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About three hours west of
Denver lies Snow Mountain Ranch, one of the top
cross-country ski centers in the United States. Known as
the "YMCA of the Rockies", it boasts a large ski
chalet and over 90 kilometers of packed and groomed
trails.
From January 30 to February
6, 2005, the center will host the 30th annual Ski for
Light International event, a week that brings blind and
mobility-impaired adults together with sighted ski
instructors for cross-country skiing and fun social
activities. Participants come from the United States,
Norway, and several other countries to either learn skiing
for the first time, or improve on previously developed
skills.
The first Ski for Light was
held in Norway in 1964, and was so successful that a
nonprofit all-volunteer organization was formed. Chapters
began spreading to other parts of the world, and the
program was first introduced to the United States in 1975.
The idea is to provide the blind and mobility-impaired a
chance to experience the freedom and benefits of physical
activity through cross-country skiing.
At the beginning of the
event, each skiier is paired with an instructor/guide,
according to experience level. Beginners are taught basic
fundamentals of the sport, while more advanced skiiers
work on improving their techniques and endurance.
Skiiers navigate the slopes
in pre-set tracks or grooves in the snow, while their
instructors ski on a parallel set of tracks. The guide
advises when to change direction, speed up and slow down,
and describes any changes in the level and direction of
the tracks. Skiiers with mobility impairments use
sit-skis, while their guides give instructional tips and
offer physical assistance if needed. In addition to
cross-country skiing, mobility-impaired participants also
have the chance to learn the sport of sled-hockey during
the week.
The sighted instructors are
volunteers from all over the United States who pay their
own way to attend, just like the other participants. Duane
Farrar, a blind skiier and chairman of Ski for Light's
Public Relations Committee, says their role is vital to
the success of the program.
"They are there
because they love cross-country skiing and wish to share
that love with someone like myself who otherwise might not
have the opportunity to experience the sport and the
exhilarating sense of freedom that it brings," Farrar
explains.
The highlight of the event
is a 5-K rally and 10-K race, complete with national
anthems and Olympic-style finish line. Skiiers get the
chance to showcase the skills they've learned during the
week over a measured distance, but don't have to be
competitive or athletic. The only thing asked of them is
to give skiing a try, and have fun.
Mary Kozy, a blind clinical
social worker from Chicago, was a bit apprehensive when
she attended her first Ski for Light in 1978. But it
didn't take her long to discover the joy of learning to
ski, and meeting other people with positive attitudes.
After attending Ski for
Light, I caught the "if I can do this, I can do
anything" attitude, and went on to love skiing,"
Kozy recalls. "It is a real high to go to SFL for a
week and be around so many enthusiastic people."
While skiing is the big
attraction, it is only part of the total experience. After
a day on the slopes, skiiers and guides return to their
hotel for dinner, talent shows, music and dancing, or just
lounging in a heated pool or hot-tub. Even poor snow
conditions can't stop the event. In cases of extremely low
temperatures or not enough snow, participants organize
games, field trips, exercises, and other activities.
Many skiiers believe the
most rewarding aspect of Ski for Light is the memories and
camaraderie they share with each other and their guides.
"The friendships I've
made through SFL are deep, and those I will have all my
life," Mary Kozy says. "People come through town
and visit, and we are now like a big family."
Deborah Kendrick, a
freelance writer and devoted participant, agrees. "I
believe there is no other environment in which
participants suspend, so completely, the sense of who is
and who is not a person with a disability," she says.
"People of all walks of life come together for that
one week to share a love of skiing, the outdoors,
learning, and loving life."
To find out more about Ski
for Light, or the upcoming event in Granby, Colorado,
visit:
www.sfl.org
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About
The Author
Stephen
Michael Kerr is a blind radio broadcaster,
freelance writer, and publisher of
Adaptive Sports And Recreation, a free
ezine devoted to sports for people with
disabilities. To subscribe, visit: http://zinester.com/mpb/ml_fs.cgi?topic=41809
For a
sample issue, send an e-mail to: stevekerr@ev1.net
with "Sample Issue" in the
subject. |
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