Skier

Sam Smoothy

“My intention has always been to create a life of exploration, of myself and of the mountains, the evolving yet stable bedrock of my existence.”

Growing up in Wanaka, New Zealand with parents passionate about the outdoors, Sam was born for adventure. His mother skied at the local hill, Treble Cone, the day she went into labour. The skiing continued with Sam stuffed him into a backpack just a few months later. As Sam grew, so did his skiing, transitioning from racing to freeride with back-to-back winters, bouncing between New Zealand and Verbier, Switzerland.

An injury replacement wildcard for the 2012 Freeride World Tour instantly changed Sam's life as he backed up a win in Chamonix with two more podiums. Six more years on the FWT followed, but it was his win in the 2015 Andorran stop that catapulted Sam into the ski movie spotlight. His exposed and intricate line had the commentators exclaiming "Where are you going??" and a call from Teton Gravity Research inviting him to Alaska. Leaving the competition scene behind Sam continued to film with TGR alongside parts with Sherpa Cinema and Legs of Steel. Sam has produced numerous film festival movies with his long-term film partner Jase Hancox, including the Banff Mountain Film Festival Finalist "SkyPiercer".

A predilection for the steepest and exposed lines has seen Sam focus on the heady realm of ski mountaineering, nabbing several first descents globally. His latest project is an ambitious attempt to climb and ski all 24 of New Zealand's heavily glaciated 3000m peaks; with 13 currently completed, including the second descent of the infamous Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mt Cook. Sam plans to give the second half a good nudge in winter 2024, with Jase Hancox by his side to capture all of the grit and glory.

In his free time, the English major dropout has continued to put pen to paper and has been published numerous times in Freeskiing, The Ski Journal, 1964 and currently edits NZ SKIER magazine.

Accomplishments