Ski for Light, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1975 that provides opportunities for
visually impaired
Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment, is a medical definition primarily measured based on an individual's better eye visual acuity; in the absence of treatment such as correctable eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment†...
and
mobility-impaired people to experience
cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreation ...
. It hosts an annual week-long event at various U.S. locations.
Cross-country ski program for visually impaired and mobility-impaired people
Ski for Light provides cross-country skiing programs for visually impaired and mobility-impaired adults, pairing each visually impaired person with an experienced, sighted cross-country skier, who serves both as instructor and guide.
[
] The organization holds an annual week-long event for upwards of 200 participants and guides at different venues in the United States.
[
][
] Disabled skiers and their assigned guides ski together in parallel sets of tracks, thus facilitating the ability of the guides to inform skiers about the terrain ahead.
[
] The skill levels of participants with impairments span from novice to expert skier. The annual event includes both touring and racing using the
classic (in track) technique only.
It has been held in twelve different U.S. states since 1975. Participants have come from throughout the U.S. and at least twelve other countries.
The level of skiing proficiency that impaired participants can achieve reportedly inspires the organization's motto, "If I can do this, I can do anything!"
Guides often derive sufficient reward from their participation to return regularly to the organization's annual events and to participate in regional events, as well.
Origin and history
The idea of teaching blind people to cross-country ski began with
Erling Stordahl
Erling Stordahl (1 August 1923 – 31 October 1994) was a Norwegian farmer and singer.
He is best known for the around 120 songs he recorded throughout 17 years from 1951 together with Gunnar Engedahl. They met at the Norwegian Association of the ...
, a blind Norwegian musician, whose efforts led to the creation in 1964 of the ''Ridderrennet'', or "Knights race". Held in
Beitostolen,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
, the ''Ridderrennet'' hosts more than 1,000 disabled participants and guides from around the world.
[
] The idea for Ski for Light, patterned after the ''Ridderrennet'', was brought to the United States in 1975 by Olav Pedersen, who was a ski instructor at the
Breckenridge Ski Resort
Breckenridge Ski Resort is an alpine ski resort in the western United States, in Breckenridge, Colorado. Just west of the Continental Divide in Summit County, it is perennially one of the most visited ski resorts in the western hemisphere. Breck ...
, and by Bjarne Eikevik, the International President of the
Sons of Norway
Sons of Norway ( no, Sønner av Norge), founded in 1895 as the Independent Order of the Sons of Norway, is a fraternal organization principally representing people of Norwegian-American, Norwegian heritage in the United States and Canada. The or ...
.
[
]
Organization and governance
Ski for Light is an all-volunteer organization, guided by a board of directors drawn from the community of disabled skiers and guides who attend the annual event. Its income comes primarily from fees paid by event participants, supplemented by an endowment and fund raising.
[
] There are nine independent, affiliated organizations across the United States, which share the name, "Ski for Light". They hold smaller events for disabled skiers in California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, New England, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin.
See also
*
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreation ...
*
Paralympic cross-country skiing
Paralympic cross-country skiing is an adaptation of cross-country skiing for athletes with disabilities. Paralympic cross-country skiing is one of two Nordic skiing disciplines in the Winter Paralympic Games; the other is biathlon. Competition is ...
References
External links
* {{Official website, http://www.sfl.org
Article with list of organizations affiliated with Ski for LightVideo demonstrating guiding blind skiers
Cross-country skiing
Blind sports
Parasports