Skier
Sam Smoothy
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 10 currently completed, including the second descent of the infamous Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mt Cook. In an effort to increase his skillset further, Sam successfully passed his NZMGA Assistant Ski Guide exam.
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 and currently edits NZ SKIER magazine.
Competition Results:
1st Freeride World Tour, Andorra (2015)
2nd Overall Freeride World Tour (2014)
1st Freeride World Tour, Austria (2014)
1st Chamonix Freeride World Tour (2012)
2nd Courmayeur Freeride World Tour (2012)
3rd Roldal Freeride World Tour (2012)
1st Overall World Heli Challenge (2011)