Join Us in Celebrating Sharif Smith's SAM Magazine 10 Under 30 Award!

We are proud to announce that Sharif Smith has received SAM Magazine's 10 Under 30 Award, a prestigious honor recognizing rising leaders who are making a significant impact on the mountain resort industry.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees, Sharif was recognized for his innovation, leadership, and contributions as Lead Groomer at Winter4Kids. In his role, Sharif goes far beyond maintaining the mountain—he helps design and shape the learning environment that serves as one of our most important teaching tools.

This season, Sharif led the design and construction of Winter4Kids' Progression Park, a purpose-built learning environment that uses terrain features to naturally support skill development. Through thoughtfully designed rollers, banked turns, and gradual transitions, the park helps participants develop balance, control, and turning skills in an intuitive and engaging way. By creating terrain that promotes learning through experience, Sharif has helped transform how young people are introduced to skiing and snowboarding.

The results have been immediate and meaningful. Participants are progressing more quickly, building confidence earlier, and experiencing success during their very first sessions. The Progression Park helps reduce fear, creates a sense of flow, and empowers young skiers and snowboarders to feel in control as they develop new skills.

Sharif's work has also improved operational efficiency across the mountain. His ability to design durable features that adapt to changing conditions helps maximize snowmaking and grooming resources while maintaining a high-quality participant experience throughout the season.

What truly sets Sharif apart is his mindset. He is constantly thinking about how to improve the mountain, how to make learning more accessible, and how to create an environment where every participant can succeed. He brings creativity, problem-solving, and a deep commitment to the Winter4Kids mission in everything he does. Through his leadership and vision, Sharif embodies the values that define Winter4Kids: Resilience, Inclusivity, Support, and Empowerment.

Sharif represents the next generation of mountain professionals—innovative, thoughtful, and focused on impact. His work is already influencing how we think about learning and participant experience, and he has the potential to help shape the future of our industry.

We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved award and the contributions that earned Sharif this recognition.

Please join us in congratulating him on this outstanding achievement!

Celebrating Sharif Smith's 10 Under 30 Award!

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