TED CHIVERS- DEC 24 2017

CURATOR’S NOTE- Ted emailed me last year after the Peter Robes story ran with supplemental details on Peter’s father, Bill.  It was quickly apparent that he was sitting on a treasure trove of material.  He promised to pull some of it together for a story this year and, to the good fortune of all of us, came through!  Be sure to scroll through the many pictures below.  Enjoy!

On the ship headed to Garmisch Partenkirchen, GER for the 1936 Olympics.  Note that many of the athletes signed the photo.  Ted’s father, Warren,  is back row fourth from the left.  To see Warren’s US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame bio, click here.

TED CHIVERS
Springfield, VT
tchivers@allseasonsconst.com

THE OLD DAYS

I grew up in the next generation after the renowned Dartmouth ski teams of the 30’s, of which my dad, Warren Chivers and uncle, Howard Chivers were members and captains in the late 30’s. Warren and Howard went on to Olympic teams of ’36 & ’40. They were followed on Dartmouth teams by two younger brothers in the early 40’s. This is a condensed, pigeon-hole view of some of the history of that era and forward, much of which relates to those teams and the Dartmouth jump at Vale de Temps, accompanied by various photos from the early days of the jump, along with some trivia information. Of course, it may include a bit more information about Warren, as I will admit, I am naturally biased and proud of my Dad’s accomplishments. Forgive me if it appears that I’m blowing his horn, as he was a humble man in that sense, preferring to take pride in the successes of his students and athletes.  I should add that Howard was right there next to him in that sense. There is so much that could be written and so many photos to choose from, the most difficult part is to know where to begin and end, and moreover, to keep it short. And there are many who are far more knowledgeable of that history than I, as I’m going on photos from Dad’s albums and information passed on to me over the years, along with having been around many of those early skiers of that pioneering generation as a kid and competing on the same hills that they skied a generation before. I loved listening to their stories and looked up to them as my heroes.

To any of you in later generations and those from other parts of the country, the names may not be as recognizable as they will be to those of us who grew up and skied in the 50’s-70’s.

Here is little random trivia. Did you know?

• That the knoll on the Dartmouth hill was built out of wood, which eventually rotted or was otherwise damaged (possibly from the ’38 hurricane and caved in. Knoll hopping was not recommended, as there remained only a large crater that one had to clear just to stay alive.
• That Bill Robes not only was a good ski jumper of that era (and subsequent official and coach over his long career), but had the additional talent and courage to entertain the crowd doing flips, or somersaults- forward at that, off a normal ski jump! Bill created a wooden model of a ski jumper which he named Olaf Longflight,. Olaf had articulated joints that could be formed into any shape to illustrate inrun, takeoff, flight and landing positions, and was used as a coaching aid for beginning jumpers. See photos. And it wouldn’t be right not to mention sons Dana and Pete, top jumpers of my generation. Pete contributed a fitting story about his dad last year.
• That Dick Durrance was not just the best alpine skier of his time nationally and internationally, but skied 4 events. See photo beside jump with Warren Chivers. In reality, nearly everyone skied 4 events in those days. In fact, all of us who skied for Warren skied 4 events through the 60’s and beyond.
• That Warren Chivers competed with Nordic Combined team at the 1936 Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and was an alternate to the Olympic Alpine team. He might have skied four events had he not gotten lost in fog the at the Olympic Tryouts on Mount Ranier and skied off the course. This was a comical anecdote in Durrance’s book The Man on Medal. Dad, along with brother Howard and Dave Bradley, was also named to the 1940 nordic team, but those Olympics were not held due to the war.
• That Sigmund Ruud from Kongsberg, Norway, (older brother of Birger) and World Champion in ’29 & ‘30, and Dad became close friends, and he counted the Chivers home in Hanover as his own when competing in this country. And it was reciprocal relationship when Warren was in Norway after the ’36 Olympics. See photo.
• That Warren Chivers was the head ski coach at Vermont Academy from 1940 until his first “retirement” at 65 and continued on working with the program for nearly 20 years more. All of his kids learned to compete in 4 events. Other than the Prep School Championships, we skied all 4 in the same day!  He sent many skiers off to become national and international competitors and coaches, and well known and respected members of the ski community- too many to name without the risk of missing some. During that time, a few other highlights were: Coaching the Jr, National team in ’66 or ’67; Appointed Chief of Timing for the X-C venue at the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics; Elected to the National Ski Hall of Fame; Elected to the Vermont Ski Museum Hall of Fame.
• Jumping (pun intended) way ahead to 1993, when the Dartmouth Vale de Temps tower was torn down, as the colleges had given up the sport and the structure was viewed as a liability. However, when word got out that it was due to be demolished, the network of active and former jumpers came alive and a last-minute, informal send-off competition was held, marking the last time any of us would ski the 50M hill. We dusted off the skis and up we went- most of us from the picnic table on top to help offset the years and muscle memory loss, and others, like Jimmy Holland in his prime, out of a lower chute. See article here commemorating the event by Don West. http://archive.skijumpeast.com/lastflg.htm; and here by Evan Morgan. http://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2017/02/remembering-the-dartmouth-ski-jump-1929-1993
• That a ceremony was held in 1994 to dedicate the granite monument with bronze plaque commemorating the site of one of the more recognizable features along the road past the Hanover golf course. This marked the true “END” of the Dartmouth jump- a sad thing to accept, as it was an important piece of the history of the early days of skiing in this country.

