Ski for Light, Inc

08/26/2025

It wasn't a great year for snow in the Upper Midwest, but 2024 was a good one for us -- and you can read all about it in our latest SFL Annual Report, Happy Hodag Edition. Link to the full digital version in the comments; print copies will be going out in the mail soon to our many generous supporters and volunteers. Help us make the most of this important yearly publication by sharing it with friends, family and colleagues who might be moved to join our mission of "Skiing, Sharing, Learning."

Photo description: SFL 2024 Annual Report Cover features a cute shot of visually impaired skier Michelle Yoo and her guide Anne Dobbins in the North Woods of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, both wearing big yellow "cheesehead" hats, with our grinning Hodag mascot standing between them, monster hands wrapped around the ladies' shoulders. Inside, the photos (all captioned with subjects identified) capture the many on- and off-snow adventures that made the year so memorable.

08/15/2025

Let the stampede begin! Applications for SFL's 51st International Event in Granby, Colorado, Feb. 1-8, 2026, are now LIVE on our website, linked in the comments.

Once again we'll be skiing at Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center, staying in the comfy lodges and enjoying meals at YMCA of the Rockies-Snow Mountain Ranch. If you'd like to join us as a visually or mobility-impaired participant, guide, worker bee, or guest, ski on over to our Event page and please review all the information carefully before completing your application. We especially need GUIDES to get their applications in sooner than later, to speed the acceptance process--and as always, we need everyone's help recruiting new volunteers and participants to join the SFL family. So, spread the word! And start thinking "snow."

Photo from SFL 2024 in Rhinelander, Wisc. RASTA (Rhinelander Area Silent Trails Association) showing blind skier Michelle Yoo and her "Cheesehead" Mini-Giant Ski team racing down the short course with Dede Chinlund running alongside.

08/10/2025

We were saddened to learn of the passing of longtime Ski for Light instructor-guide and volunteer leader Gordon Larson in Spokane, Washington, in June. He was 85 years old.

From the obituary, newly published and linked in the comments: "During four decades of volunteer service to Ski for Light, as a cross-country skiing guide for adults with visual impairments, Gordon received the President's Award (the organization's highest honor), along with the love and respect of hundreds of participants. SFL President Julie Coppens called him, "my wise, patient SFL uncle: always there, always encouraging, quietly showing others the way. He will be greatly missed."

A celebration of Gordon's life will be held Saturday, September 20, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Ski for Light, or to Spokane Valley Summer Theatre (SVST.org), or to UUCS.org.

Photos show Gordon with visually impaired skier Tiffany Jessen at SFL 2016, and with his wife Jean Larson (another exceptional Ski for Light guide, along with their son Patrick) at SFL 2019 in Granby, when the couple were honored with embroidered fleece jackets for their many years of service. From our Ski for Light family to all of Gordon's loved ones, we send sympathy and gratitude for all he gave to SFL.

03/31/2025

Greetings from Norway, where the 2025 Ridderrenn is off to a beautiful, sunny start! Members of our official Ridderrenn team — visually impaired skiers Karen Burke, Susan Bueti-Hill, Audrey Farnum, and Lillian Goodman, along with guides Karen Ishibashi, Lynee Forsyth, Ted Ellickson, and Julie Coppens — plus sixteen SFL friends who joined this year’s trip, organized by Marion Elmquist, had a blast skiing Monday, despite low-snow conditions and some necessary trail adjustments. Lots more to come!

03/25/2025

VIPs and MIPs: Help out a student researcher?

Pearl Outlaw (pictured skiing in orange bib, with a guide), a graduate student at Ithaca College and a blind athlete herself, is recruiting individuals with physical disabilities to participate in a study on physical activity and self-esteem. If you're willing to help her out, click here: https://ithaca.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8BvtSAP7TvI6bxY

Pearl was introduced to Nordic skiing at the New England Regional Ski for Light; she's training for the 2026 Paralympics, while workng on her degree. Thanks in advance for supporting her research by sharing your experiences!

02/26/2025

Whew, another is in the books! We had a fantastic time at the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation - Birkie in Hayward, skiing the adaptive ParaBirkie event, surviving the Giant Ski, cheering on several SFL veteran guides in the big Birkie, manning aid stations on two of the race days, making hundreds of new friends at the Expo, and just enjoying all the festivities together. Congrats to everyone at the Birkie organization for pulling off a miraculous week of skiing under low-snow conditions -- ya'all embody the SFL motto, "If I can do this, I can do anything!" -- and thanks to the whole Birkie community for showing us so much love. Ski you next year!

02/22/2025

We are READY to refuel thousands of Nordic skiers in today’s American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation - Birkie race! SFL volunteers manning the famous “OO” Aid Station (about halfway along the 50K course from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin) include: Larry Behne, Stephanie Stegeman, Brian Christoffel, Al Volkers, Lucas Rice, Krista Erickson, Julie Coppens, Melinda Hollands, Ian Hollands, Barry Tulkki, Mark Golomski, and Alex Stegeman. Several other SFLers are skiing the big event today — we’ll try to catch them as they speed (or plod?) through the feed station.

02/21/2025

Congrats to Melinda, Lucas and Krista -- and their guides Mark, Julie, and Sarah -- on a successful ParaBirkie adaptive ski event yesterday, as part of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation - Birkie. We're having a blast here in Hayward, Wisconsin, and will have more to share, but thanks to our Birkie friends for these fabulous photos of our group out on the 3K trail, under bright sun, and coming into the iconic Birkie finish line on Main Street, cheered on by the crowd. If you're in Birkieland this week, come see us at the Expo, and look for our volunteers at the Hatchery (Friday) and OO Aid Stations (Saturday).

02/16/2025

Warning: These photos of our SFL attendees and their service dogs enjoying the The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square open rehearsal on Jan. 30 --okay, the photos are mainly of the dogs -- might just melt your heart and make you sing (or howl) with joy.

Those who attended: What do you most remember? Did you have a favorite piece?

02/14/2025

Did you miss the pre-event order -- or just need to buy one or two more, now that you know how cool they are? Here's your second (and final) chance to order an SFL 2025 Event logo T-shirt from Custom Ink. Deadline: March 15.

One last call for SFL25 Event shirts! Items will be printed together, after March 15, then ship to purchasers' addresses. You should receive email updates, and Custom Ink will add a delivery fee to each order. Thanks for sporting your Ski for Light style!

02/10/2025

SFL enjoyed fantastic snow and trail conditions in Traverse City, Michigan, at the 2025 North American Vasa. Skier and SFL Board Member Melinda Hollands rocked the 6k tour with guide Joe Carter, and skier John Kusku crushed the 27k skate race with guide Jesse Crandall (they also recently attended the Michigan Regional Ski for Light event.) Image descriptions are under each pix. Join us next year, there a wide range of events and distance options over the two day festival- skate and classic skiing, snowshoe running, snow biking, junior and adaptive events. Contact Melinda or Leslie for more info. or the event website https://vasa.org/schedule