© Páll Guðjónsson

A record number of participants

“When we started the event in 2005 no one had a clue what we were doing and for a long time people did not understand what this was all about and why we were doing this.”

Frosti

It’s bear season. Meaning that this coming Thursday sees the opening of BEARS ON ICE, Icealand´s only Bear event. Over one hundred guys from all over the world are heading this way to celebrate, mingle, make friends, explore the country and have fun, making it a record in number of participants. We met one of the organizers, Frosti Jónsson, who not only told us a little bit about the annual event, which is steadily becoming very popular, but also gave us insight into the Icelandic bear scene and what it really means to be a bear. Or a cub.

The most common definition of a bear is a gay man who is hairy, has facial hair and a cuddly body. However, the word “bear” means many things to different people, even within the bear movement, according to Frosti Jónsson, one of the organizers of BEARS ON ICE. “A Bear is often defined as more of an attitude than anything else – a sense of comfort with our natural masculinity and bodies and not being slaves to the fashion industry that is so common in gay circles and the culture at large,” he explains to us in a calm manner.

But then you have Bears and Cubs. What’s the difference. Is it say, like top and bottom?
“Cubs are usually simply younger bear-ish guys who may eventually grow into a big bears but also those who would not be described as “big bears”.
Frosti says that personally says he’s not much into labels and adds that in no way do these labels indicate any preferences in the bedroom. “We don’t care which way you go. Friendship, affiliation and inclusiveness are much more important.”

Why do gay men see the need to categorize themselves as such?
“I think this is not something that only gay men do, it’s something people do, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. But I think there is nothing wrong with doing that. We all want to find a common ground to identify ourselves with and that’s what this is all about. For us it’s about enjoying the company of likeminded guys of all ages, sizes and shapes and enjoy life as much as possible.”

Since beards, long hair and hairy chests are currently popular in Iceland, don’t you think its going to be hard for the guests to spot the difference between bears and cubs from the rest of the population?
Frosti shakes his head. “Gay men don’t necessarily look any different than other men so we appreciate beauty wherever we find it.”

Another silly question we feel inclined to ask. Do bears and cubs mainly dig similiar types of men?
“Again, the bear scene is not about the way you look,” Frostie patiently explains. “It´s about the way you think. And bears are not necessarily only attracted to other bears. Love knows no boundaries and we welcome all.”

The bear culture originates in the US and can be traced back to the late 70’s and 80’s. Frosti says that in a way the bear culture stems from a rebellion against the mainstream gay culture with gay men feeling alienated because they did not fit in for various reasons. “This grew into something bigger as more and more men realized they were not alone feeling that way and eventually the bear scene came to existence.”

Bears seem like a fairly new concept to us in Iceland. Why did it take us such a long time to pick up?
“Iceland’s gay scene is small and for that simple reason there hasn’t been much demand or room for thriving subcultures such as a bear scene,” Frosti states. “It took us a while to be heard, taken seriously or even approved.”
According to him a lot of gay guys imagined this event to be something it wasn’t. Mostly because they didn’t show up to the events to see what it was all about before making assumptions. “When we started the event in 2005 no one had a clue what we were doing and for a long time people did not understand what this was all about and why we were doing this.”

So for those still unsure, BEARS ON ICE is a social event he explans. “It’s a platform for men to meet other likeminded men, socialize, mingle and have fun. We try very hard to make this a very welcoming event and I think the number of guys attending speaks for itself.”
BEARS ON ICE has grown from a small party with 20 people to an event where 130 guys from all over the world come to enjoy the company of each other. “And we’re very happy to see the number of Icelanders showing up for our events growing as well which is fantastic.”

What’s the Icelandic bear scene like the rest of the year? What to you guys do together – well apart from the obvious?
“Like other men we are social creatures, we like to hang out, grab a beer at a local bar or throw dinner parties for each other,” he answers adding with a sarcastic smile: “Is that obvious?”

How did you figure out you were a bear/cub?
“I’ve never been obsessed with defining myself as a bear or a cub or whatever label you can come up with,” he says. “The best aspect of the bear scene is the simple fact that I find it friendly and I fit in socially.”
Frosti also points out that you don’t need to be a bear or a cub, have beard or whatever to be part of the bear scene. “Just be yourself and respect everyone else for who they are. Simple as that. It’s just a bunch of likable guys and a lot of them happen to be damn cute too!”

Does it feel like coming out of the closet for a second time?
Frosti ponders. “No, I’ve never felt that way, but I know for some it has been like that.”
He says it makes him sad when gay men as with everyone else are afraid to show their affection openly towards someone they love because they’re afraid of being judged, or rejected by their friends, society or whomever.
“If you like chubby guys, then that’s who you are and you should be proud of it, no excuses needed. If your friends can’t take it, they’re not your friends. They’re fake. If we are able to change the way people see themselves and make them more confident, happy and proud then we are happy.”

After our talk with Frosti we feel a lot safer to show up for BEARS ON ICEWe are safe to assume that, right?
Frosti starts by diminishing our hopes of going. “Actually both the package deals, Complete Pass and Simple Pass, which include a trip to The Blue Lagoon and The Golden are completely sold out,” he says, which only shows how popular the event has become.

But mind you, Frosti says there’s no need to despair. A big part of the program is still available to all gay men.
“You have a chance to come to the Welcome party at Iðusalir (Lækjargata 2) and Top-Off party at Club Kiki (Laugavegur 22) on Friday night which both are free. Then a Men Only Dance at Haarlem/Volta (Tryggvagata 22) on Saturday Night which you buy tickets for at the entrance.” There The Dream Bears from London will not only put on a show but DJ Coling Gaff (Australia) and DJ John Eltong (Copenhagen, Denmark) will also make sure everybody has a great time.
“My advice is not to miss this, it’s going to be a fantastic weekend. Show up, mingle and make friends. Take pride in who you are. It all comes down to this: Friendship, love and lots of hugs,” Frosti finally says and gives us a big smile.

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

—————-

Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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