Ski for Light, Inc

Ski for Light, Inc Skiing. Sharing. Learning. SFL testimonials from prior events:

“I loved every moment of the challenges, excitement, and victories.

The 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. The week in Provo was not just a sporting event for me, but a healing week. So many past moments of doubt about what I can or cannot do were flushed away…”
—Jeannie Partaka, first-time blind skier


“The generosity of the guides and other volunteers was so beautiful, and yet when I said so, each one answered that they got as much out of it as the participants.”
“Cheering as friends I knew crossed the finish line, I was struck, as I had so often been, by the guts, determination and sense of adventure that we all share.”
—Christine Malec, first-time blind skier


“I was nervous at first, wondering if I would be a good enough skier to guide someone who was totally dependent on me. It turned out to be one of the most rewarding weeks of my life!”
“The experience made me much more aware of our blind community and what they accomplish in spite of what we sighted people would consider extremely challenging obstacles—and the many things that we take for granted.”
—Pat Lawrence, first-time guide

Another awesome day of skiing out on the snow! We love seeing everyone’s smiling faces and can’t wait for the talent sho...
02/06/2026

Another awesome day of skiing out on the snow! We love seeing everyone’s smiling faces and can’t wait for the talent show tonight ❄️

Thank you Jake Breyer for these wonderful photos





A night of awards, winners, and live auctions was had last night at the silent auction here on  🍾 Joseph Mueller facilit...
02/05/2026

A night of awards, winners, and live auctions was had last night at the silent auction here on 🍾 Joseph Mueller facilitated the live auction portion with Mitzi Sommer resulting as the highest bidder of SFL wind chimes graciously made and donated by Nino Pacini!




From the wall to the rink, we’re all moving together tonight during Night at the Kiva! 🛼🪨 After a day of skiing and cons...
02/04/2026

From the wall to the rink, we’re all moving together tonight during Night at the Kiva! 🛼🪨 After a day of skiing and constant shifts in weather, we celebrated our second night with rock climbing, roller blading, and archery!






Congratulations (or "Gratulerer," på norsk) to this year's Ski for Light Ridderrenn team, announced Tuesday night. These...
02/04/2026

Congratulations (or "Gratulerer," på norsk) to this year's Ski for Light Ridderrenn team, announced Tuesday night. These outstanding SFLers will represent the USA at the 2026 Ridderrenn in Beitostølen, Norway, March 15-22: Doug Sundberg (from left), Allen Takahashi, Greg Andrews, Lucas Rice, Greg Cox, and (not pictured) Marian Wildgruber. Second photo: Longtime Foreningen Ridderrennet chief of race Reidar Storvik and Marion Elmquist, SFL's Ridderrenn team leader, presented the honorees with their team patches, North Face packs from Mel's Trading Post, and some snazzy red-and-white merino wool ski beanies donated by our good friends at Delaine & Co. Special thanks also to Borton Overseas - Journeys to Extraordinary Lands for helping us get these skiing ambassadors to Norway. We couldn't do it without your support!

Today we celebrate our 51st anniversary by kicking off the 2026 event with the first day of guide and skier skiing! The ...
02/02/2026

Today we celebrate our 51st anniversary by kicking off the 2026 event with the first day of guide and skier skiing! The energy is high and is only going to get higher from here ✨ Stay tuned for a wild night of western immersion full of dancing, spirit, and food!






We kicked off our sunny Sunday with guide training out on the trails this morning!! With the sunny conditions and excite...
02/02/2026

We kicked off our sunny Sunday with guide training out on the trails this morning!! With the sunny conditions and excited energy of our first and second year guides, the excitement is radiating for the beginning of Ski for Light International 2026 tomorrow!





Ski for Light Guide Training is gearing up for our 30 plus new SFL guides arriving TODAY! Tomorrow these newbies will be...
02/01/2026

Ski for Light Guide Training is gearing up for our 30 plus new SFL guides arriving TODAY! Tomorrow these newbies will be on the snow learning all techniques for a FUN & safe week at Ski for Light International. YEAH!!


While most Ski for Light attendees are back home, packing and checking flight statuses, members of the SFL board are all...
01/31/2026

While most Ski for Light attendees are back home, packing and checking flight statuses, members of the SFL board are all ready on site at the YMCA of the Rockies-Snow Mountain Ranch , working to ensure not just a successful event (starting this Sunday!!) but a healthy, sustainable organization. We are sooooo ready!!!


BIG thanks to the amazing grooming team at Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center! We are so excited to be on your trails!!!
01/30/2026

BIG thanks to the amazing grooming team at Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center! We are so excited to be on your trails!!!

Let the final countdown begin! Only 7 days stand between us and the start of the 2026 Ski for Light International Event,...
01/26/2026

Let the final countdown begin! Only 7 days stand between us and the start of the 2026 Ski for Light International Event, and the excitement is practically buzzing in the air.
Picture it: crisp mountain mornings, the sound of skis gliding over Snow Mountain Ranch’s legendary Nordic trails, and the joy of reconnecting with friends who feel like family — plus the thrill of meeting brand‑new ones.
And when the sun goes down? Get ready to trade ski gear for cowboy hats, because our yee‑haw western night is shaping up to be unforgettable.
A full week of adventure, community, and pure Rocky Mountain magic awaits at YMCA of the Rockies , Snow Mountain Ranch.
Counting down the days — can’t wait!


We had a spectacular SFL Planning Weekend at Snow Mountain Ranch! SFL 2026 event chair David Fisichella, vice chair Meli...
10/21/2025

We had a spectacular SFL Planning Weekend at Snow Mountain Ranch! SFL 2026 event chair David Fisichella, vice chair Melinda Hollands, and planning team members Krista Erickson, Peggy Malloy, Lucas Rice, Tim McCorcle, Karen Ishibashi, Julie Coppens, Judy Dixon, Deni Elliott, Bonny O'Day, Bob Hartt, Lillian Goodman and Nino Pacini, plus others phoning in from afar, met with YMCA of the Rockies staff -- including Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center director Jeff Paulson, pictured here outside the beautiful new Camper Hub building, which will be our skiing home base and lunchroom for the week. We enjoyed some excellent meals in the Commons (new food service team since our last visit: chef's kiss) and explored some new trails (imagine them covered in snow and impeccably groomed for classic skiing), while revisiting favorite sites like Columbine Point and the Indian Peaks fireplace. We also checked out the Kiva (a Pueblo word meaning "gathering place"), SMR's indoor rec center with roller rink, archery range, climbing wall, basketball court and more -- where we'll all get to play on Tuesday night of Ski for Light week. Still lots of details to sort, decisions to make, and work to do, but we are getting there! Big thanks to all the volunteer leaders who spent the weekend making sure SFL 2026, Feb. 1-8, will be one of our best. And just to be super-sure, Melinda wrote a letter to place in God's Mailbox: "Dear God, Thank you for your beautiful world, and please send lots of snow this winter."

p.s. We could still use a few more guides! And we still have stipends available to help offset the cost for volunteers to attend. Link in the comments for details and registration form.

We are now officially famous Down Under! Thanks heaps to Vision Australia Vision Australia Radio for featuring SFL on th...
10/15/2025

We are now officially famous Down Under! Thanks heaps to Vision Australia Vision Australia Radio for featuring SFL on their excellent Studio 1 podcast, with host Lizzie Eastham talking with visually impaired skier Anthony Nelson and SFL President Julie Coppens. Cheers also to Lily Piccolo, our first-ever Aussie participant (SFL 2025 in Provo), for putting us in touch -- you're like a one-woman PR squad for an entire hemisphere!

"If you've never made anyone cry, you will have about 300 people just crying their eyes out because of the joy of watching a brand new skier come in, in one week's time, which is very short, and finish a race. It's overwhelming because you get to see those new skiers... and it is a riot to watch them come across the (finish) line." - Anthony Nelson

Episode link in the comments.

Address

1455 W Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN
55408

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