Ethan is our youngest team rider and in the last season he has made a big move forward – basing himself in the Austrian alps for most of the winter. This allows him to focus more on his snowboarding. He has also been training with the British Snowboard Cross team. The progression is incredible! We asked him to give us a recap of his 15/16 season.

Ethan Smith Season 2015-16

With a new season just around the corner now is a perfect time to reflect on last season and plan for the coming season.

2015/16 was an amazing season for me. I started in October training in Hintertux with the British Snowboard Cross Team, I was only there for a four-week period but it was fantastic to ride with the squad, practise my board skills and even ride powder – that is the earliest I have ever ridden decent powder! Training was intense on the mountain and the fitness program was gruelling. I loved it. I returned home to school in November, but the countdown was on to get ‘back home’ to the mountains.

Before I knew it, it was Christmas. Boxing day was time to load up the van and head back out to the Austrian Alps. This time the plan was to train a little SBX and board skills but to mainly focus on slopestyle. I had already bought my season pass for the Zillertal Valley back in October so apart from waxing my trusty Evo there was very little to do.

We were to be based at Kaltenbach for the majority of the season but had plans to travel to other resorts within the Zillertal Valley to compete or train. Real mountain features always look larger than UK features (because they often are), at the start of the season the largest kicker at Kaltenbach was 18 meters, but this is on average 10-11m larger than the big kicker at my home slope, The Snow Centre. I was looking forward to hitting it! Riding at the Snow Centre every Friday night during the summer had put me in a good place to start on the medium line with a view to progress onto the pro line after a few weeks. The medium line was 12 and 14 meter kickers.

The early part of the season was spent working on my spins, my coach Steve Addicott from Why Ain’t You Jibbin worked with me breaking them down into sections, this worked really well for me and before long I was spinning all 4 7’s and landing FS9’s and the odd 10.

I was shortlisted for Eastleigh Borough Council Sports Awards, Junior Sportsman of the Year 2015. On 09th February 2016 the award ceremony was held at Ageas Bowl in Hampshire. I could not make it back for the ceremony unfortunately, it was even more of a shame as I won the U18 Junior Sportsman of the Year. I was stoked when I had the phone call to let me know. I really wish I could have been there. My Mum and Dad brought the trophy out to Austria for me to have a look at.

Back on the training, it was going really well. Even though I weighed about 5st my Never Summer Evo never let me down on the rails and the bigger kickers, providing speed and control exactly where I needed it and when. By now I was spinning off the 18 and wanting a bigger kicker! Steve did a really great job keeping me level headed and making sure I didn’t hit anything bigger until I had all 4 3’s and was working my 5’s on the pro-line.

We entered a few local competitions to see what the local and other international riders were like. I was in the U16’s age group – a really hard group especially as I was 12 at the time. I had various successes and normally ended up within the top quater of the table, which I was really pleased with – it’s something I can work with for the coming season.

I flew back to the UK on Wednesday 16th March for the Hampshire Sports Awards which took place on the 17th March. I was nominated for Junior Sportsman of the Year 2016. The event was held at Southampton Football Ground. I was sat on a table with Team GB Gymnast Kelly Simm, we had a great time chatting and learning about each other’s chosen sport. Unfortunately I came runner-up in this category, but it was a great night and well done to Andrew Douglas for winning the group. I flew back to Austria on the morning of the 18th March – it was a really quick visit!

I managed to point high enough to be invited to The World Rookie Tour Finals in Ishgal – this was super exciting – My teammate Gabe and I were the only two GB riders to qualify for the event. It was fantastic to see 50 of the worlds best U16 riders throwing down, the Japanese and American riders were fantastic throwing dubs and massive spins down it was fun to chat with them all and compete against them. I didn’t have a great run and ended up finishing middle table, I ended up 21st. Still, I am really happy that I got there and it is an experience which will be with me for the rest of my life!

Mid April saw me packing up and heading home after an awesome and successful season.

With my 2016/17 season starting on 1st October 2016 I am already planning what I need to do to have an even more successful season. I head out to Tux with the British Snowboard Cross Team for two months of intensive training and hopefully getting competition ready.

I head back to school at the end of November for a few weeks, I need to choose my GCSE options and get my parcel of work for the season to make sure I don’t fall behind with my studies. My school are really supportive and provide loads of help for me.

Boxing day sees me head back out for the season. I plan to progress my park skills to make sure I retain my place on the GB Park & Pipe Academy and to compete in some international SBX races in Switzerland.

Follow me on social media:
Facebook: @ethansmith0
Twitter: @EthanSmith0
Instagram: @smithethan00

I would like to thank all my sponsors and supporters for making this possible – without you guys I wouldn’t be able to train and compete at this level:

Never Summer Snowboards – Seriously awesome; built to last. They take all the punishment I throw at them throughout the season both during my season away and at home in the UK – these boards just keep on performing!

Animal Clothing – for supplying me with all my technical clothing keeping me warm, dry and comfortable throughout the worst of the Austrian winter weather and also for supplying me with endless other summer and winter clothing and accessories.
The Snow Centre – The UK’s premier indoor snowdome. You guys provide awesome parks and facilities which allow me to keep my skills honed throughout the off season. This is also where I learnt to snowboard 
SMITH Optics – without SMITH I would not be able to ride. They provide the best head and eye protection available. Both the goggles and the helmet integrate seamlessly to provide one awesome unit.
Superfeet Custom Insoles – I love my superfeet. They are in every footwear I own from trainers to school shoes and of course they provide the cushioning, insulation and support in my snowboard boots.
SnoKart Luggage – Durable, hardwearing and dependable, wherever I go – summer holidays to seasons away I have no issues fitting everything into my The Kart 6. Everyday up the mountain I take my sturdy backpack – I couldn’t live without it!
HooRag – not known in the UK they are a USA based company specialising in facemasks and bandanas of awesome designs – you can even design your own!
Why Ain’t You Jibbin – for inviting me onto their team and providing top quality coaching and getting me to do things I didn’t think I would ever be able to do!
ERV Travel Insurance – help me with my insurance needs for the mountain and also cover me for SCUBA diving, bungee jumping and any other adrenaline sport you can thing of!
Snowsport England, Hampshire County Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, My School, the GBX Squad, the GB Park & Pipe Academy and everyone else who provide support and assistance throughout the year.