Gabl, Franz, 1921-

Franz X. Gabl was born in Austria and was an avid downhill skier and mountain climber who found great satisfaction in racing and competition.

After Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, Gabl was drafted into the army and sent to the Russian Front from 1941 to 1945. After becoming a prisoner of war in a Russian-controlled camp, Gable escaped and made his way back to his hometown of St. Anton in 1945. Having survived the harrowing experience of World War II, Gabl went on to win a Silver Medal for Downhill Skiing at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. After competing for a number of years he found employment in British Columbia as a ski instructor. Gabl then went on to become the head coach of the Canadian Olympic Ladies Ski Team in 1952 and the Men's Ski Team in 1956. After settling in Washington State, Gabl helped found the Whatcom County annual Ski-to-Sea race in 1973.