Tag Archives: Blind skiing

Skiing: Quick report from Beito!

Photo of Chris lewis on the cross country Ski route at Beitostølen in ridderweek 2022

Clear blue skies, fresh mountain air, the challenge of winter sports and great logistical support – that’s the Ridder week in Norway!

Taking in that first breath of Norwegian mountain air on Sunday 13th March made the lost three years of no skiing disappear very quickly. For the four newcomers with our party of 13 attending this year’s Ridderrennet Winter sports week I suspect it was a very pleasant first experience.

However, it turned out not to be the first and possibly not the best of a lot of things that come as part of being in Beitostelen and joining such a trip.

We used to refer to it as cross country skiing, with tracks cut into the snow to guide us along with our sports student guides. But, the week now includes downhill skiing, snowboarding, biathlon (skiing and shooting), dog sleigh riding, snowshoe walking and some ad hoc tobogganing late at night with little or no supervision.

Photo of Chris Lewis and Debbie Impiazzi, another participant and guides at the Ridderweek 2022 finish line, all are smiling with their medals.
Photo of Chris Lewis and Debbie Impiazzi, another participant and guides at the Ridderweek 2022 finish line, all are smiling with their medals.

Despite the Norwegian army being mainly present at some NATO exercises up in the North of Norway, and numbers down to around 250 from the usual 500,  the Ridderrennet committee put together all of the usual support services of guides, logistics and volunteers in the hotel to keep us organised throughout the week.

Entertainment is provided in the evenings in the form of a guitarist and singing in the bar as well as some quizzes, bands in the main hall. But, the Metro group seemed to generate its own entertainment throughout the week including the above-mentioned tobogganing.

From a sporting point of view, the exercise is intense. Every day you get a chance to push yourself either downhill or across the various cross country courses – 2k, 5k,10k and even 20k for the Ridderrennet climax on Saturday.

Video below of Metro member Darren Kail downhill skiing

 

Everything is close to the hotel and bus transport gets everyone back for lunch and a quick rest before heading out again. This year the organisers also laid on some more training classes which is much needed by us compared to the Norwegians who seem to have skied since birth.

The hotel also provides a perfect swimming pool, gym and sauna to relax in, after a hard day on the slopes. It is easy to navigate and plenty of staff provide guidance and assistance with getting the delicious and plentiful food on offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Photo of an Evening dinner for the Metro Members in the Beitostelen Hotel
Photo of an Evening dinner for the Metro Members in the Beitostelen Hotel

I think almost all of the UK contingent also took advantage of the chiropractors working in the hotel each day. Plenty of legs, arms and other more tender parts of the bodies impacted by the exercise and the odd fall from grace required some stretching and clicking courtesy of a really great bunch of practitioners.

A few of my favourite memories:

  • Every meal proved to be a chance to hear what everyone else had been up to as well as just getting to know everyone including Ramin’s guide dog Felix!
  • The WhatsApp group vibrating with messages offering help to people to the pool, bar or even to do with the sport itself!
  • Louise admitted to having eaten five puddings on one evening after a particularly busy day doing cross country and downhill
  • Jo finds out that her dog sleigh ride required ten dogs when most of the rest of us only needed eight
  • The Metro contingent created their own yoga class after the yoga teacher had left for the week
  • Metro initiating tobogganing as a late-night activity on the downhill slopes opposite the hotel (Naqi, remember not to use your hand to break next time!)
  • Naqi tinkling the ivories on the piano in the dining room after dinner on several evenings

Video below of Naqi playing the piano!

 

  • The UK contingent winning medals across the events: congratulations to Louise, Debbie, Joanna, Naqi, and Ashfaq.
  • The airport assistance people leading two crocodiles of four men and three women respectively through the security on the way back – must have been quite a spectacle for those watching on!

 

Doubtless, the rest of the attendees have their own favourite memories. Being the eldest I used my status as an excuse to slip off to bed early most nights, but know of many stories of a lot of fun being had by all late into the evening. Perhaps they should as the tradition suggest, ‘stay on tour’!

In short, this is a great week for anyone looking for a series of new experiences, learning to do some winter sports and having the chance to spend a week in a great resort with fellow Metro members and a wide range of people from the US, France, Norway and many others.

Many thanks to Metro for the generous subsidy towards the week.

Bring on next year!

article by Chris Lewis

 

 

 

Metro Annual Skiing trip

Ridderweek

  • Ridderweek is held in March or April in Beitostolen Norway.
  • At Ridderweek there is a 5km race for women or a 10km race for men;  biathlon (a 6km ski coupled with sonic rifle shooting); and the 20km Ridderrennet race. 5km race for women or a 10km race for men;  biathlon (a 6km ski coupled with sonic rifle shooting); and the 20km Ridderrennet race.
  • You can read Metro members’  accounts of the previous Ridderweeks by accessing the ‘articles’ link on this page.
  • Contact Mike: mike@mikebrace.co.uk  for enquiries about the skiing trip

 

Want to know more?

For more information about skiing at Ridderweek for blind and partially sighted people and Metro’s involvement, contact Mike Brace at: mike@mikebrace.co.uk

 

 

Metro Blind Sports Social Networks

Get all the latest blind & partially sighted event information & news as soon as we do!

Metro Blind Sport:  Facebook   |  Twitter   |  Instagram   |  LinkedIn 

Metro Blind Sport membership:  more info or Join here

 

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Ski For Light (SFL) 2021

Need Something to Look Forward To? Ski for LIght Jan 24-31, 2021!

Need Something to Look Forward To? Where We’ll Be in 2021!

Mark your calendars and reserve the week of January 24-31, 2021.

The 46th annual Ski for Light International week is scheduled to take place once again in the breathtakingly gorgeous Colorado Rockies!

We will be skiing on the familiar trails and staying at the friendly confines of Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado.

As part of the YMCA of the Rockies, the venue boasts 90 kilometres of trails, providing ample skiing for all abilities from beginner to advanced.

A bonus feature of staying at SMR is that those fabulous trails are just a short shuttle ride or ski away from lodging.

General information about the week and about this much-loved location is available now at www.sfl.org/events/next.

Bonnie O’Day has just been named Chair of the 2021 planning committee, and she and her team will be working hard to lay the foundation for what will no doubt be a fun-filled week of skiing, camaraderie, and other, memorable experiences.

Stay tuned for updates about the 2021 event and be on the lookout for applications to golive in early August!

 

Photos below  of some of our members at last years Ski for light

The Dates

The 2021 Ski for Light, Inc. International Week will be held from Sunday evening, January 24 through Sunday morning, January 31, 2021. First and second year guides will need to arrive one day early, by Saturday afternoon, January 23rd, for guide orientation and training.

The Location

The 2021 Ski for Light, Inc. International Week will be held at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado, near Winter Park. The skiing portion of the Ski for Light week has been held at Snow Mountain Ranch eleven previous times, from 1992 to most recently 2019. This year, as in 2019, we will not only be skiing at Snow Mountain Ranch, we will be staying in three of the hotel and ski lodge buildings on the property. This will allow attendees to ski onto the trails just a short distance from their lodging.

Snow Mountain Ranch is a 5,100 acre complex at an elevation of 8,750 feet. The site was originally the location of two high-country homesteads, the Just Ranch established in 1895 and the Rowley Homestead established in 1919. Many of the buildings are still standing, near the Nordic Center and on the trails, as a reminder of what life was like in this rugged country a century ago. The YMCA of the Rockies acquired the property in 1966 and created the recreational mecca that it is today.

On the grounds of Snow Mountain Ranch are a 90 kilometer cross country trail system that is consistently rated as one of the best Nordic venues in the country. There is even a lighted 2 kilometer loop near the Nordic Center for those who do not get enough skiing during the day. Trails are wide and wonderfully well groomed. Also on the property are a lighted tubing hill, a covered outdoor ice skating rink, fat bike, snow shoe and hiking trails, an indoor pool and sauna, a roller skating rink, an indoor climbing wall, a craft center, a horse stable, and much more. Visit the Snow Mountain Ranch website for a complete listing of all of the activities available on the property for guests. While cross country skiing will as always be the only official Ski for Light activity, attendees will have many options available to them for their leisure hours.

Getting to and From Snow Mountain Ranch

Unless you are driving to Snow Mountain Ranch you will want to fly into and out of the Denver International Airport for your trip to Ski for Light. The Denver Airport is about 115 miles from Snow Mountain Ranch, a trip that usually takes from 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic and the weather.

The trip from the airport will take you westward on I 70 to and through the city of Denver, and then onward and upward into the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. In Clear Creek Canyon you will exit onto U.S. Highway 40, and then climb steadily upward on switchbacks until you reach the summit of Berthoud Pass at an elevation of 11,307 feet. This route to the Fraser Valley was discovered by Edward Berthoud and Jim Bridger in 1861 when they were searching for a route through the mountains for the railroad. After passing the summit you will drop down into the valley and pass the Winter Park Ski Resort before reaching your destination for the week, near Granby.

Ski for Light will provide free charter bus service between the Denver airport and Snow Mountain Ranch. If you wish to take advantage of this service please be sure to schedule your arrival in Denver for no later than 1:30 pm on your arrival day, and your departure for no earlier than 10:00 am on departure day, Sunday January 31st.

Lodging For The Week

We will be using three separate buildings on the grounds of Snow Mountain Ranch for lodging. Each building contains only rooms of a specific type.
The rooms in all three buildings have a private bathroom, in room telephone and wireless internet access, but none contain a television. Linens and towels are provided and there is daily maid service. Each building has a central lounge area for games and relaxation, with free tea and coffee service.

  • Indian Peaks Lodge is a traditional hotel type building: each of the 79 rooms in Indian Peaks contains two queen beds, a sofa sleeper, a mini fridge, a microwave oven and a balcony or patio; Indian Peaks will be used for single and double occupancy rooms.
  • Aspenbrook Lodge is a ski lodge type building. Each of the 47 rooms in Aspenbrook contains two queen beds and one set of bunk beds; Aspenbrook will be used for single , double and triple occupancy rooms.
  • Silver Sage Lodge is also a ski lodge type building. Each of the 47 rooms in Silver sage contains one queen bed and
    two sets of bunk beds; Silver Sage will be used for overflow housing as necessary.

 

Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail

Ski For Light (SFL) 2021

Need Something to Look Forward To? Ski for LIght Jan 24-31, 2021!

Need Something to Look Forward To? Where We’ll Be in 2021!

Mark your calendars and reserve the week of January 24-31, 2021.

The 46th annual Ski for Light International week is scheduled to take place once again in the breathtakingly gorgeous Colorado Rockies!

We will be skiing on the familiar trails and staying at the friendly confines of Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado.

As part of the YMCA of the Rockies, the venue boasts 90 kilometres of trails, providing ample skiing for all abilities from beginner to advanced.

A bonus feature of staying at SMR is that those fabulous trails are just a short shuttle ride or ski away from lodging.

General information about the week and about this much-loved location is available now at www.sfl.org/events/next.

Bonnie O’Day has just been named Chair of the 2021 planning committee, and she and her team will be working hard to lay the foundation for what will no doubt be a fun-filled week of skiing, camaraderie, and other, memorable experiences.

Stay tuned for updates about the 2021 event and be on the lookout for applications to golive in early August!

 

Photos below  of some of our members at last years Ski for light

 

The Dates

The 2021 Ski for Light, Inc. International Week will be held from Sunday evening, January 24 through Sunday morning, January 31, 2021. First and second year guides will need to arrive one day early, by Saturday afternoon, January 23rd, for guide orientation and training.

The Location

The 2021 Ski for Light, Inc. International Week will be held at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado, near Winter Park. The skiing portion of the Ski for Light week has been held at Snow Mountain Ranch eleven previous times, from 1992 to most recently 2019. This year, as in 2019, we will not only be skiing at Snow Mountain Ranch, we will be staying in three of the hotel and ski lodge buildings on the property. This will allow attendees to ski onto the trails just a short distance from their lodging.

Snow Mountain Ranch is a 5,100 acre complex at an elevation of 8,750 feet. The site was originally the location of two high-country homesteads, the Just Ranch established in 1895 and the Rowley Homestead established in 1919. Many of the buildings are still standing, near the Nordic Center and on the trails, as a reminder of what life was like in this rugged country a century ago. The YMCA of the Rockies acquired the property in 1966 and created the recreational mecca that it is today.

On the grounds of Snow Mountain Ranch are a 90 kilometer cross country trail system that is consistently rated as one of the best Nordic venues in the country. There is even a lighted 2 kilometer loop near the Nordic Center for those who do not get enough skiing during the day. Trails are wide and wonderfully well groomed. Also on the property are a lighted tubing hill, a covered outdoor ice skating rink, fat bike, snow shoe and hiking trails, an indoor pool and sauna, a roller skating rink, an indoor climbing wall, a craft center, a horse stable, and much more. Visit the Snow Mountain Ranch website for a complete listing of all of the activities available on the property for guests. While cross country skiing will as always be the only official Ski for Light activity, attendees will have many options available to them for their leisure hours.

Getting to and From Snow Mountain Ranch

Unless you are driving to Snow Mountain Ranch you will want to fly into and out of the Denver International Airport for your trip to Ski for Light. The Denver Airport is about 115 miles from Snow Mountain Ranch, a trip that usually takes from 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic and the weather.

The trip from the airport will take you westward on I 70 to and through the city of Denver, and then onward and upward into the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. In Clear Creek Canyon you will exit onto U.S. Highway 40, and then climb steadily upward on switchbacks until you reach the summit of Berthoud Pass at an elevation of 11,307 feet. This route to the Fraser Valley was discovered by Edward Berthoud and Jim Bridger in 1861 when they were searching for a route through the mountains for the railroad. After passing the summit you will drop down into the valley and pass the Winter Park Ski Resort before reaching your destination for the week, near Granby.

Ski for Light will provide free charter bus service between the Denver airport and Snow Mountain Ranch. If you wish to take advantage of this service please be sure to schedule your arrival in Denver for no later than 1:30 pm on your arrival day, and your departure for no earlier than 10:00 am on departure day, Sunday January 31st.

Lodging For The Week

We will be using three separate buildings on the grounds of Snow Mountain Ranch for lodging. Each building contains only rooms of a specific type.
The rooms in all three buildings have a private bathroom, in room telephone and wireless internet access, but none contain a television. Linens and towels are provided and there is daily maid service. Each building has a central lounge area for games and relaxation, with free tea and coffee service.

  • Indian Peaks Lodge is a traditional hotel type building: each of the 79 rooms in Indian Peaks contains two queen beds, a sofa sleeper, a mini fridge, a microwave oven and a balcony or patio; Indian Peaks will be used for single and double occupancy rooms.
  • Aspenbrook Lodge is a ski lodge type building. Each of the 47 rooms in Aspenbrook contains two queen beds and one set of bunk beds; Aspenbrook will be used for single , double and triple occupancy rooms.
  • Silver Sage Lodge is also a ski lodge type building. Each of the 47 rooms in Silver sage contains one queen bed and
    two sets of bunk beds; Silver Sage will be used for overflow housing as necessary.

 

 

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Looking Back SFL 2020

Looking Back at the 2020 Ski for Light Event

Looking Back at the 2020 Ski for Light Event

original article www.sfl.org

Photo Memories

Many people who attended the SFL 2020 event in Wyoming have posted individual photos as well as photo albums to the SFL Facebook page. Click here to view photo’s and keep up with SFL happenings.

2020 Race and Rally Results

View or download the 2020 Olav Pedersen Race and Rally results (MS Excel format) from the 2020 event.

Media Coverage

Two local Casper television stations aired feature stories about Ski for Light during the week.

K2 TV story by Bobby Falat   – Youtube Video Below

 

 

 

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Looking Back SFL 2020!

Looking Back at the 2020 Ski for Light Event

Looking Back at the 2020 Ski for Light Event

original article www.sfl.org

Photo Memories

Many people who attended the SFL 2020 event in Wyoming have posted individual photos as well as photo albums to the SFL Facebook page. Click here to view photo’s and keep up with SFL happenings.

2020 Race and Rally Results

View or download the 2020 Olav Pedersen Race and Rally results (MS Excel format) from the 2020 event.

Media Coverage

Two local Casper television stations aired feature stories about Ski for Light during the week.

K2 TV story by Bobby Falat   – Youtube Video Below

 

 

 

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