HIGGINS LAKE – The Higgins Lake-Roscommon Lions Club hosted the annual Ski for Light program at the RAM Center Jan. 13-14. About 50 people from across Michigan attended the event, which allows visually impaired skiers a chance to try cross country skiing.
Participants are paired with a sighted skier, who assists by guiding the visually impaired to the trail, which is groomed with a special tool which cuts two paths so they can ski together.
The Lions Club assists with meals, on-site fires, and ski retrieval. Cross Country Ski Headquarters donated the skis and poles for the event.
According to Ski for Light, the idea of teaching blind people to cross-country ski began in “Norway in the 1950’s with a blind Norwegian musician named Erling Stordahl. His work led in 1964 to the creation of the Ridderrenn, which today annually attracts more than 1,000 disabled participants and guides to the mountains of Norway for a week-long event.
The Ski for Light concept was brought to the United States in 1975 through the efforts of Olav Pedersen, with the support and involvement of many others.
Assisting from the Lions Club were Brian Brown, Mike Ritchie, Tim and Janelle Legg, Mark and Tracy Constance, and Bill Curnilia.
