Monument of a skiing legend
in honour of Gertrud Gabl
Gertrud Gabl was a successful Austrian ski racer. Snow was her element until, one day, it became her undoing. A monument in St. Anton am Arlberg commemorates this likeable and exceptional athlete.
When the sculpture in honour of Gertrud Gabl was unveiled in December 2019 on the square in front of the Rendlbahn cable car (now called Gertrud-Gabl-Platz extern), many well-known guests were in attendance who had known her personally: Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Charly Kahr, Karl Schranz, Alfred Matt, Harald Rofner, Karl Gabl and Adi Werner, amongst others. Memories came flooding back: including sad recollections of that fateful day, 18th January 1976, when hundreds of people gathered here and feared for the life of the young woman they all knew and loved. Alas to no avail, as after getting caught in a powder avalanche in open terrain on Mount Rendl, only Gertrud Gabl’s lifeless body could be retrieved from the snow masses. She was 28 years old, married to Munich-based entrepreneur Alfons Büttner and had a young daughter.
Since December 2019, the square in front of the Rendlbahn in St. Anton am Arlberg has borne the name of the ski racer who died in 1976. A monument also commemorates the great sports personality.
Very proud of my Mum
Barbara Gabriel, who lives with her family in Vorarlberg, was only one and a half years old when she lost her mother to this tragic accident. She only got to know the most important person in her life from photos, videos and stories. Because Barbara grew up with her father and grandparents in St. Anton am Arlberg and therefore in her mother's hometown, people often asked her about Gertrud Gabl: “It was nice to hear people talking about her with such enthusiasm. They appreciated not only her skiing skills, but also liked her because she was so friendly and modest. I am very proud of my Mum and, on behalf of my family, would like to thank everyone who made the memorial possible - Ski Club Arlberg, the municipality and St. Anton am Arlberg Tourist Board, as well as artist Christian Moschen, who designed the monument.”
Sculptor Christian Moschen from Grins decided to base his design on a happy memory: the metal sculpture of bronze and stainless steel shows Gertrud Gabl, waving her crystal globe for overall World Cup victory, which she achieved in her most successful season in 1968/69 - the same season in which Karl Schranz, who also comes from St. Anton, won his. He says of her: “Gertrud was like a sister to me. She was a fighter on snow and didn't let anyone tell her anything.”
Successes of historical significance
It is very rare in World Cup history that two overall World Cup winners for the same season come from the same place. In contrast to Karl Schranz, Gertrud Gabl ended her career after a few years, retiring from international ski sport in 1972. Sporting setbacks may have played a decisive factor, but also the love she felt for her husband. Barbara Gabriel: “I know from my parents’ love letters that my mother lost some of her passion for ski racing after meeting my father.”
Saying goodbye to the ski circus wasn't difficult for Gertrud Gabl, because she was too shy for the brash world of media. German magazine Ski wrote about her in 1969: “There will be few who will not begrudge this charming, ever-smiling girl her victory. Only the journalists have a hard time with Gabl’s triumphs, because even after her greatest victories, she disappears far too quickly behind the shadow of others, as she doesn’t like being in the spotlight.”
Born to ski
Even as a child, Gertrud Gabl, born in 1948,was able to ski confidently down the snowy slopes. Her father Pepi Gabl trained her. He was a racer himself, managed the women's team in the USA, went skiing with Jackie and Robert Kennedy and opened the first ski school in Stowe, Vermont. Ski-Club Arlberg also became aware of Gertrud Gabl’ talent and promoted her. Following the end of her career, skiing continued to be an important part of her life - until that fateful ski tour, the outcome of which plunged all of Austria into mourning. The tragic accident was a formative experience for her cousin Karl Gabl, a renowned meteorologist for alpine expeditions: “In our family, like most people of the Arlberg, we were intensively involved with mountain sports from a young age and were familiar with the associated dangers, but our level of knowledge was often insufficient. When my cousin succumbed to the avalanche, I decided to put my knowledge as a meteorologist and mountain guide to the service of alpine safety.” Gertrud Gabl left an indelible mark - in the snow, in the history of skiing and in peoples’ minds. In order for the memories to stay alive, a street was named after her in St. Anton am Arlberg, and Gertrud Gabl Square next to the Rendlbahn cable car is a very apt and worthy place for her monument.