The good news, is that ski jumping is alive and well in Hanover and surrounding towns in New Hampshire, and the current participants are creating their own stories to be told, while making a new era in the history of ski jumping.

Dartmouth’s Vale de Temps ski jump after the ’38 Hurricane.  Note the trestle knoll that would later rot away making knoll-knocking a risky proposition.

The famous Dartmouth coach, Otto Schniebs (L) with members of a mid 30’s Dartmouth Ski Team.  From left to right- Otto, Warren Chivers, Dick Durrance, Sel Hannah, Brian Woods, Ted Huntley, and an unknown skier far right.  Otto died in 1971 at age 78.  To see his New York Times obituary click here

Postcard of the Val de Temps ski jump during a Dartmouth Winter Carnival.  Note the wooden trestle knoll is still in tact.

Dick Durrance (L) and Warren Chivers (R) at Dartmouth’s Vale de Temps ski jump.  Warren graduated from Dartmouth in ’37 after taking time off from school in ’36 to compete in the Olympics.

Dartmouth Ski Team lunch break in Lake Placid.  From left to right- George De Rocier, Steve Bradley, Dave Bradley (back), Howard Chivers, coach Walter Prager (back), Warren Chivers, Sherman Spears, and Steve Kolter.  Walter Prager was from Switzerland and coached Dartmouth from 1936 until 1957; he was legend in both Europe and North America.  To see his US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame bio- click here.

A family that skis together… the Chivers boys with mother.  From left to right- John, Roland, Howard, Warren, and their mother.

Brothers Howard and Warren Chivers with Mezzy Barber (R).

Sigmund and Birger Ruud performing a double jump in Brattleboro, VT.

A 1930’s era shot of an exhibition event that Warren jumped in at the Los Angeles Coliseum.  The note under the photo in the scrapbook reads- “The jump as constructed of steel tubing in the Los Angeles Coliseum.”

Warren Chivers, Dartmouth’s Vale de Temps ski jump in 1937

Howard Chivers at Berlin NH.

Warren at Berlin, NH.

Dave Bradley at the Olympic tryouts in Bush Lake, MN (1940?).  Dave and brother Steve were Dartmouth skiers with the Chivers… another story, some of which you can see in his US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in Dave’s bio by clicking here. and Steve’s by clicking here.  Dave, along with Warren and Howard Chivers were named to the 1940 Olympic team that did not compete.

END OF AN ERA- Warren Chivers, Ev Wood, and Dave Bradley saying good bye to Dartmouth’s Vale de Temps ski jump at the final competition in March of 1993 before it was torn down that summer.

Dave Bradley and Mike Holland saying a few words at the dedication of a monument at the site of the Dartmouth ski jump.

Warren Chivers speaking at the dedication in 1993.

The plaque commemorating the “grand old Dartmouth Ski Jump- first and last of the college big hills.”  The inscription reads: “Youth and courage took flight here… and fired the Carnival air.”

“Olaf Longflight” the training model that Bill Robes designed and built as a coaching aid.  Bill used Olaf to show young jumpers the preferred positions and movements… without having to bend over himself!