Rhona and Rhoda Wurtele were born eighty-nine year ago today (January 21 1922) in Montreal’s South Shore town of St.Lambert, Quebec.
They skied in Murray Hill Park and on Mount Royal in Montreal before they would head to the Laurentians. It was something people did in the past century at it was still common until the late sixties where I started skiing.
The twins went to push barriers for women and dominated the sport in the 1940s, unfortunately it coincided with the World War II years. At the first Olympics since 1936, the twins were injured at the 1948 games St. Moritz. They went off the Senior ski jump as kids, they bungee, Heliskied as seniors.
Both are members of the Laurentian Ski Museum, Canadian and U.S. Ski Hall of Fames. Only a few elite skiers are part of both the Canadians and U.S. Ski Halls.
They are also the mothers and aunt to some well World recognized athletes like John Eaves (skiing) and Maggie Gillis (dance), but all their kids were active.
Here are the links to their biography from the US and Canadian Ski Hall of Fame. There is a series of pictures of the twins on the Canadian Museum site.
Rhoda Wurtele Eaves‘s Bios from the US Ski Hall of Fame and Canadian Ski Hall of Fame.
Rhona Wurtele Gilles‘s Bios from the US Ski Hall of Fame and Canadian Ski Hall of Fame.
Rhona and Rhoda Wurtele’s biography on Wikipedia.
To find out even more pictures and stories visit their website Twinski and read their excellent autobiography No Limits, I highly recommend it.
Meanwhile, here is this Friday’s clip:
Rhona and Rhoda Wurtele were Canadian and US Alpine Ski champions in downhill and slalom in the 1940s. Now 87 years old, they are still active and full of energy. This is a short documentary on their passionate and intriguing lives. For more details about them and their adventures, read the book “No limits” that was written recently on their amazing story. Visit http://www.twinski.com.
All pictures above are used with permission from the Canadian Ski Museum
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Love that last photo. Another enjoyable, educational Friday Night Video from SMW. Thanks Mad Pat!
they are 97 not 87 what a team they were I am so sorry my condolences
Keith, I wrote this story 9 years ago, back on the twins birthday in 2011.