Three Carrick-Smith Brothers Sweep Historic Podium in New Zealand Slalom

All three podium spots in the men's slalom at the Alpine Skiing National Championships in Coronet Peak, New Zealand went to the same family on Sept. 2. Racing for Team Great Britain, brothers Luca, Zak and Freddy Carrick-Smith shared the podium together at one of the opening races of the 2026-27 season, producing a moment rarely seen in ski racing.

Luca crossed the line first in 1:23.32, with Zak following in 1:24.63 and Freddy rounding out the podium in 1:25.12. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation noted on Instagram that seeing three brothers stand together on one podium is not something that happens every day.

Though they lined up against each other as rivals, the trio ended the day celebrating side by side with medals around their necks. It marked the first time all three brothers had shared a podium at once. In a Facebook post, the Carrick-Smith family called it a historic moment, describing the brothers as rivals, supporters and, above all, brothers.

Rising stars for Team GB

Luca is 20, while Zak and Freddy are both 19. All three are established figures on the FIS circuit at both junior and senior level. Luca and Freddy have already raced on the World Cup, and Zak is a two-time 2024 Youth Olympic champion. Their results at such young ages have made them widely regarded as rising talents for Team Great Britain. The brothers have said they were inspired to take up skiing by British star Dave Ryding and never looked back after starting young.

For the family, the sweep represents far more than three medals. It reflects years of long training hours, difficult results and constant pushing between siblings to get better. The family credited the effort of every athlete, coach, service person and physio for what goes into each day on snow.

In the end, mindset was what mattered most. Not every day goes according to plan, the family said, but showing up and giving full effort regardless is what counts. Ski racing was described as a tough sport made harder by constantly shifting conditions, requiring racers to learn to handle everything the mountain throws at them. Finding the right setup, the right line, technique and mindset was called a never-ending search.

The New Zealand National Championships, held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 at Coronet Peak, gave racers an early chance to build momentum ahead of the new season. Unlike many national championships limited to athletes from the host country, New Zealand's event is open to competitors from any nation.

With the results now behind them, the Carrick-Smith brothers head into the North American and European legs of the Alpine skiing calendar on a high note, looking to carry their momentum from Coronet Peak into the races ahead.