The Ski Podcast to Extend Sponsorship of ‘Team Carrick-Smith’ Into Third Winter
Regular listeners to The Ski Podcast will know that for the last two winters, we have sponsoring Zak, Freddy and Luca Carrick-Smith on their Alpine ski racing journey.
We are pleased to announce that we are continuing our sponsorship into a third winter for the 2026/27 season. While the amount we contribute is small compared with their costs, it’s a pleasure to be able to help our young British racers on their journey.
Grew up in France, but represent Great Britain
Freddy (19), Zak (19) and Luca (21) Carrick-Smith, also known as the Carrick-Smith brothers, grew up in the French Alps but compete for Great Britain, with their parents, Phil Smith (ski teacher and former English champion) and Emma Carrick-Anderson (four-time Winter Olympic skier) acting as their full time coaches.
In the recent New Zealand winter, the brothers showed their potential by becoming the first set of brothers to complete the podium in any FIS-approved race, when they took all three spots in the slalom at the NZ National Championships.
Plans for winter 2026/27
Freddy Carrick-Smith will take part in the first men’s Alpine Skiing World Cup race of the season on Sunday 25 October 2026. If results go to plan, they will all head to the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Crans-Montana in February 2026.
It’s important to remember that they all still right at the start of their international careers, with twins Zak and Freddy still only teenagers.
Last winter, all three competed in World Cup events. Zak has previously won gold in the slalom and alpine combined, and silver in the giant slalom Winter Youth Olympics (listen to our interview in Episode 200), while Freddy won silver in the slalom at the Junior World Championships in March 2026. At the same event in 2025, older brother Luca won bronze in slalom.
“Looking forward to doing more reports for The Ski Podcast”
The brothers responded positively to the news of the extended sponsorship:
Luca: “I’m looking forward to keeping working with The Ski Podcast again for the next season.”
Freddy: “Thank you Iain for the sponsorship, and I’m looking forward to doing some more podcasts reports for The Ski Podcast.”
Zak: “Thank you very much Iain. We’re super excited for the season!”
You can listen to Iain’s recent interview with Zak about his plans for the 2026/27 winter in Episode 322 of The Ski Podcast
Iain Martin, founder and host of The Ski Podcast, said:
“The performance of British alpine ski racers has been outstanding in recent years considering the limited amount of funding available. The Carrick-Smiths represent the future of British skiing and while the amount of this donation is minor compared with the costs of competing on the race circuit, I’m assured that it will be useful.”
Regular updates for The Ski Podcast
The brothers will be recording updates for The Ski Podcast throughout the winter so listeners can follow their progress.
You can listen to their first update, plus an interview with their coach (and mother!) Emma Carrick-Anderson, in Episode 221 of The Ski Podcast.
Contributions to ‘Alpine 100’
The Ski Podcast is also backing young British racers by contributing to the ‘Alpine 100’ fundraising initiative. This is a lottery project designed to help the next generation of aspiring athletes.
You can listen to Iain’s interview with the brothers’ mother and coach, Emma Carrick-Anderson, in Episode 221 of The Ski Podcast:
