10/27/09 - Bend
By: Jonathan Bellemore
 
In 1928, a group of Scandinavian lumber workers, Nels Skjersaa, Emil Nordeen, Nils Wulfberg and Chris Kostol labeled themselves as the Skyliners, a group of guys who loved the outdoors and skiing. They had many rivals such as the Hoo Hoos of McCloud, the Eugene Obsidians, the Hood River Crag Rats, and others who competed against each other in small circuit races.
 
"It was more of a social club at that time and it evolved into a competitive skiing organization," says Frank Cammack.
 
By 1936, the Skyliners had a facility at the end of Skyliner Road but it burned down in 1957.  During World War II the U.S. created a unit of ski-troopers. One of those men, Bill Healy moved to Bend after the war and became active in Skyliners.
 
Healy and other investors began developing Bachelor Butte in 1957. Frank Cammack helped nurture the early careers of Olympic skiers, Kiki Cutter and many others.
 
"They were looking at trying to bring a coach over from Europe and when I arrived in Bend I had a lot of experience skiing and competitive skiing and had been involved in national teams myself," Cammack says.
 
Today it's the Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation.
 
I'm Jon Bellemore for this KOHD Flashback.