Steve Smart - Technical Director

The Rookie Academy's technical director Steve Smart has been teaching skiing for 27 years as well as competing at a top international level. Now he is proud to be passing knowledge on to his two daughters in preparation for their competitive pursuits at a similar level.

Steve, a native of Vernon, Canada, has been skiing since he was two years old, picking up the habit from his ski instructor father. As an adult he firstly skied professionally, then turned to teaching as a way of earning a reliable income in the sport.

Former winner of the World Powder Eights Championships, Steve admits he still finds Treble Cone's terrain a challenge at times. He enjoys getting through to his students and 'making it click' for them, using his seamless teaching skills gained over a lifetime in the industry.

Steve is into his 8th year with the Rookie Academy and describes the role of Technical Director as the person responsible for 'making the staff ski in white-out conditions in 20cms of NZ powder on one ski with their buckles undone and no poles'.

Otherwise known as the 'Iceman', he loves mountain biking, windsurfing and keeping up with his daughters.