Blind and Visually Impaired Skiers

The Saskatoon Blind and Visually Impaired Skiers is looking for new members!

No knowledge of cross country skiing is needed to join, simply a desire to be active and have fun.

About the Group

This group of people with blindness/low vision and volunteers of all ages meet once a week during fall and winter to cross-country ski and socialize.  Starting each October, we walk weekly on the Meewasin Trail to condition, and, once the snow arrives, we cross-country ski at Wildwood Golf Course. Each skier is paired with a volunteer sighted guide. We meet on Saturday mornings from 10:00 – 12:00, and ski (or walk) for one hour, followed by having coffee and socializing together for one hour.  After the snow melts, we continue weekly walks until early May.

The Blind Skiers have several optional yearly events as well. We start the season in October with a wiener roast and hike on a beautiful acreage near Grandora.  We have a Christmas ski and pizza lunch in December. We have a pizza social in January. The club subsidizes members who wish to attend the Canadian Ski for Light recreational/competitive blind skiing event in different locations in Western Canada each February. We wind up the ski season with a pizza lunch and social at Wildwood golf course clubhouse in March.

The Saskatoon blind skiers are affiliates of the Saskatoon Nordic ski club and have been in existence since 1978. It all began with an idea from Herb Essenburg, who had fond memories of learning to ski with his brother when he was a vision impaired child growing up in Winnipeg.  Herb remembered the fun he had and thought, why not give it a try as an adult. Herb and his friend Jorgan Huss began to ski together in the parks and golf courses in Saskatoon.  They enjoyed themselves so much that they started recruiting other blind people and guides and soon the Saskatoon blind skiers evolved.

Members have ranged in age from children to seniors, our oldest member is now 90. The Club not only advances recreational skiing, but also promotes physical fitness and provides avenues for persons with disabilities to socialize with other skiers and their families. The club matches new skiers with volunteer guides to assist them with transportation, walks and skiing. A membership with the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club is required to participante. Our group is always looking for new members, both blind/low vision skiers and volunteer guides.

For more information please contact

Joanne Ferguson – Email: [email protected]