Hirscher Eyeing Next Coup: British Alpine Prodigies Luca And Zak Carrick-Smith Reportedly Close To Van Deer Signing

Marcel Hirscher’s high-performance ski academy and manufacturing brand, Van Deer-Red Bull Sports, is reportedly on the verge of securing its next major talent coup. Following a wave of high-profile signings across the alpine circuit, the Salzburg-based manufacturer has turned its sights toward Great Britain's most exciting young alpine prospects: the Carrick-Smith brothers.

According to information obtained by the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung, 21-year-old Luca Carrick-Smith and his 19-year-old brother Zak are close to finalizing a deal to ride on Hirscher’s premium race stock next season.

The speculation gained major traction after the British duo officially announced their departure from longtime equipment supplier Dynastar on Instagram. Interestingly, Zak’s twin brother Freddy—another phenomenal young talent in his own right—is expected to buck the family trend and remain loyal to the Rossignol/Dynastar umbrella.

A Dynasty in the Making: Who are the Carrick-Smiths?

Ski racing runs deep in the veins of the Carrick-Smith family. The brothers are the sons of former British four-time tech Olympian Emma Carrick-Anderson and former British ski instructor Phil Smith, who have uniquely coached, waxed for, and managed the boys as an independent "family circus" on the European circuit.

The brothers have systematically torn up the junior leaderboards over the last two seasons, capturing headlines across the ski world:

• Luca Carrick-Smith (21): Made history by taking a sensational slalom bronze at the 2025 Junior World Championships in Tarvisio—ending a 41-year overall age-category medal drought for British alpine skiing. He made his official World Cup debut in Levi in November 2025.

• Zak Carrick-Smith (19): Left an unforgettable mark at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in South Korea, winning twin gold medals in the slalom and alpine combined, alongside a silver medal in the giant slalom. He graduated to his first World Cup start in Kranjska Gora in March 2026.

• Freddy Carrick-Smith (19, Twin to Zak): Made British skiing history in December 2025 by becoming the first-ever Brit to win a Europa Cup giant slalom race in France. He also grabbed giant slalom gold at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival and a slalom silver at the 2026 Junior World Championships in Norway.

Reinventing the Van Deer Roster

The imminent transfer signals an aggressive rebuilding phase for Hirscher’s brand. While Van Deer recently felt the sting of losing Norwegian star athlete Henrik Kristoffersen, the academy has moved aggressively to reload its stable.

The brand has recently locked down top-tier international talent, including American tech specialist Paula Moltzan and rising Norwegian stars Hans Grahl-Madsen and Eirik Hystad Solberg.

The Strategic Value of the British Market

For the Carrick-Smith brothers, shifting to a premier factory-backed team like Van Deer solves a persistent roadblock for British athletes: financial and structural backing. The GB federation GB Snowsport historically lacks the massive financial pipelines enjoyed by powerhouse Alpine nations, making elite independent backers vital for athletes trying to bridge the gap into full-time World Cup point contention.

For Van Deer, planting a flag back in the United Kingdom opens the door to a highly lucrative, ski-obsessed consumer market.

Remarkably, the move brings the brand full circle. The very first "Hirscher Pilot" ever presented to the public back in April 2022—even before Kristoffersen signed on—was British racer Charlie Raposo. Though a devastating cruciate ligament tear forced Raposo into an early retirement at age 30 in May 2024, he paved the way for British athletes under the Van Deer banner. Today, Raposo remains an influential figure in the World Cup paddock, acting as the manager for Brazilian breakout superstar Lucas Pinheiro Braathen.

With Luca and Zak poised to sign, Hirscher’s team looks ready to gamble heavily on the future—and Great Britain looks to be the engine driving that next chapter.