Board of Directors

Kurt is a lifelong endurance athlete and experienced Nordic ski coach with a background in NCAA Division I distance running and over twenty years of involvement in McCall’s Nordic ski community. After competing collegiately at the University of Idaho, Kurt moved to McCall and transitioned into coaching and Nordic ski racing, bringing a multi-sport perspective to athlete development.

As a competitive Nordic skier, Kurt earned a position on the Rossignol Gold Team and worked as a technical representative for Holmenkol and SkiGo waxes. His coaching approach emphasizes efficient technique, strength and balance, equipment knowledge, and adapting movement to terrain and snow conditions—skills he developed through years of training and competition.

Kurt has coached youth and high school athletes, organized race events, and served on Nordic boards and committees. His focus as a board member is to foster a strong and vibrant nordic community.  As a coach, it is helping athletes build strong fundamentals, confidence, and a positive relationship and love of sport. Since becoming a parent, Kurt has shifted his focus from competition to coaching with a strong emphasis on long-term athlete development while creating supportive, engaging environments where young skiers can thrive.

Karla Eitel was raised in Maryland and experienced Nordic skiing for the first time while attending Williams College in Massachusetts. Her first attempt left her wondering why anyone would participate in the sport. She finally learned to ski on skinny skis as a field instructor at the Teton Science School in Wyoming and Kurt Wolf introduced her to skate skiing shortly after she moved to McCall in 2003. Based on current skill level you may not guess she’s been skate skiing for 20 years, but at least she finds it fun. Her whole family participates in the McCall Nordic and Biathlon Ski Club: her two kiddos are thriving as participants, and her husband serves as a volunteer coach. When she’s not skiing, riding a bike, or driving kids to practice and races, she is a faculty member of the College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho and works as the Director of the University of Idaho McCall Field Campus and the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS).

Peter grew up in Vermont and Upstate New York with his family’s ski-focus being mostly on Alpine ski racing.  But since there was usually snow out the back door in those days he dabbled in Nordic skiing as well (we’re talking wooden skis and knickers era).  While alpine ski racing remained the focus in college he sometimes was pressed into service as the “fourth man” when the Nordic squad was short a skier.  But his true interest in Nordic skiing didn’t really sharpen until moving to Idaho in the ‘00s.  A friend challenged him to ski the Boulder Mountain Tour in 2017 and then Peter got his family to ski the McCall Remastered race in 2019.  After that he was hooked.  Peter participates in the McCall Nordic adult biathlon program on Wednesdays and looks for any excuse to come to McCall during the winter.  He currently lives in Boise as he winds up his ~30 year career in the semiconductor industry.

 

Pavla was born and grew up in the Czech Republic and has vivid memories of cross-country skiing. In particular,  she remembers her cold feet in ski boots on her family’s long ski trips to the countryside. After extensive travels and tourist guiding in mountains around the world, Pavla came to McCall in the late 1990s and found it a perfect place for all she loves – skiing, biking, creating gardens, and photography. 

Pavla enjoys everything about Nordic skiing; whether it is learning, teaching, racing, or resting. She wants to share her love of the sport and help others feel strong, confident, and happy on the tracks.

Pavla is a certified level 3 PSIA cross-country ski instructor and she owns a landscaping company.

 

Eric Giddens has spent most of his life dedicated to outdoor sports.  After making the Olympic team in whitewater kayaking in 1996, Eric went on to become an Olympic coach in 2000 and 2004 and an Olympic judge in 2008.  During this time, he also served on the USA Canoe and Kayak Board of Directors and the International Canoe Federation Slalom Committee Board of Directors, where he was an integral part of advancing women’s equity in the sport of Canoe Slalom at the international level.  Eric then moved into broadcasting, where he has been the NBC Olympics analyst for Canoe/Kayak since 2012.  After moving to McCall in 2025, he followed his daughter into mountain biking and Nordic skiing, where he helps coach both local youth programs.

Gregg moved to McCall with his family in the summer of 1991 from Jackson Hole Wyoming. Got involved with the local Nordic Ski community at that point. Was instrumental in restarting the McCall Nordic Ski Team and became the Head Coach of the Team from the mid 90’s until the culmination of the 2002 season. Gregg was also one of the key organizers of the series of National Championship races that were sited in McCall from the late 90’s into the mid 2000’s. This series culminated with the 2008 Masters World Cup event during which he served as a member of the organizing committee, Chief of Competition, and head groomer. After retiring from the coaching position in ’02 he continued to be active regionally and nationally as a level 3 FIS Technical Delegate. He TD’ed both divisional and national level races
throughout the 2000’s, 2010’s, and early 2020’s. Bought a groomer in the mid 2000’s and groomed at all of the local areas throughout the 2000’s, 2010’s, and finally retired from that business in 2021. Nowadays Gregg continues to ski, mountain bike, and do the occasional river trip. He has five Grandkids and absolutely loves doing the aforementioned activities with them at every opportunity.

Thomas Gebhards grew up in McCall, Idaho, where he developed a deep connection to winter sports through the local Nordic ski team, As a high school athlete, he competed at the national junior level, earning multiple podium finishes. He also raced in downhill skiing and enjoyed his time backcountry skiing, building a broad appreciation for the resilience and dedication that winter sports instill. Thomas went on to study Mechanical Engineering in college at Montana State University and now works as an engineer in the McCall community. As a board member, Thomas is committed to giving back to the place that shaped his lifelong passion for winter sports and to supporting opportunities for the next generation of athletes.