by Patricia Beattie
Are you a blind or visually impaired adult who would enjoy a week of great cross-country skiing in the magnificence of Alaska? Do you think you could enjoy a week of after-skiing fun with more than 250 other skiers, both blind and sighted, at a full-service resort hotel? Even if you are not sure, would you like the opportunity to find out? If so, then we invite you to apply for the 28th annual Ski for Light International week, to be held from February 23 through March 2, 2003, in Anchorage, Alaska. Participants will stay at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, and ski at nearby Russian Jack Springs Park.
The Ski for Light Program
For 27 years Ski for Light, Inc., an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, has been giving visually and mobility-impaired adults the chance to experience the sport of cross-country skiing. Over the years, hundreds of such participants have discovered that cross-country skiing is an invigorating outdoor activity that they can both enjoy and do well. It is an activity that gives the blind/visually impaired person a unique feeling of freedom, independence and accomplishment. Emphasis is placed on recreational trail skiing, with the skier and guide deciding together how far, how long, and on what kind of terrain they will ski. A prospective participant does not have to be an athlete to participate but merely someone who is interested in enjoying a more physically active lifestyle and who feels that their overall health will allow them to participate in the sport.
For those not familiar with skiing, cross-country (or Nordic) skiing differs from downhill (or Alpine) skiing in several important ways. An Alpine skier only goes downhill, propelled by gravity. Cross-country skiers are not so limited. They go at their own pace through the countryside, letting gravity do the work going downhill while providing their own propulsion when gliding across level ground or uphill. The equipment for cross-country skiing is much lighter in weight and more comfortable than downhill ski gear. A downhill skier wears insulated clothing to stay warm, while a cross-country skier wears lighter clothing because the exercise helps create plenty of body heat.
Those who are blind or visually impaired cross-country ski in pre-set tracks or grooves in the snow, while a sighted guide skis in a similar set of tracks alongside. The guide informs the skier of changes in the direction and level of the tracks, offers instructional tips and suggestions, and tells the skier about the countryside.
At Ski for Light, a blind/visually impaired skier is matched with an experienced sighted cross-country skier for the week. They ski together both mornings and afternoons, from Monday through Saturday. Beginning skiers are taught the basics of the sport, while those who have skied before work on improving their skills or just enjoy themselves on the snow. On Friday, a ski tour is held, in which participants ski to a remote site for lunch around a blazing bonfire. On Saturday, a rally and race are conducted in which each skier has an opportunity to test and demonstrate his or her newly acquired skills over a measured distance. This event, complete with an Olympic-type finish line and national anthems, is the highlight of the week for most participants.
The sighted guides who attend Ski for Light are a special part of the week. They come from all over the country and all walks of life. They attend because they love the sport, and because they want to share this love with others who can enjoy it as much as they do.
While skiing is the focal point of the week, it is only part of the Ski for Light experience. When skiers return to the hotel in late afternoon, they often mingle with others while relaxing in the heated pool or hot tub, just hang out, or attend an information-sharing session about hobbies and activities of special interest. Evening activities, in addition to a group dinner, usually include things like a wine and cheese reception, a talent show, an arts and crafts fair, awards presentations, and lots of informal dancing, singing and conversation. Participants have many opportunities to meet and get to know the other blind and sighted skiers, some of whom are from Norway, Japan, Great Britain, and other countries.
Information about the 2003 Ski for Light Week
Anchorage is located in south-central Alaska, on the Cook Inlet. Because of its maritime location, Anchorage is not usually subject to the temperature extremes of central Alaska or Canada, or much of the upper-midwest United States. Anchorage is a hospitable, friendly town with plenty of big-city things to do, but it has retained the flavor of the rugged Alaskan frontier. The Hotel Captain Cook is an elegant hotel with a nautical theme throughout. It has an indoor pool, hot tub, health clubs, two lounges, many arcade shops, is within walking distance of many points of interest in downtown Anchorage, and is less than 10 minutes from the airport. Russian Jack Springs Park, part of the Municipality of Anchorage’s 100-kilometer trail system, is less than 10 minutes from the hotel. It features groomed, double-tracked trails over gently rolling terrain, with a comfortable chalet for lunch.
The total cost of the week is $700 for double-occupancy, or $900 for single-occupancy, if available. This amount includes room, all meals, six days of skiing, ground transportation to and from the Anchorage airport, and a small registration fee. Cross-country skis, boots, and poles will be provided free of charge to first-time participants. The cost of transportation from home to and from Anchorage is the responsibility of the participant. Partial stipends are available for first-time participants, on a limited basis, based on financial need.
The application deadline is November 1, 2002. Applications received after the deadline will be considered as space permits. Full payment is due by January 1, 2003. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance or waiting list status beginning in mid- to late November. After acceptance you will receive more detailed information about cross-country skiing in general, clothing to bring, special transportation arrangements, and other matters of interest.
Ski for Light no longer requires applicants to submit the results of a physical examination. Each applicant is expected to make his/her own informed decision about the advisability of participation, taking into account his/her individual overall health and the physical demands and risks of cross-country skiing and of the Ski for Light program.
Space is limited, so apply as soon as possible by completing the online application at http://www.sfl.org/vipapp.html; or, you may download one from http://www.sfl.org/vipapp.doc and print an MS Word version of the application; or, you may request a paper copy from the address below. For more information about the event, contact Lynda Boose, 47440 Pilgrim Road, Houghton, MI 49931; phone (906) 250-7836, e-mail [email protected].
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! We look forward to hearing from you soon.