In a Winter Olympic season, one British skier is about to join a highly exclusive club of ski racers in what is considered to be the most technical of disciplines on the Alpine Skiing World Cup.
Great Britain skier, Freddy Carrick-Smith (18), will be the youngest GB male ski racer in the last 40 years to compete in a FIS (International Ski Federation) World Cup Giant Slalom race. Held in Sölden, Austria, it’s the traditional opener of the Alpine Skiing World Cup season.
Taking place on Sunday October 27, 2025, the men’s Giant Slalom ski race, held on the steep glacier high above the resort of Sölden, showcases the world’s top skiers in what is considered to be the most technical event within all the Alpine skiing disciplines that also includes Downhill, Super-G and Slalom.
Freddy will not only become the youngest GB male World Cup Giant Slalom skier (since 1981) on his debut this month, he also joins a highly exclusive group of British male skiers that have competed in the discipline since the modern era of the FIS World Cup events started in 1967. The list includes Konrad Bartelski, Graham and Martin Bell and more recently, Charlie Raposo who retired at the end of the 2024 winter season.
His pathway to the World Cup has included a gold medal at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (Bakuriani, Georgia) and first place (under 18 category) at the 2025 World Juniors in Tarvisio, Italy, in both the slalom and giant slalom disciplines. Part of a skiing family that includes his twin brother Zak and older brother Luca (20), both also competing for Great Britain in Alpine ski racing disciplines, his parents, Phil Smith (former English ski champion and founder of Snoworks Ski Courses) and Emma Carrick-Anderson (4 times Olympic ski racer) are their full time coaches.
Emma Carrick-Anderson, mum and coach, said: “This is a huge moment for Freddy and an achievement that will be recognised as one of the most significant in British ski racing history. We have always struggled to produce giant slalom skiers because it’s such a challenge to train for the discipline and it’s so technical. The fact Freddy has been able to reach this milestone at such a young age is very rare. Stepping up to the World Cup level is not easy and the course in Sölden is brutal, with hard packed ice on a steep slope that finishes in a vast amphitheatre with thousands of screaming ski fans – the atmosphere there is incredible. Freddy’s achievement is made even more impressive by the fact we are almost entirely self-funded – but we have a huge opportunity and to get to this level at this stage is a dream come true for all of us.”
The FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Giant Slalom takes place in Sölden, Austria, on Saturday October 26 (women) and Sunday October 27 (men). TV coverage in the UK is broadcast live on Discovery+ and TNT Sports.
Ski show appearance this Sunday – 7 Days Before The Race
Freddy, Zak and Luca (along with British ski racer Molly Butler) will all be attending the London Snow Show at Olympia on Sunday October 19 and will appear on the main Talk Stage with Chemmy Alcott (4 times Olympic skier) at 2:30pm.
To follow Freddy and the Carrick-Smith team on social media, go to: instagram.com/teamcarricksmith / facebook.com/teamcarricksmith
Joining The Greats
Previous GB Male skiers that have entered a FIS World Cup Giant Slalom race at or before the age of 18:
Konrad Bartelski: 1971, age 16, Crans-Montana (Switzerland)
Martin Bell: 1981, age 16, Schladming (Austria)
You can help Freddy and Team Carrick-Smith by donating here.
