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 * Beyond Coastal Sun Care * Black Diamond * Borton Overseas Travel * Clif Bar * Columbia * Dansko * Darn Tough Socks * Energizer * Farm to Feet * Fjallraven * Glerups * Haiku * Injinji * Kavu * Klean Kanteen * Kuhl * Leki * Lodge Cast Iron * Peet Shoe Dryers * Travelon * Wallaroo Hat Company
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The current as well as past issues of the Bulletin are also available online at www.sfl.org/bulletin. 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 or text attachment. Send all items to:
Andrea GoddardThe deadline for the Spring 2020 Bulletin is March 15, 2020. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ski for Light, Inc. is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.