A Guide's Prespective of the Optical Illusions Blind Ski Club

OI is a charitable organization dedicated to the education of blind persons in the art of skiing. OI also provides non-skiing recreational / social activities for the blind throughout the year.

History

Blind skiing began in the Metro-Detroit area of Michigan in December 1973 as a satellite operation of another state’s blind ski program. From this beginning, the Pine Knob Ski Resort in Clarkston, Michigan has been the host and benefactor. In 1976 a group of individuals formed the non-profit Michigan OI. This early group’s persistence and dedication has allowed numerous blind and sighted individuals to gain friendships, skills and knowledge with OI for over three decades. And the group still skis at Pine Knob Ski Resort each Sunday morning starting in January. 

Community Impact

OI has a positive community impact in various ways:

  • On an individual level, OI addresses the social and physical needs of the blind community, allowing them the opportunity to participate in exciting activities that they may not otherwise be able to enjoy without this support.
  • OI provides the opportunity for blind persons to gain skills and confidence through its various activities.
  • In addition, OI provides a way for persons with vision loss to network and learn from each other while they also have fun.
  • OI provides enjoyable volunteer opportunities for the sighted community.
  • OI develops teamwork skills as the blind and sighted individuals learn to work together.
  • On a larger scale, through its varied public activities, OI also helps inform members of the general population to better understand more about vision loss and what blind people can do!

 Structure

OI is a membership organization with 3 types of members:

  1. Blind or visually impaired skiers - must be legally blind with best correction and be ready for exciting adventures.
  2. Sighted Guides - these volunteers give left and right turn commands to guide the blind skier down the ski slopes, and provide assistance as needed for the other activities.
  3. Boosters - are often family members, but can be any non-skier or non-guide individuals that are willing to help with any non-skiing tasks, and provide support  for the activities, such as providing transportation for the blind.

OI has an elected seven-member board consisting of: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Trustees. Each office is held for two years.

Activities

Since 1977, blind and visually impaired members, from ages 5 to 73, have enjoyed one or more of these activities:

beep baseball

boating

bowling

bumper cars

camping

canoeing

carnival rides

cross country skiing

dune buggy rides

fishing

goal ball

kayaking

riding paddle boats

riding peddle cars

river tubing

rock climbing, both indoors and outdoors

sailing

snow shoeing

snow tubing

spelunking

tandem biking

water slides

waterskiing

white water rafting

and two adventuresome blind members chose to do a tandem parachute jump.

I personally enjoyed sharing most of these activities with members both blind and sighted.

Long time guide, Jim Przybylo 

Contact: oiguidepk@sbcglobal.net