Good Memories of the Bear

Being from Brattleboro,VT. I grew up in the junior jumping program starting in the late 50's. My first trip to Bear MT. was in 1961, I was 9 years old and could only ski the small hill. Several years latter I graduated to the 'Big' hill!. I jumped at Bear Mt. till 1986 when I retired from jumping. Some of the best memories of my life are being at Bear Mt. with my ski jumping family!

My dad, Arnold Berge, used to jump in the 1930's and 40's at Bear Mountain and then again as an Old Timer in the 1960's. Since he worked for Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930's he was able to arrange for FDR to sponsor a jump and Mrs. Roosevelt attended and presented the prizes. He also worked with the youth training them to jump here and in Fishkill and Rosendale.

Retired

I used to go there year-round with my family. We skated,ice and roller, tobogganed, at at snack bar and Inn, boated and watched the ski jumping when they scheduled it. I know I was there in 1965. I was 14! it was impressive to watch them jump! My face was right at the fence! I love that state park. It was a short "Sunday" drive seasonally for us. another place we stopped while going up or on the way home: The red apple Rest in Tuxedo-Southfields area, Old 17.

Col, US Army (R)

While I never skied there, I ran up that hill many times in NYS cross country championship races in the 70s. A lap around the lake and then a brutal slog up and over what looks like the spot where the jumpers started to land.
The pictures and video brought back some interesting memories. I now snowboard at Hunter though! Such a beautiful area of the state.

Torger Torkle

My mom was a waitress at Bear Mountain Inn and dated Torger before he went off to war and lost his life. We are lucky to have some of his correspondence with her. I learned to skate on the rink as we went round and round to the organ music, followed by watching the jumpers, which was quite a thrill.

Old result lists ...from Bear Mtn.ny. ski jumping.

My uncle Mr. Reidar Gundersen won several ski jump titles at Bear Mtn. ny. during the 1958-1968 time periode. I'm looking for result lists of that time periode. Does anyone have any information about that, Reidar just turned 80 years old and is still in great shape. I would be thankfull for any info. about his results or participation on him.

enjoyed jumping at the bear... fun times of my life... to the editor you should make mention of the 70 meter hill we had in rosendale ny in the 1960,s

Jumped the hill in a club meet 1980 or 1981.
Coach Harry Brown from Vermont Academy drove us all over NE to meets.
A lot of the jumpers were jumping old school as they had in the day,hands forward.Hockey helmets and horned rimmed glasses didn't stop them from showing the greenhorns how to jump elevator shaft style hill.
In run track set amongst the saplings takeoff +/- 35 mph (?) takeoff.
Only work road ,viewing tower and knoll visible at takeoff.
Clear the knoll and reach for the K point. A big drop and a real thrill to jump with the old timers

Mr

I remember very well those ski jumps back in the 60's.I was so excited to go there with my parents and watch the ski jumping.It's too bad that they were discontinued.Great events for all.

The Bear

e are trying to get some support to bring back the Bear. Please contact me if you have interest.

Great memories of a wonderful time. Weekend morning outdoor skating in an beautiful setting, then watching the ski jumping.

editor of xcSkiNJ.com and oxygenfedsport.com

Nice blurb on Bear Mountain. The fourth photograph down looks very much like the one I took for this story:
http://www.xcskinj.com/articles/roy_part1.htm