Blind Skier Readies for Norway Races

To find out more about Ski for Light, visit www.sfl.org.

Ron McIvor, a Prince George blind skier, will go to a competition in Norway on a high note.

“Now I’m ready,” said the 62-year-old who captured two gold medals last weekend at a cross-country ski meet in Kananaskis, Alberta.

McIvor, who will finally live his dream of competing with the world’s best in Norway’s

Ski For Light competition, won both the five and 10-kilometer races against 24 skiers from Canada, America, Norway and England.

“We were at a height of about 6,000 feet. The air was thin and some became ill, but I did okay,” he said.

The legally blind athlete received $1,000 he needed to make the trip to Oslo from the Treasure Cove Hotel in Prince George where management and staff felt he deserved the chance to live his lifelong dream. He will compete in 10 and 20-kilometer races expected to attract about 300 blind skiers.

Other local supporters have come forward with donations totaling about $500 that McIvor really appreciates for such matters as medical insurance.

“It also gives me a little emergency money if I should break a ski pole, and a little spending money that I didn’t have,” McIvor said.

“Now I’m into the extra hard training,” said McIvor who is working out five days a week at the YMCA where he receives a discounted rate for people with disabilities.

McIvor, who volunteers at the CNIB office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, will leave Prince George March 17 for the classic world competition being held March 22 to 29.

Source: Prince George Citizen