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Rhoda Wurtele Eaves

Affiliated Discipline(s): Alpine
Hometown: St. Lambert, Que
Active Career Period: 1942–1959
Induction CSHF: 1982
Induction Category: Athlete
Rhoda Wurtele Eaves. U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

Born in the small town of St. Lambert, Quebec, Rhoda Wurtele and her twin sister Rhona achieved greatness in alpine ski racing. The sisters were inseparable both in life and on the many podiums they shared throughout their illustrious careers, which spanned the 1940s and part of the 1950s.

After qualifying for the national ski team in 1942, Rhoda quickly found herself sharing the leaderboard with Rhona. On multiple occasions, they finished first and second in international competitions, initially against U.S. teams and later abroad.

Both sisters have been honoured with numerous awards, including inductions into multiple halls of fame. They also gave back to the sport by teaching skiing for more than 50 years with the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance. Both were inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame in 1982.

Rhoda Wurtele Gillis and her sister Rhona left an indelible mark on alpine skiing for Canadian women, paving a path of excellence that continues today.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • 1942: 1st place, downhill; 2nd place, combined, Ladies International Ski Meet, Mont Tremblant, Quebec; 1st place, Taschereau downhill, Mont Tremblant, Quebec

  • 1943: 1st place, downhill, Laurentian Championships, Mt Baldy, Quebec; 1st place, downhill & slalom, Mont Tremblant, Quebec; 1st place, Taschereau downhill

  • 1944: 1st place, Taschereau downhill, Mont Tremblant, Quebec; 2nd place, combined, Kate Smith International, Lake Placid, N.Y., USA; 1st place, slalom & downhill, Laurentian, Mont Gabriel, Québec

  • 1945: 1st place, combined, Alta Cup; 1st place, downhill, slalom & combined, Ontario Ladies Meet, Collingwood, Ont.

  • 1946: 1st place, Taschereau downhill, Mt Tremblant, Quebec; 2nd place, combined event, Kate Smith International, Lake Placid, New York; 1st place, slalom, Great Divide, Banff, Alberta; 1st place, Silver Belt Trophy, Sugar Bowl, California, USA; 2nd place, combined, Mont Orford, Quebec; 1st place, combined, Laurentian Zone, Mt Baldy, Quebec; 1st place, Great Divide Slalom, Banff, Alberta

  • 1947: 1st place, slalom; 2nd place, combined, United States Eastern National Championships, Pico Peak, Vermont, USA; 1st place, downhill; 2nd place, combined, Ladies International Meet, Mont Gabriel, Quebec; 1st place, downhill; 1st place, combined event, United States National Championships, Ogden, Utah; 2nd place, Far West Kandahar, Timberline, Oregon; 2nd place, slalom event, Silver Dollar Race, Reno, Nevada; runner-up for the Lou Marsh Trophy awarded to Canada’s Outstanding Athlete

  • 1948: Selected to represent Canada on the women’s alpine team at the V Olympic Winter Games, St. Moritz, Switzerland; 3rd place, Arlberg Kandahar Downhill, Chamonix, France

  • 1949: 1st place, two downhills, Roach Cup; North American Downhill & combined, Aspen, Colorado, USA; 1st place, slalom; 1st place, downhill; 1st place, combined, Kate Smith International, Lake Placid, N.Y., USA; 1st place, downhill; 1st place, slalom; 1st place, combined (Holt-Wilson Trophy), Dominion Championships, Mont Tremblant, Quebec

  • 1951: 1st place, slalom; 1st place, combined, Kate Smith International, Lake Placid, N.Y., USA; 1st place, downhill; 1st place, slalom; 1st place, combined, Dominion Championships, Mont Tremblant, Quebec; 1st place, downhill; 1st place, combined, Harriman Cup, Sun Valley, Idaho, USA; 1st place, downhill; 1st place, slalom; 1st place, combined, Quebec Kandahar, Quebec

  • 1952: Selected to represent Canada on the women’s alpine team at the VI Olympic Winter Games, Oslo, Norway, finishing ninth in the downhill; 1st place, slalom; 1st place, combined (downhill & GS), Holmenkollen Races, Norway; 1st place, downhill, Parsenn, Davos, Switzerland; 2nd place, Hannes Schneider Pokal, St. Anton, Austria; 2nd place, Dorftalli GS, Davos, Switzerland

  • 1954: 2nd place, slalom, Canadian Senior Championships, Mont Tremblant, Quebec

  • 1959: 1st place, GS, Kirchberg, Austria; manager and assistant coach for the Canadian women’s national team in Europe

OTHER AWARDS

  • 1945: Federation Rose Bowl for “Canada’s Most Outstanding Woman Athlete” (awarded jointly with twin sister, Rhona)

  • 1946: Colonial Airways Trophy for “…most outstanding skier, Laurentians)

  • 1947: Lou Marsh Trophy as runner-up “Canada’s Most Outstanding Athlete”. (Awarded jointly with twin sister, Rhona)

  • 1948: Member of the Canadian ski team at the V Olympic Winter Games, St Moritz, Switzerland

  • 1952: Member of the Canadian ski team at the VI Olympic Winter Games, Oslo, Norway

  • 1953: Inducted into The Amateur Athletic Union of Canada Hall of Fame (Inducted with twin sister, Rhona); Inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame

  • 1969: Inducted into The United States Ski Hall of Fame

  • 1982: Inducted into The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame

  • 1986: Inducted into The Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame

  • 1998: Honoured by the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance for more than 50 years as a dedicated member of the CSIA since 1943 (awarded also to twin sister, Rhona)

  • 2001: Ski Canada Magazine award for “Canadian Skiers of Distinction” (awarded also to twin sister, Rhona)

  • 2014: Awarded the Order of Canada on Sept 12, 2014 for her pioneering work for women’s sports; Recognized by Pantheon des Sports du Quebec.

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.

Rhoda & Rhona Wurtele.

Rhoda & Rhona Wurtele. Clint Melville P-244.

Rhoda & Rhona Wurtele. Canadian Pacific Railway.

Rhoda Wurtele
Rhoda Wurtele. CSHFM Collection.
1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games Rhoda Wurtele suffered a broken bone in her leg during an Olympic training run when one of her teammates cut across the back of her skis
1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games Rhoda Wurtele suffered a broken bone in her leg during an Olympic training run when one of her teammates cut across the back of her skis. CSHFM Collection.
Rhoda Wurtele at 1952 Olympic Winter Games in Oslo, Norway
Rhoda Wurtele at 1952 Olympic Winter Games in Oslo, Norway. CSHFM Collection.

The Penguin Ski Club. Photo taken by Rhona Wurtele Gillis. [top row L to R]: Margaret Burden Brunneau, Jean Staniforth Bennett, Joan Tyler, Joey Abbey, Nora Newman, ?, Lorna Meagher Casgrain, Beverly Mace, Claire Fisher [bottom row L to R]: Peggy Orr, Lilly Elder Taylor, Rhoda Wurtele Eaves, Jane Bishop, Nancy Mckean, Dorothy Burden Reid, Joan Erzinger, Barbara Wickes Foster, Barbarra McTaggart & son Donald, Alice Johannsen, Peggy Johannsen, Margaret Russell, Betty Capon c. 1943. CSHFM Collection.

1947 Canadian Ski Championships in Mt. Ste. Anne, QC.

1947 Canadian Ski Championships in Mt. Ste. Anne, QC. From left to right: Pierre Jalbert, Bert Irwin, Bill Irwin, Rhoda Wurtele, Emile Allais, Rhona Wurtele. Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

Members of Canada’s Olympic ski team at 1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games [L to R]: Pierre Jalbert, Hector Sutherland, Rhoda Wurtele, Rhona Wurtele, Harvey Clifford, Wilber “Bill” Irwin, Albert “Bert” Irwin. Alpine Canada Alpin.

The Canadian Olympic ski team in Davos, Switzerland, at 1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games

The Canadian Olympic ski team in Davos, Switzerland, at 1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. [L to R]: Harvey Clifford, Laurent Bernier, Hector Sutherland, Thomas Dennie, Rhona Wurtele, Louis Cochand (Manager), Morna Cochand (chaperon), Rhoda Wurtele, Albert “Bert” Irwin, Tom Mobraaten, Lucien Laferté, Pierre Jalbert, Wilber “Bill” Irwin. Alpine Canada Alpin.

1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games [L to R]: Rhoda Wurtele, Barbara Ann Scott (figure skater), Rhona Wurtele, Gaby Pleau. CSHFM Collection.

Rhoda and Rhona Wurtele with coach Emile Allais training in Oslo, Norway prior to 1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games.

Rhoda and Rhona Wurtele with coach Emile Allais training in Oslo, Norway prior to 1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. National Archives C.33780.

Rhoda & Rhona Wurtele at Sunshine, Banff, AB. – Mt. Assiniboine in background. c. 1946. Canadian Pacific Railway.

John Griffin, Lucile Wheeler and Rhoda Wurtele at 1952 Olympic Winter Games in Oslo, Norway

John Griffin, Lucile Wheeler and Rhoda Wurtele at 1952 Olympic Winter Games in Oslo, Norway. CSHFM Collection.

Rhoda Wurtele, Lucile Wheeler and Rosemarie Schutz ready for the alpine events at 1952 Olympic Winter Games in Oslo, Norway. CSHFM Collection.

1952 Oslo Olympic Winter Games [L to R]: Lucile Wheeler, Mrs. Pickering, ?, Rhoda Wurtele, Rosemarie Schutz

1952 Oslo Olympic Winter Games [L to R]: Lucile Wheeler, Mrs. Pickering, ?, Rhoda Wurtele, Rosemarie Schutz. Trans Canada Airlines.

1952 Canadian Olympic Women’s Alpine Ski Team [L to R]: Rosemarie Schutz, Joanne Hewson, Rhoda Wurtele, Lucile Wheeler. Trans Canada Airlines.

1952 Canadian Olympic Women's Alpine Ski Team [L to R]: Joanne Hewson, Rosemarie Schutz, Harry Wheeler, Rhoda Wurtele, Lucile Wheeler

1952 Canadian Olympic Women’s Alpine Ski Team [L to R]: Joanne Hewson, Rosemarie Schutz, Harry Wheeler, Rhoda Wurtele, Lucile Wheeler. CSHFM Collection.

1952 Canadian Olympic Women’s Alpine Ski Team [L to R]: Rosemary Schutz, Rhoda Wurtele, Franz Gabl (coach), Joanne Hewson, Lucile Wheeler. Canadian Pacific Railway / B-2401-15.

National Women's Alpine Ski Team c. 1965

National Women’s Alpine Ski Team c. 1965 [L to R]: Pat Ramage, Verne Anderson, ?, Karen Dokka, ?, ?, Nancy Greene. Alpine Canada Alpin.

Bob Gilmour with Rhona and Rhoda Wurtele at 2007 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Valberg Imaging / Andrea Cardin.

Rhoda Wurtele, Shirley Firth, Sharon Firth, and Rhona Wurtele at 1990 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Rhoda Wurtele, Shirley Firth, Sharon Firth, and Rhona Wurtele at 1990 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Inductee John Eaves and Rhoda Wurtele-Eaves (right) at 1988 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.

Rhoda Wurtele and Inductee John Eaves at 1988 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Rhoda Wurtele and Inductee John Eaves at 1988 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.

Members of Canada's Olympic ski team at the Regina Hotel in Oslo, Norway (1952)
Members of Canada’s Olympic ski team at the Regina Hotel in Oslo, Norway (1952). [Back row]: Rosemarie Schutz, Rhoda Wurtele Eaves, Jacques Charland, Lucile Wheeler, Lucien Laferté, Edith Pickering (chaperone), Thorney Pickering (Chef de Mission) [Front row]: André Bertrand, George Merry, Harvey Clifford (coach). CSHFM Collection.

Documentary - The flying twin sisters : Rhona and Rhoda Wurtele

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 www.twinski.com.

Rhona Wurtele says 'Get out and move'

Rhona Wurtele talks about her life on the ski slopes with her twin sister Rhoda. Montreal's Wurtele twins were the most famous women athletes when they were growing up in the 1940s and they remain active today.

The Wurtele Twins reflect on their storied skiing careers | Mountain Lake PBS

Sibling rivalries can often be intense, but Quebecers Rhona and Rhonda Wurtele take it to another level. The twins were pioneers in Canadian women's skiing, competing against one another in many national and international competitions, including the Olympics, during the 1940s and 50s. The twins reflected on their storied skiing careers in a recent interview. Information about the twins biography can be found here: http://www.twinski.com/nolimits.php

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