Hall of Famer
Rhona Wurtele Gillis
Affiliated Discipline(s):
Alpine
Hometown:
Ottawa, ON
Active Career Period:
1942-1952
Induction CSHF:
1982
Induction Category:
Alpine: slalom, downhill, combined
Rhona Wurtele together with identical twin, Rhoda, were born at St Lambert, Quebec, on January 21, 1922. The initial caption in the May 1944 issue of True Comics described them as “…two of the world’s best women skiers and probably the best all-around athletes Canada has ever produced”. Essentially, their skiing careers were inseparable, as was their ability.
In 1942, they were both asked to participate in try-outs for the international team with Rhona finishing in first place and Rhoda, second. The following week, they competed against the United States Women’s team and again placed first and second in both the Downhill and Combined events. In their first international meet against the United States National Women’s Team at Lake Placid, New York, the positions were reversed, Rhoda in first, Rhona, second. In February 1943, the twins competed for the Kate Smith International Women’s Trophy and again they took two of the first three places, Rhona in first place, Rhoda, third. It was a pattern repeated time and again throughout their competitive careers.
Partial competitive record:
1942
1st place, Esterel, Quebec
1st place, Slalom and Combined events, Ladies International Ski Meet, Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
1943
2nd place, Taschereau Downhill, Mont Tremblant, Quebec
1st place, Downhill and Slalom events, Ladies International Meet, Lake Placid, NY, USA
1944
1st place, Downhill and Combined events, Kate Smith International, Lake Placid, NY, USA
1st place, Downhill and Combined events, Ladies International Meet, Winner, Colonial Airways Trophy, Ste Marguerite, Quebec
1945
1st place, Combined event, Alta Cup, Altah, Utah
1st place, Downhill event, Ladies International Meet, Ste Marguerite, Quebec
1st place, Teton Ski Derby, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
1946
1st place, Downhill, Slalom and Combined events, Ontario Ladies Meet, Collingwood, Ontario
1st place, Slalom and Combined events, United States National Championships, Franconia, New Hampshire
1st place, Giant Slalom event, Alta Cup Races, Alta, Utah
1st place, Downhill event, Giant Slalom and Combined events, Alta Cup Races, Alta, Utah
1947
1st place, Downhill and Combined events, United States Eastern National Championships, Pico, Peak, Vermont, USA
1st place, Taschereau Downhill, Mont Tremblant, Quebec
1st place, Slalom and Combined events, Kate Smith International, Lake Placid, NY, USA
1st place, Downhill and Combined events, Dominion Championships, Canada (Holt-Wilson Trophy1)
1st place, Slalom and Combined events, Ladies International Meet, Mont Gabriel, Quebec
1st place, Teton Derby Races, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
1952
1st place, Giant Slalom event, United States National Championships, Alta, Utah
1st place, Downhill event, Harriman Cup, Sun Valley, Idaho, USA
Other honors and awards
1945
Federation Rose Bowl for “Canada’s Most Outstanding Woman Athlete” (awarded jointly with twin sister, Rhoda)
1946
Thelma Springstead Rose Bowl for “Best Canadian Athlete” (awarded jointly with twin sister, Rhoda)
1947
Lou Marsh Trophy as runner-up “Canada’s Most Outstanding Athlete” (awarded jointly with twin sister, Rhoda)
1948
Member of the Canadian Ski Team at the V Olympic Winter Games, St Moritz, Switzerland
1950
Member of the United States Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) team to the World Championships, Aspen, Colorado, USA
1953
Inducted into The Amateur Athletic Union of Canada Hall of Fame (inducted with twin sister, Rhoda)
1969
Inducted into The United States Ski Hall of Fame (inducted with twin sister, Rhoda)
1982
Inducted into The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame (formerly the Honour Roll of Canadian Skiing) (inducted with twin sister, Rhoda)
1986
Inducted into the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame (inducted with twin sister, Rhoda)
1998
Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) award for 50-years dedicated service since 1943 (awarded also to twin sister, Rhoda)
2001
Ski Canada Magazine Award for “Canadian Skiers of Distinction” (awarded also to twin sister, Rhoda)
Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.
Copyright © 2021, Canadian Ski Museum. For Personal/Educational use only.
Rhona Wurtele at 1948 St. Moritz Olympic Winter Games. CSHFM Collection.
Ms. Rhona Wurtele flashing through a gate during a slalom at Pico Peak in 1947. New York Times – Associated Press.
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.
[Gene Gillis, third from left, standing next to Rhona Wurtele, on his left, his future wife]. Photo Team Summit Colorado.
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. [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.
Rhoda & Rhona Wurtele. Clint Melville P-244.
Rhoda & Rhona Wurtele. Canadian Pacific Railway.
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. National Archives C.33780.
Rhoda & Rhona Wurtele at Sunshine, Banff, AB. – Mt. Assiniboine in background. c. 1946. Canadian Pacific Railway.
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.
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.
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