| About three hours west of Denver lies
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| | blind skiier and chairman of Ski for
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| Snow Mountain Ranch, one of the top
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| | Light's Public Relations Committee, says
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| cross-country ski centers in the United
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| | their role is vital to the success of the
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| States. Known as the "YMCA of the
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| | program.
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| Rockies", it boasts a large ski chalet
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| | "They are there because they love
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| and over 90 kilometers of packed and
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| | cross-country skiing and wish to share
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| groomed trails.
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| | that love with someone like myself who
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| From January 30 to February 6, 2005, the
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| | otherwise might not have the opportunity
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| center will host the 30th annual Ski for
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| | to experience the sport and the
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| Light International event, a week that
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| | exhilarating sense of freedom that it
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| brings blind and mobility-impaired adults
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| | brings," Farrar explains.
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| together with sighted ski instructors for
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| | The highlight of the event is a 5-K rally
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| cross-country skiing and fun social
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| | and 10-K race, complete with national
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| activities. Participants come from the
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| | anthems and Olympic-style finish line.
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| United States, Norway, and several other
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| | Skiiers get the chance to showcase the
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| countries to either learn skiing for the
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| | skills they've learned during the week
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| first time, or improve on previously
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| | over a measured distance, but don't have
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| developed skills.
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| | to be competitive or athletic. The only
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| The first Ski for Light was held in
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| | thing asked of them is to give skiing a
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| Norway in 1964, and was so successful
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| | try, and have fun.
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| that a nonprofit all-volunteer
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| | Mary Kozy, a blind clinical social worker
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| organization was formed. Chapters began
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| | from Chicago, was a bit apprehensive when
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| spreading to other parts of the world,
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| | she attended her first Ski for Light in
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| and the program was first introduced to
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| | 1978. But it didn't take her long to
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| the United States in 1975. The idea is
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| | discover the joy of learning to ski, and
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| to provide the blind and
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| | meeting other people with positive
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| mobility-impaired a chance to experience
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| | attitudes.
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| the freedom and benefits of physical
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| | After attending Ski for Light, I caught
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| activity through cross-country skiing.
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| | the "if I can do this, I can do anything"
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| At the beginning of the event, each
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| | attitude, and went on to love skiing,"
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| skiier is paired with an instructor
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| | Kozy recalls. "It is a real high to go
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| guide, according to experience level.
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| | to SFL for a week and be around so many
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| Beginners are taught basic fundamentals
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| | enthusiastic people."
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| of the sport, while more advanced skiiers
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| | While skiing is the big attraction, it is
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| work on improving their techniques and
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| | only part of the total experience. After
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| endurance.
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| | a day on the slopes, skiiers and guides
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| Skiiers navigate the slopes in pre-set
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| | return to their hotel for dinner, talent
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| tracks or grooves in the snow, while
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| | shows, music and dancing, or just
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| their instructors ski on a parallel set
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| | lounging in a heated pool or hot-tub.
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| of tracks. The guide advises when to
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| | Even poor snow conditions can't stop the
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| change direction, speed up and slow down,
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| | event. In cases of extremely low
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| and describes any changes in the level
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| | temperatures or not enough snow,
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| and direction of the tracks. Skiiers
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| | participants organize games, field trips,
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| with mobility impairments use sit-skis,
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| | exercises, and other activities.
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| while their guides give instructional
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| | Many skiiers believe the most rewarding
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| tips and offer physical assistance if
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| | aspect of Ski for Light is the memories
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| needed. In addition to cross-country
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| | and camaraderie they share with each
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| skiing, mobility-impaired participants
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| | other and their guides.
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| also have the chance to learn the sport
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| | "The friendships I've made through SFL
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| of sled-hockey during the week.
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| | are deep, and those I will have all my
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| The sighted instructors are volunteers
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| | life," Mary Kozy says. "People come
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| from all over the United States who pay
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| | through town and visit, and we are now
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| their own way to attend, just like the
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| | like a big family.
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| other participants. Duane Farrar, a
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|
