Featured Image: Courtesy of Faction Skis
Sam Anthamatten has pursued a life marked by balancing risk and reward, and he’s done so with immense success. Attuned to the movement of the high peaks, he’s one of very few individuals in the world who can wear the hats of both a professional freeride skier and a world-class mountain guide. In the third and final installment of Faction’s Portraits series, we get a look at how Anthamatten navigates life in the mountains and how his finely tuned philosophy has come to fruition.
The big mountain pro has honed his skills in the highest reaches of the Swiss Alps, which is where this detailed short film takes us. Anthamatten has long been a household name in the world of skiing, but he’s never been one to stand in the spotlight for long. It’s only fitting that we finally get this look into his life as the Portraits series comes to a close.
Faction riders Elisabeth Gerritzen, Martin Bender and Yann Rausis make appearances throughout, giving us a full-circle picture of this living legend. Take 15 minutes, kill the lights and grab some inspiration from one of the best to ever do it, Sam Anthamatten.
From YouTube:
Ski-mountaineer Sam Anthamatten lives a split life: when you’re both a measured mountain guide and a daring professional freeskier, which hat do you wear?
Dividing your career this way is a challenge. Guiding requires the highest level of safety, and professional freeskiing demands immense risk. Sam walks this tightrope every day on the mountain. His balancing act draws admiration from every generation of the skiing community, from scrappy freeride hounds to the most experienced technical ski-mo pros.
We return to Sam’s lofty Swiss Alps backyard in this third and final episode of Portraits, steeped in big-mountain action. Joined by fellow freeride competitors Elisabeth Gerritzen, Martin Bender, and Yann Rausis, Sam ponders the central challenge of his career.
A co-production with Blue Max Media
Directed by Etienne Mérel
Shot on location in the Swiss Alps
Photo Gallery
Images: Frederik Kalbermatten, Courtesy of Faction Skis
