Gerhard grew up in Bad-Hofgastein (Salzburg Region) in Austria, which is one of the best ski areas of the country. Since early childhood he enjoyed skiing and racing. At age fourteen he won the Junior Championship of Salzburg and became a member of the Junior Development team of Austria.

Gerhard quit hotel school after three years to pursue a lifelong passion...teaching skiing. He then enrolled in Professor Kruckenhauser's state ski instructor program for two years at St. Christoph/Arlberg. There he became an Austrian state certified ski instructor. In Badgastein, Gerhard taught skiing for two winters, and then spent another two winters in Zurs Am Arlberg.

In 1964, Gerhard moved to his current home, Mt. Stowe Vermont, where he joined the Sepp Ruschp Ski School. During his five year stint with Sepp Ruschp, Gerhard had the privlege of teaching many famous guests. Among the more notable were the Kennedy family, the Gimbels, and the Larson family.

In addition to his skiing certification, Gerhard is also a state certified tennis instructor.So, when the snow melts and the weather gets warmer, Gerhard teaches tennis.

In 1969, Gerhard became the manager of the Mt. Mansfield Comp. Hotels and bought the Salzburg Inn in Stowe. After buying the inn, Gerhard shifted his focus from ski instruction to Masters ski racing. During this time he met many great ski competitors from both Europe and the United States.

Gerhard sold the inn and went back to teaching at the Stowe Ski School at the Stowe Mountain Resort in 1998.

"I really enjoi teaching again, meeting all sort of different people and seeing the progress my students make after each lesson." - Gerhard Schmidt