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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.
If you were with us in Rhinelander, you know that our 2024 International Event was an exercise in improvisation. Over the course of a most memorable week in the Wisconsin Northwoods, event chair Marie Huston, vice chair Cara Barnes, our local hosts, countless volunteers, and all 240 attendees gave an absolute master class in the art of "Yes, and…," a.k.a. Improv 101, because as any theater geek will tell you, nothing kills a good scene like the word "no."
Was there skiing? Yes, and…there was hiking, cycling, golfing, ax-throwing, sing-alonging, line dancing, aquacizing, Hodag hunting, brewery touring, beepball playing, Giant Jenga-ing, cultural exchanging, cheese curd chowing, and so much more!
Did the week culminate in shared triumph? Yes, and… not just for the trophy winners of our 2024 Olav Pedersen Memorial Race/Rally—wait, make that our 2024 "No-Snow Olympics of Desperation"—but also for Lucas Rice, visually impaired skier from West Allis, Wisconsin and recipient of the Jan Haug Award ("Rookie of the Year"), along with his outstanding guide, Greg Cox. Also honored on that Saturday night: Mike Evelo of Rhinelander, whose tireless efforts turning his hometown into our hometown earned him the 2024 Bjarne Eikevik President's Award.
Does Ski for Light really and truly change lives? Yes, and… you don't have to take my word for it. Filmmaker John Thain of Nunaka Pictures spent the whole week with us in Rhinelander, and capturing some participant stories that say it all. Check out "SFL 2024: If we can do this, we can do anything," now playing on our Ski for Light International YouTube channel, tell us what you think, and stay tuned for more.
We also successfully navigated another Board transition (more on that below), reminding me once more how fortunate we are at Ski for Light to have so many immensely talented, endlessly energetic people dedicated to the organization's past, present, and future. Having served on a number of nonprofit staffs (paid staffs) myself, I know the value of this human resource: It is priceless. One Board vacancy remains—see Karen Wood's message about that, if you're interested in running or know someone who'd be a good candidate—and while we can always use solid volunteer help in most areas, we're particularly in need of development (fundraising), social media, and publications expertise. Got skills? Drop me a line, at President@sfl.org
Already hard at work: Our SFL 2025 International Event team, led by event chair Sheri Richardson and vice chair Nancy McKinney Milsteadt. Make plans now to join us Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, in Provo, Utah, with accommodations at the Provo Marriott Hotel and Conference Center and skiing at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center—a gold-medal Olympic venue for our Golden Anniversary! We're considering a Special Visitors Weekend package, perhaps Wednesday or Thursday evening to Sunday, for SFL alumni and friends who don't wish to ski but would like to be a part of the 50th celebration. Would you be interested in such a "mini-SFL" option (strictly for non-skiers)? Or would you rather be a non-working "Other Attendee" and stay with us for the entire SFL week? Please email me at President@sfl.org with your thoughts and program ideas either way, to give us some idea of how many extra friends we might need to accommodate, for this special anniversary event.
Speaking of special anniversary events, I hope to see many of you in Minneapolis on Saturday, Oct. 12, for our first-ever Ski for Light Gala. Help us kick off our golden year with an unforgettable evening at Norway House, a national center of Norwegian arts and culture, and a perfect setting for feeling our SFL roots. You'll be hearing more details soon from Gala chair Leslee Lane Hoyum and our 50th Anniversary chair, Marion Elmquist. Thank you, ladies!
Finally, watch your mail in May for the 2023 SFL Annual Report and Spring Financial Appeal, your chance to say "Yes, and…" to all the good work that's happening here.
From Guide Chris Gaumer: The week started with training new guides in icy conditions; it was challenging and demanded athleticism for balance and quick recovery from falls. As we watched the snow disappear by the hour, we remained creative in finding areas to ski/ train the new guides, imparting the SFL ethos of flexibility and creativity.
Walking around Rhinelander, we found nature trails and quickly decided to share that with other SFL participants. I love spreading the joy of the great outdoors, so leading experiential nature hikes made for a fun time. Cara Barnes and Marie Huston helped organize transportation to Hanson Lake for those. I was thankful there were participants who knew about the plants and trees of the area and enthusiastically shared their knowledge. The first group heartily endured the uneven terrain/walking conditions around the lake, and we ended up in the U-Haul parking lot, where the office staff were kind enough to let us warm up in their conference room while the bus found us. The second group we led had a more civilized walk. On these hikes we spent time going off trail to feel tree bark, bushes, plants, rocks. We learned about the terrain from glacial formation. (Where's that snow now?) We walked in silence for part of the time, listening, smelling, hearing, and touching the surrounding nature. Many thanks to Guy Hansen and Tim Powers for teaching us about trees and the other flora and fauna of the Rhinelander area.
The Rhinelander experience was completed at Mel's Trading Post, where I contributed to the financial stability of the town by purchasing a set of skate skis. It was fun to see so many SFL'ers there doing the same! The highlights of my week were seeing so many old friends, the nightly singing circle, seeing Marilyn Gerhard's smile in the bouncy room at the sports dome, and the finale No-Snow Olympics of Desperation. To all my SFL friends, see you in Provo in 2025!
VIP Audrey Farnum recalls: When I took off for Rhinelander, I was not sure what to expect. I knew there was low snow and the skiing opportunities would be limited, but I had no idea what the overall atmosphere would be. How were we going to keep ourselves entertained for a week with little or no skiing? Was everyone going to be bummed out and grumpy? Was it going to be boring? Thanks to a lot of creativity, improvisation and SFL Spirit, it was a week of laughter, adventure and definitely no boredom. Due to the incredible efforts of the groomers at the Northwoods Golf Club, we did manage to get two and a half days of something that resembled skiing. It wasn't pretty and the conditions were challenging but at least I got a little time in on skis. In all honesty, I'm pretty sure I spent more time on the ground than on my skis, but at least I tried and had a great time with my wonderful guide, Joan Holcombe.
After the snow dried up, I spent the week roaming the town of Rhinelander and discovered a delightful community with friendly people and interesting history. I loved learning about the legendary Hodag and roaming around downtown, taking pictures with the various Hodag statues. I spent a couple of hours and several hundred dollars in Mel's Trading Post, where I found a huge selection, great prices and knowledgeable staff. I ticked off my Wisconsin to-do list by having cheese curds, a bratwurst and beer. I had a wonderful time and appreciated the chance to get to know the fantastic local community.
VIP Cara Barns remembers: What's to remember, you may say, it didn't snow. While the lack of new snow was evident, this long-time SFL participant had a week of fun, friendship and self-discovery.
Scott Bertrand and I have wanted to ski together for some years, so we were delighted and excited to be matched up. On Monday I picked up a pair of skin skis to try out and we headed for the trails. Whenever we hit a junction, we picked the tracks that looked best and off we'd ski in whatever direction they took us. Soon it became clear that we were both directionally challenged and asked no fewer than three other pairs how to get back to the clubhouse. The next day, all trails seemed to take us by Hodag Rock, no matter which way we turned. Could the rock have been following us?
Self-discovery No. 2 came at Nick's Hodag Lanes. My one and only bowling experience was on a double date in college some 40 plus years ago (need I say more?). While Scotty won every game, I somehow managed to get a strike and have a new found appreciation for bumpers.
Roaming the Hodag Dome and participating in the rather unusual Olympic style games taught me that like bowling, rolling, throwing or tossing anything at a target (beeping or not), is not one of my better skill sets. The joy was in laughing a lot and learning that the effort was more important than the outcome.
And from guide Mike Evelo: The volunteers who helped with the Hodag Dome Night of sports and activities were rather awed by how willing the SFL group was at trying things they had never participated in before! The level of talent and can-do attitude shown was galvanizing. From learning a golf swing, to hitting the beep baseball, sinking the bag through the corn hole, shooting the basketball through the hoop, axe throwing, and the tense excitement of building a giant Jenga tower. Other groups of volunteers I heard a lot from were the Knights of Columbus, the Rhinelander Lions Club, and the YMCA Senior Volunteers. The caterers were having a hard time finding help to hire for the event, so these service organizations pitched in to help serve the food. All commented about how positive and energetic the SFL group was despite the snow conditions.
When I go into the local small businesses and area attractions, I still get positive comments from people about their interactions with Ski for Light. Businesses such as Mel's Trading Post, Trigs and the Hodag Dome, to name just a few, echo what others have said about how great it was to experience an organization like ours. I will never forget how Mitch and Brian's faces were beaming as they described how the entire staff at Mel's truly enjoyed the week.
There I was at the 2024 SFL annual get-together in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. We all had been warned about Hodags and to be careful when we ventured outdoors. Be it a quick trip to Culver's for some food, or skiing on green snow at the local golf course. Hodags have been known to prey on unsuspecting humans, usually to just scare folks away from their young.
So, on Tuesday of the event, we MIPS were at the golf course, making the best of the suspect snow conditions. As we crested a hill, we were startled to see a Hodag. But wait a second, it was just a big rock painted in the likeness of the scary creature. A few hills later, we came to another rather steep downhill. But this descent had a nice runout so I decided to go solo without my guide, Kristen, snowplowing behind me. It was a bad call. I shot down the hill and, almost reaching the bottom, I saw a blur of something at my side. Because I was skiing so fast, my eyes were watering to a level where I was now in the same situation as a MIP VIP. All of sudden the "Something" hit me and tried to tip me off my sit-ski as I was going at least 46 miles per hour. Sit skiers strap themselves tight to their ski so, when I got hit, there was a spectacular crash with me and my ski rolling over and over. As I began to slow down, I felt a tugging on my left arm. Darned if it wasn't a huge Hodag trying to pull me and my sit-ski into the adjoining woods! I still had my ski poles, so I frantically began poking the beast. When one of my pokes hit the Hodag in its eye, it let out a mighty roar as it let go of my arm and scampered back into the woods.
As I lay there on the ice, I managed to look back to the top of the hill and there was another MIP guide, Ted, leading Marie, Tim, and Kristen in a rousing rendition of the Norwegian Drinking Toast. I gave a yell for help and caught their attention. They swear they never saw what really happened to me and the Hodag.
Tim and Kristen pushed me back to my truck at the lodge, and drove me to the Rhinelander Emergency Room, where X-rays showed a very broken ulnar bone in my left forearm. The treating doctor showed me the Hodag bite marks just before he splinted my arm so I was unable to show anyone those tell-tale marks back at the event bar.
So, in closing, let me swear on an open can of Norwegian sardines that my encounter with the now one-eyed hodag really happened.
My name is Jacob Carsting and I am a visually impaired skier from Copenhagen, Denmark. I heard about SFL a couple of years ago, while skiing at the Ridderrennet event in Norway. I was born with Glaucoma and have been visually impaired my entire life. I was a bit skeptical about the trip; an 18 to 19 hour journey with three different airplanes, just to ski for one week, It would be a long journey, but on the other hand, it would be a great experience.
I got an e-mail from a friend who was going with two other Danes, Sven and his wife, Kirsten. Life is about grabbing the opportunities that present themselves, so after thinking about it for 30 seconds, and convincing my manager at work that the best thing for me to do in January would be to give me a week off and let me ski in the U.S. Working for an insurance company, my manager was a bit worried that I would end up in an accident, but at the end, I managed to convince her.
I was a bit nervous when we arrived in Wisconsin, but I soon met so many great people, especially my two guides for the week, an amazing couple named Betsy and Scott, from Alaska. They helped me all week and were a huge factor in making it great. I had a cool roommate, too, his name was Eric, and we had some good times together, including at the local bar; just remember, never drink with a Dane!
The ski trails were not what we had hoped for, but I have to say, the groomers' never-give-up attitude was a huge inspiration. They truly did a fantastic job, and actually managed to find snow in places where there should not be any snow. I have to say, the most important thing for me, was not only skiing, but also to meet other visually impaired people from the U.S. I have always been interested in how people from different countries work and live with their visual impairment, so I was curious to meet some visually impaired Americans, and hear about their lives and how they cope with things.
Funny enough, you can travel across the Atlantic Ocean, fly domestic in the U.S., drive one hour by cab, go to the bar at your hotel, drink a beer, and meet another visually impaired person, the same age as you, and with the exact same issues. Wow, our world truly is a wonderful place, and at the same time, a very small place. Meeting so many amazing people at Ski For Light has meant a lot to me, and I have to thank everyone, not only the participants, but also all the volunteers whom have created this event, which is worth travelling across an ocean for.
No snow meant a lot of time walking around downtown Rhinelander. A very different place from where I have grown up and where I live today in Copenhagen, Denmark. Everything, from the cars, beers, shops, culture, food, sidewalks and the friendly attitude from the local community, was a great experience. In Denmark, we have a lot of electric cars, which, of course, is great for the environment, but they are very difficult to hear. In Rhinelander, there were not electric cars, but a lot of big trucks, and they were, at least, easy to hear.
Instead of the annual competition, the Ski For Light created a lot of funny competitions, I have to say, it was not why I signed up for the event, but it was a lot of fun, anyway.
