[6] Smith-Johannsen managed a business importing heavy-equipment from Norway to North America and Cuba, shuttling between New York and Montreal, until the family permanently settled in Canada ca.

[10] In 1907 he became an independent agent, selling heavy equipment, based out of New York City and eventually Montreal.

Smith-Johannsen is credited with building many ski jumps and with blazing trails throughout Ontario, the Eastern Townships, the Laurentians, and the Adirondack Mountains in New York.

While living and vacationing in Lake Placid between 1916 and 1928, Smith-Johannsen laid out some of the original routes used by today's trail.

[11][12] He was also famous for his one-day ascents of Mount Marcy (the highest mountain in New York State) starting from Lake Placid, a round-trip of over 30 miles.

Some former "Jackrabbits" introduced to skiing through the program include Olympic medallists Beckie Scott, Sara Renner, and Chandra Crawford and World Champions Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey.