Chicago blind skier Takes gold medal at
Nastar Championships in Steamboat Springs, CO

1,040 participants from 120 Nastar courses in the United States and Canada registered to race at the 2009 Nastar Championships at Steamboat Springs, CO March 26 - 29 th. The categories were alpine skiers, telemarkers, snowboarders, and physically challenged. Jennifer Gardner from Park City Utah has guided blind skier John Erickson, 52 from River Forest, IL for the past 3 ski seasons at Park City Mountain Resort. This is the second year they have received a gold medal at the NASTAR Championships. . At the award ceremony, both skier and guide were awarded gold medals. John qualified to ski in the NASTAR Championships by earning a Gold medal at the NASTAR course at Park City Mountain Resort in January.

Erickson is completely blind in his right eye and has almost no vision in his left. He became legally blind at the age of 12 and learned to ski at the age of 16 with The American Blind Skiing Foundation here in Chicago. “ABSF came along at a critical time of my life”, Erickson says. “Showing me that I could ski eventually showed me that my visual handicap was more of a ‘visual inconvenience.’” ABSF works with people of all ages so they can experience the excitement and accomplishment of downhill skiing. During the ski season, volunteers work one on one with skiers on day and weekend trips to ski resorts in Wisconsin. ABSF also has a Western trip once a year.

When Erickson and Gardner race, they ski with John following Jennifer, ideally from 15 feet behind. John describes it as following a bouncing dot, down the mountain in a white out. He can see her orange guide bib and dark ski clothes against the white snow. Over the past three years, John's hearing has deteriorated to the point where he wears hearing aids. They usually do not verbally communicate while skiing. Jennifer makes large arm movements to signal slowing down or stopping, which John can see. When they are stopped, Jennifer will describe the upcoming slope.

On The last day of the competition, all gold medal winners, raced against each other in the "race of the champions". Erickson and Gardner were very pleased to place in the middle of the pack. Erickson says the high points of the whole competition were having two young skiers ask him to sign their helmets, having Jennifer receive a gold medal with him, and him deciding that the gold medal prize of a new watch would go to his father, who was his first guide 36 years ago.

Contact ABSF if you would like to volunteer as a ski guide-and help show some other visually impaired people that skiing is too fun not to do just because you can’t see well!

ABSF is endorsed by the Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council (CMSC). Some ABSF blind skiers have become proficient in racing and have participated and won medals with the U.S. Blind Olympic Team.  ABSF welcomes everyone.

This totally volunteer organization depends on voluntary contributions and fundraising activities to continue its work.  Tax deductible contributions can be sent to 

The American Blind Skiing Foundation
C/O Jim Hynan, Treasurer
8100 Foster Ln, #310
Niles, IL 60714-1159