Franzl: The Story of Franz Gabl

Carlton Press Corporation, 1995. First edition. Hardcover. Like New/Fine. 8x5x1. Signed by Author. Signed "Franzl" on first blank page. Franz Gabl recounts his life in the Austrian Hitler Youth , and as a member of the German 299th Infantry Division fighting four years on the Eastern Front from 1941 through the end of the war. He then goes on to describe his postwar rise to become Austria's first Olympic medal winner in downhill skiing. Franz Gabl started out as a ski jumper before World War II and was 1935 Tyrolean Youth Champion and won the 1936 Austrian Youth Championship in ski jumping. In World War II, Gabl was wounded several times and spent time in Russian prison camps but survived. He turned to Alpine skiing and won a major race at Seefeld in 1947, and was nominated to the Austrian ski team. At the 1948 Sankt Moritz Olympics Gabl won a silver medal in downhill behind Henri Oreiller. Injuries caused him to miss the 1948-49 season. He came back at the end of 1949, but after a disappointing season in 1949-50, retired from racing. The 1950 World Championships were in Aspen, Colorado and after competing there, Gabl remained in the United States and eventually lived both there and in Canada. He coached the 1952 Canadian Olympic women’s team and in 1956 at Cortina coached the men. He became a successful businessman in the ski product and skiwear industry.