Breckenridge, Colorado — An important figure in Colorado’s ski history has passed away.
Summit Daily reported yesterday that Trygve Berge passed away. The Norwegian was critical to the creation and early success of Breckenridge Resort, which has become one of the biggest and most popular ski resorts in the country. He passed away on April 2nd and was around his family during his final days.
Born in 1932, the Norwegian skier placed his stamp on the skiing scene with his success in ski racing. He won Norway’s national skiing championship in 1954 and competed at the 1956 Olympics. Stein Ericksen invited him to the States, and Berge spent his early years there, skiing at various resorts, including Heavenly.
Breckenridge
His next chapter came in Colorado. In the midst of a slump from the collapse of mining in the town, Trygve Berge, Bill Rounds, and Sigurd Rockn opened up a ski resort. The small operation originally began with a double chairlift on Peak 8 in late 1961. It’s grown ever so slightly since then. That same year, Berge also opened the Norway Haus Ski Shop in Breckenridge.
During the early years, he ran the resort’s ski school, training students on what became known as the Trygve trail. Berge was in various Warren Miller ski films and competed on the Wide World of Sports Pro Ski Circuit. For his efforts in creating one of America’s premier ski destinations, he was inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame in 1999.
“The name Trygve Berge is always going to be synonymous with the town of Breckenridge, Colorado, and the ski resort itself,” said Terri Edwards Shannon in Berge’s induction video. “Every skier in Colorado should be extremely grateful for the contribution he has made to the sport of skiing.”
Breckenridge would be sold to the Aspen Skiing Company in 1970. It was then sold to Ralston-Purina in 1993 and to Vail Resorts in 1996.
Despite no longer being involved in managing the ski resort, he remained an active part of the community. Berge celebrated his 90th birthday in 2022 with a day on the slopes.
We send our condolences to his family and friends, as well as the Breckenridge community, during this time.
Image/Video Credits: Breckenridge, Colorado, Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame
