Going Big On Big Mountains
VIVIAN IS WORKING ON A LIFETIME PROJECT OF SKIING ALL THE 4,000-METER PEAKS IN THE ALPS, WHICH INCLUDES A LONG LIST OF 82 SUMMITS.
VIVIAN
STEEP SKIER + MOUNTAIN GUIDE (HE/HIM)
BRUCHEZ
Since 2010
VIVIAN HAS BEEN A MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR TEAM ATHLETE FOR 15 YEARS AND COUNTING.
Credit: Clayton Herrmann
Location: Chamonix, France
Location: Chamonix, France
Born and raised in Chamonix, France, Vivian Bruchez has always had a playground of 13,000-foot peaks at his fingertips. With both parents working as ski instructors, Vivian was introduced to alpine racing at the early age of just four years old. With dreams of becoming an Olympic champion like Bode Miller, and inspired by Candide Thovex, he switched to ski cross and freeride competitions in his mid-teens. After four years in the circuit, he left to focus on guiding professionally.
He then found his way into steep skiing, realizing it was the perfect mix between ski and alpinism. This evolving practice over the years and familiarity with high-altitude environments led him to pursue bigger objectives in bigger mountains over his adult career, and in 2014, an expedition in Alaska sparked interest for finding new lines to descend in the Himalayas. Inspired by the light-and-fast missions of his mentors, he wanted to find ways of exploring mountains that require the highest level of skill and precision while showcasing his unique style and eye for exploration.
He then found his way into steep skiing, realizing it was the perfect mix between ski and alpinism. This evolving practice over the years and familiarity with high-altitude environments led him to pursue bigger objectives in bigger mountains over his adult career, and in 2014, an expedition in Alaska sparked interest for finding new lines to descend in the Himalayas. Inspired by the light-and-fast missions of his mentors, he wanted to find ways of exploring mountains that require the highest level of skill and precision while showcasing his unique style and eye for exploration.
Learn From The Best
VIV BECAME AN ALPINE SKI INSTRUCTOR AT THE ARGENTIÈRE SPORTS CLUB AND JOINED THE COMPAGNIE DES GUIDES DE CHAMONIX AS A WAY TO SHARE HIS PASSION AND SUPPORT YOUNG TALENTS IN THE VALLEY.
Credit: Clayton Herrmann
Location: Chamonix, France
Location: Chamonix, France
Vivian has skied nearly 100 first ski descents in the Alps and all over the world, Baffin Island, El Chalten Argentina, Norway, succeeded on iconic steep lines including: Nant Blanc, the famous northwest face of Aiguille Verte on the Mont Blanc massif; Blanche de Peuterey and Peuterey Ridge, the most difficult independent 4,000-meter summit of the Alps; the West face of Mont-Blanc, also known as the Himalayan face of Mont-Blanc; the Matterhorn east face; and much more.
For the past five years, he has spent every spring skiing all the 4,000-meter peaks in the Alps. A giant project that no other skier in the world has done. On 82 summits, he skied 100 lines, opened 20 new routes and skied 2 summits never skied in history.
For the past five years, he has spent every spring skiing all the 4,000-meter peaks in the Alps. A giant project that no other skier in the world has done. On 82 summits, he skied 100 lines, opened 20 new routes and skied 2 summits never skied in history.
Alpine All-Star
CHAMONIX IS KNOWN AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF ALPINISM. IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE VIV’S BIRTHPLACE, TOO. THE TWO WERE DESTINED TO COLLIDE. A LEGENDARY PLACE MAKES A LEGENDARY PERSON.
Credit: Clayton Herrmann
Location: Chamonix, France
Location: Chamonix, France
A Lifetime Of Skiing
VIVIAN WAS EXPOSED TO ALPINE RACING AT THE EARLY AGE OF JUST FOUR YEARS OLD THANKS TO HIS PARENTS, WHO WERE BOTH SKI INSTRUCTORS IN CHAMONIX. HIS INTERESTS IN THE SKI WORLD HAVE EVOLVED, BUT HIS LOVE FOR THE ALPS REMAIN.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- FEATURED IN “DOWN SIDE UP” (2013)—AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX EUROPE.
- FEATURED IN “BETWEEN THE LINES” (2019).
- OPENING NEARLY 100 FIRST SKI DESCENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD FROM 2012 TO 2024, INCLUDING VERY TECHNICAL LINES, SUCH AS: NANT-BLANC (AIGUILLE VERTE 4121M), PICCO LUIGI AMADEO 4470M (ITALIAN SIDE OF MONT-BLANC), SCHRECKHORN 4078M IN SWITZERLAND.
- SKI EXPEDITIONS IN HIMALAYAS: EVEREST 8848M, DHAULAGIRI 8167M, TILICHO PEAK 7134M.
- SUMMIT OF MT. DENALI 6190M (ALASKA).
- CLIMBING AND SKIING OBERGABELHORN IN SWITZERLAND AND ACCESSING WITH BIKES—FEATURED “DIAMANT DES ALPES” (2021).
- TEACHER AND COACH ON “STEEP BY STEP” PROGRAM, TRAINING COURSES.
- SKI PROFESSOR IN FRENCH NATIONAL SCHOOL (ENSA) TO TEACH SKI INSTRUCTORS AND MOUNTAIN GUIDES SINCE 2020.
- OPENING SKI LINES IN BAFFIN ISLAND (CANADA) WITH CODY TOWNSEND AND BJARNE SALEN IN 2023.
- OPENING SKI LINES IN EL CHALTEN, ARGENTINA, IN 2023, RESULTING IN “PAINTING THE MOUNTAINS” FILM (2024).
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE LEGACY OF YOUR CAREER TO BE?
I want to share things, not show things. I’m not worried about big jumps, huge lines or races anymore. My work is about education. I work as both a guide and professional skier, trying to balance the two. For now, I’m focused on films that inspire and educate. Just like sharing my vision with clients, I hope these films teach people about the mountains.
WHAT'S SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I built my house in Chamonix Valley and that I identify myself more like an “artist” than an “athlete.”
WATCH THE
POLAR STAR FILM
POLAR STAR FILM
In 2022, Vivian joined Cody Townsend on his pursuit called The Fifty—an attempt to climb and ski all of the lines in the book, The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America.
In this film, Viv, Cody, and Bjarn Salén travel to the most remote classic of The Fifty, an iconic and outrageously aesthetic line called the Polar Star couloir on Baffin Island. Over 3,000 vertical feet, it is a couloir on the grandest of scales.
Surrounded by sea ice, polar bears, and towering granite walls, a lesson in what makes Viv one of the world's best ski mountaineers/steep skiers comes to light over this ~40 minute piece.
In this film, Viv, Cody, and Bjarn Salén travel to the most remote classic of The Fifty, an iconic and outrageously aesthetic line called the Polar Star couloir on Baffin Island. Over 3,000 vertical feet, it is a couloir on the grandest of scales.
Surrounded by sea ice, polar bears, and towering granite walls, a lesson in what makes Viv one of the world's best ski mountaineers/steep skiers comes to light over this ~40 minute piece.
Eye For Exploration
VIV’S SKETCHBOOKS ARE FILLED WITH IDEAS FOR NEW LINES IN THE MOUNTAINS HE EXPLORES DAILY. HE ENJOYS FINDING WAYS OF EXPLORING TERRAIN THAT REQUIRE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SKILL AND PRECISION WHILE SHOWCASING HIS UNIQUE STYLE.
Credit: Viv's archives
WHAT'S IT LIKE LIVING IN CHAMONIX?
Every day in the mountains shapes my vision. Living in Chamonix has shaped my vision of climbing and the passion I have for what I do. Mountains offer me the garden to create the line I want to ski or the route I imagine climbing. This is the place where I feel good and free. The verticality and the history around me inspire me; it gives me the passion I have and shapes the way I want to share it with friends and clients.
WHAT'S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE?
My trip to Baffin Island with Cody Townsend and Bjarne Salen in April 2023. We had a skier's dream trip. Superb and unique destination, good snow conditions, perfect weather but above all a very good understanding within the team.
WHAT IS YOUR CLIMBING PHILOSOPHY?
“
To imagine new lines to inspire others to live
their own adventure on the mountain.
their own adventure on the mountain.
”
VIVIAN’S FAVORITE
PRODUCTS
PRODUCTS