The trip home to Europe was horrible with a couple of crying babies on the cross-Atlantic plane, and my baggage was not on board the same plane as I was, of course. But I managed to get it later on.
I had such a great time, and I will tell my friends about the Ski for Light, and if time and life allow it, I plan on attending for many, many years to come.
Thank you so much everyone at SFL. You have made one more friend, even though I am pretty far away. Your organization and the great people in it are one of the best things I have tried as a visually impaired person, thank you so much, and I hope to see all of you again next year.
Ski for Light, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization managed by an elected Board of Directors. Between meetings of the full Board, the business of the organization is managed by an Executive Committee composed of six board officers and the Immediate Past President. Unless a vacancy is being filled, Board members serve four-year terms and officers serve two-year terms.
During the recent 2024 International Week event in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, elections were held for about half of the 25 positions comprising the SFL Board. Elected to the Board for their first term of service we welcome: Greg Andrews, Greg Cox, Nino Pacini, Donna Paterson and Susan Zak.
Re-elected to the Board for another tour of duty after a few years break, we welcome back Robert Civiak and David Fisichella.
Re-elected to the Board for another consecutive term were: Julie Coppens, Andrea Goddard, Melinda Hollands, Sheri Richardson and Brenda Seeger.
After providing SFL with a total of 140 years of service, we sincerely thank the following Board members who have chosen not to seek another Board term but who will continue to be an important part of SFL: Cara Barnes, Amy Brannan, Wendy David, Betsy Fischer, Robert Hartt, Bonnie O'Day, Laura Oftedahl and Larry Showalter.
Please join us in congratulating Larry Showalter who was elected as Board-member Emeritus, a well-deserved honor in recognition of Larry's nearly three decades of Board service including three terms as SFL President (2002-2008).
For officer elections we welcome back Julie Coppens to serve a second term as President, Tim McCorcle to serve a second term as Treasurer and Krista Erickson to serve another term as Secretary. Finally, we welcome new Executive Committee members Sheri Richardson, Vice President and Directors-at-Large David Fisichella and Nicole Haley. For their past service, we thank outgoing Executive Committee members Judy Dixon, Mike Evelo, and Robert Hartt.
Is your score card now looking a little messy trying to keep track of all the above? No problem, here is the full Board roster for 2024 to 2026.
Executive CommitteeGreetings, SFL family! The Ski for Light Board of Directors has one vacancy, which we plan to fill via a special election at our summer Board meeting in June. This is your opportunity to join the Board and to contribute to the work that keeps the magic of this organization going strong. If you have questions about Board service, I am happy to answer them. Please call me at (317) 506-8837 or email me at karenawood58@icloud.com
To submit your nomination for this four-year term position, please send me an email that includes the name, email address and phone number of the candidate. Also required is a brief statement by the candidate, including an explanation of why the candidate is running for the board, a description of past and/or current involvement in the work of Ski for Light, details about possible future areas of involvement or responsibility that would be of interest to the candidate if elected to the Board, a summary of any applicable professional or volunteer experience outside of Ski for Light, and anything else that the candidate deems relevant or important.
All nominations are due to me by May 31, 2024.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to the Ski for Light community in a very meaningful way.
Who in his wildest imagination, back in 1974 and 1975, would think of the rather unusual idea to bring a cross-country ski program from Norway to the United States for blind adults?
And who would ever dare to think that this program would continue to exist, and to thrive, as it enters its 50th year?
But thrive it does. One of the most extraordinary things about this program, which came to be known as Ski for Light, is that it is completely run by volunteers; volunteers who are scattered all over the United States.
As we approach the 2025 Ski for Light event, we will be celebrating this 50th anniversary in a number of ways, but a highlight will be a Gala to be held in Minneapolis, at Norway House on Saturday, October 12, 2024.
Norway House is the center of Minnesota's Norwegian community. It serves as a cultural, arts, and business hub and it will be a wonderful venue for our celebration. There will be displays, special guests, messages from around the world, music and marvelous food.
Save the date, October 12, and join us in Golden Celebration! Ticket information and other details will be announced soon.
Editor's Note: As with each annual Ridderweek, there are many stories and impressions of the events, the skiing, the camaraderie, and spending time in the home of cross-country skiing—Norway. This year was no exception. Each of the team members selected by the SFL executive committee to attend has offered up some of their thoughts and experiences from the week.
