Zak Carrick-Smith GBR and Maja Waroschitz AUT,Youth Olympics, GEPA pictures
Zak Carrick-Smith will make his World Cup debut Sunday in the men’s slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
The 19-year-old Briton arrives after building experience on the Europa Cup circuit and winning two gold medals at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in slalom and alpine combined. While he has started eight Europa Cup races over the past two seasons, he has yet to score points at that level.
Now he will take the next step — his first start on the World Cup tour.
Why is this weekend special for the Carrick-Smith family?
Carrick-Smith’s twin brother Freddy will start Saturday in the giant slalom, while older brother Luca will race alongside Zak in Sunday’s slalom.
They will join Laurie Taylor and Billy Major in the start gate, giving Great Britain four racers in the slalom field.
The opportunity opened after Dave Ryding likely concluded his career following his fifth Olympic Winter Games appearance in Bormio last month. His absence created a fourth British start spot, allowing both Luca and Zak Carrick-Smith to enter the race in Slovenia.
“I was excited, but it was a bit of a surprise,” Carrick-Smith said. “I wasn’t expecting to start a World Cup race this season.”
Ryding’s decision not to race this weekend helped open the door.
“Dave has basically given me the chance to start my World Cup career, so I’m super grateful,” Carrick-Smith said. “I’m just going to enjoy it.”
How has Zak Carrick-Smith performed this season?
Carrick-Smith competed earlier this week at the Croatian national championships. He led the first run on Wednesday but straddled in the second run.
A day earlier, he finished close to the podium in Tuesday’s race, narrowly missing out against a field that included several World Cup-level racers.
At the end of January, Carrick-Smith also reached the podium in a Far East Cup race in Yongpyong, South Korea, in giant slalom — his second-best discipline.
He has raced several Europa Cup slaloms this season, coming closest to scoring points in Crans-Montana in January when he finished just outside the top 30.
How did the Carrick-Smith brothers reach the World Cup?
Carrick-Smith said he has enjoyed watching his brothers compete on the World Cup tour this season.
“I’ve loved watching Luca and Freddy,” he said. “They’ve had a good time of it, and we’ve worked so hard to get here.”
The Carrick-Smith brothers are the sons of former British World Cup racer Emma Carrick-Anderson and Phil Smith. Their parents encouraged the sport but never forced it.
The family spent many of the brothers’ developmental years training in France, building their skills and experience together. While the road to the very top of alpine skiing remains long, the progress of all three brothers has been steady.
“All three of us starting at a World Cup has been a dream for a while now,” Carrick-Smith said. “So it’s going to be fun.”
What does Carrick-Smith hope to achieve in his World Cup debut?
Carrick-Smith only learned about a week ago that a start could be possible. Originally listed as a reserve, he moved into the field after lineup changes.
“I will be a bit nervous, but I’m very excited,” he said. “There isn’t too much pressure on the results. As long as I cross the line knowing I’ve put down my best skiing, I’ll be happy. I’m just going to have fun.”
The weekend marks an important moment for British alpine skiing — and offers a glimpse at the next generation of the nation’s slalom talent.
About the Author: Matt Garcka
