Gerda Hofstatter-Gregerson - Part 2 (From Carinthia to California: Gerda's Leap to the WPBA)
In Part 2 of our four-part conversation with Austrian Pool Hall of Famer Gerda Hofstatter-Gregerson, Gerda’s story takes a bold turn—across an ocean, into the spotlight, and straight onto the American tour.
Gerda recounts how a perfectly-timed connection through Jan and the legendary Ewa Mataya Laurance opened the door to her first U.S. events in early 1993. The original plan was simple: come over, play three tournaments, stay with Ewa in between, then go home. But pool had other plans. With “zero pressure” and a completely carefree mindset, Gerda shocks everyone by winning right away—proof that sometimes the most dangerous competitor is the one with nothing to lose.
From there, the episode becomes a lively time capsule of the women’s game in the early-to-mid ’90s: the long travel, the stacked fields, and the mix of welcoming professionalism… plus a few behind-the-scenes laughs (including Ewa’s “makeover mission” to help Gerda look a little more American). Gerda also shares how living in Sweden sharpened her game—and even her language skills—thanks to late-night TV and a relentless competitive scene.
We dig into the practice habits that separated Gerda from the pack: drill work, score tracking, and her beloved “L-shape” pattern for precision cue-ball control. Allison adds unforgettable color, describing Gerda’s jaw-dropping specialty: razor-thin cuts with outrageous outside spin—a shot Gerda learned from Mike Massey and then made her own.
The journey crescendos in 1995: Gerda moves to the U.S. full-time, navigates tour life, and captures the 9-ball World Championship in Taipei—with Allison offering a calm-the-nerves masterclass (and yes, a pre-final beer). It’s a chapter packed with breakthrough moments, honest reflection, and the real cost of greatness when expectations finally catch up.
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Music by Lyrium.
About
"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”
Pool Professional
Few players in the history of professional pool have traveled a journey as remarkable—or as global—as Gerda Hofstätter-Gregerson. A world champion, multiple European champion, and member of both the WPBA and BCA Halls of Fame, the Austrian-born star carved out a career defined by talent, discipline, curiosity, and an unmistakable love of the game.
Born and raised in the small Austrian town of Trebesing in Carinthia (Kärnten), Gerda grew up in a lively household that included her parents, Werner and Wilma, three sisters, and even two grandmothers under one roof. Her father owned a butcher shop and meat store, where the young Gerda occasionally helped—sometimes assisting with sausage production in the family business. The household was heavily female, with Werner the lone man among seven women, but sports were always part of daily life.
From an early age Gerda displayed exceptional athletic ability. She tried virtually every sport available and quickly developed strong hand-eye coordination and competitive instincts. Before pool ever entered her life, she had already achieved considerable success in another sport: fencing. Beginning at age ten, she trained rigorously in the foil discipline, practicing several nights a week and traveling across Europe for competitions. By her teenage years she had won Austrian youth championships and even captured a European youth title in Hungary, demonstrating the kind of focus and natural ability that would later define her pool career.
Pool entered her life almost by accident.
Gerda’s older sister Ingrid…Read More