This year, the team was composed of six people — three skiers and three guides: Rod Maccoux, Anthony Nelson, Sheri Richardson; Mike Evelo, Betsy Fischer and Marion Elmquist.
This year's entire group was 16. In addition to those mentioned above, we were joined by Steve Brinker, Astrid Mullen, Laura Koebnick, Richard Mah, Kevin Whitley, Patrick McManus, Jeanne Wood, Louis Peterson, Scott Fischer and last, but not least, Charlie Wirth!
As usual, after the week in Beitostolen the group spent Monday sightseeing in Oslo with a tour guide and enjoyed a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, joined by Svein Thorstensen and Anne-Kristin Wadahl.
Rod Maccoux: It was a great experience. I had the opportunity to get to know more about people in our SFL group, as well as the Europeans who come to SFL. I also had a chance to meet a couple of the Norwegian skiers; it is always interesting to hear their perspective on things.
As far as the actual skiing goes: I practiced shooting on Tuesday, and unfortunately, on the second round of practice, I hit five out of five. So I stopped practicing. During Wednesday 's biathlon, when it was time for the first round, I felt out of position and missed all five. The next round I hit three out of five. Out of the 12 people in my group who finished, I was number 12 by ten seconds.
Thursday's 10K race proved eventful because the temperature was above freezing and my waxable skis without klister made the smallest of inclines a challenge.
Anthony Nelson: I would like to thank the SFL board for selecting me for the 2024 Norway SFL Team. I had personal best in my events. I was very excited to get second place in the biathlon. I came in fourth in the 10 kilometer race on Thursday and sixth in the 10 kilometer race on Saturday.
When you decide to go to the Ridderrenn, it will be an experience to cherish. There is room for you. Come to Utah in 2024 and listen to Marion explain the event.
Sheri Richardson: Please see Sheri's article separately in this issue of the Bulletin
Mike Evelo: For years I have been hearing, "The Ridderrenn is an event you have to experience." It lived up to all my expectations. The skiing was great, scenery was awesome, the events were well organized, food and accommodations were first class and helpfulness of the Norwegian soldiers was great. You get to experience the pride the Norwegian people have in their winter sports as Norway's Kings Guard band marched and performed with precision at the competitions and award ceremonies. Another exciting highlight was guiding Anthony Nelson as he was shooting with precision and skied fast and consistent to earn the silver medal in the biathlon. Now I will be joining the chorus of those saying, "The Ridderrenn is an event you have to experience!"
Betsy Fischer: I could talk about the friendly and fascinating Norwegians I met, the incredible food served all week long, the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, the wonderful young volunteers who took care of us during our meals, the exciting events throughout the week, the Norwegian Army who always seemed to be there when you needed some extra help or the crazy antics and warm camaraderie of our SFL group. But what I will remember the best about Ridderweek 2024 is the skiing! Beautiful, rolling trails through the hillsides with perfectly set classic tracks every inch of the way. The first day we skied, I had a moment to myself out on the trail. I stopped and took it all in—the scenery, the great ski conditions, and everyone I saw was skiing, smiling, and having a great time. I took a deep breath and said out loud, "I have found my people!" I felt so at home and blissfully happy. It was Swix blue extra kick wax almost daily, a real treat for a rainforest skier like myself! By the end of the week, I was exhausted, exhilarated, and completely satisfied. Norway—I shall return!
Marion Elmquist: You may have noticed that nearly everyone mentioned in their memories that they would love to return to Beitostolen and another Ridderweek. That explains why this year's week was my 27th. I love the skiing, getting together with Norwegian friends I've made over the years; and getting to know my fellow SFL'ers during the week. It is one of my favorite weeks of the year. And visiting Oslo afterwards and seeing the sights is yet another highlight. Please join me again in 2025!
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!
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. Each group holds one or more winter events that include teaching and guiding visually- and mobility-impaired adults in cross-country skiing. Many of them also offer summer programs, ranging from single-day hikes to week-long adventures. To check out the offerings of each organization for this year visit their respective websites, all linked from the Regionals page on the SFL website.
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.
Borton Overseas Travel * Dansko Shoes * Haiku Bags * Kuhl Clothing * Lodge Cast Iron * Wallaroo Hat Company
The SFL Bulletin is published three times a year. It is available in ink-print or via e-mail. If you wish to change formats, please send your request to: info@sfl.org
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 Summer 2024 Bulletin is July 15, 2024. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ski for Light, Inc. is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.