Sylvan Saudan, legendary steep skier, passed on July 14. Photo: Mendi Film
On July 14, renowned Swiss steep skier Sylvain Saudan died of a heart attack at 87 years old. He lived in Les Houches, France near Chamonix.
No matter your definition of the practice of this narrowly defined mountain craft, which some call ski alpinism, it categorically requires steepness. Saudan was at the sharp end of Europe’s hard chargers for years, redefining steep skiing possibilities.
To turn words ironically on their head, Saudan was commonly known by the moniker “Le Skier de I’Impossible.” It doesn’t take a Francophone to translate: skier of the impossible. Saudan cemented his permanence on the extrême steep skiing through line in 1967 with his first ski descent of the Aiguille de Blaitière’s Spencer Couloir.
Spencer Couloir first skied in 1967 by Sylvain Saudan. Screen grab: Fatmap
Spencer Couloir first skied in 1967 by Sylvain Saudan. Screen grab: Fatmap
In an interview with Saudan on powderguide.com, he explains why the Spencer descent was significant, stating, “The descent through the Spencer in 1967 was the first descent in terrain that had previously belonged exclusively to alpinists.” The impossible becomes the possible.
Saudan is credited with numerous first descents, including a 1982 first ski descent from atop Pakistan’s Gasherbrum I, an 8,068-meter peak.
Unbashful and sensing he could capitalize on his notoriety as an extreme skier, Saudan made his mark on the scene. “In Alpine environs, he is a celebrity of approximately the same luster as a Super Bowl quarterback in the U.S.,“ noted a 1981 Sports Illustrated piece.
That Sports Illustrated story was, in fact, a profile on Colorado’s Chris Landry. Yet, the narrative detours at one point to pay homage to those who came before. In one passage, the author documents Saudan’s hallmark style on the steeps.
“Saudan has developed a unique and rather acrobatic turning technique called ‘the windshield wiper.‘ He plants one of his extra-long poles down the hill, then quickly elevates both skis off the snow in what looks to be a routine jump turn. However, the ski tails remain in the snow while Saudan rotates the ski tips from side to side in a rhythmic pattern, 180 degrees one way, 180 degrees the other, windshield-wiper fashion.“
Saudan and his windshield wiper turns kept him steady, righted, and trending, at a controlled rhythmic tempo, down some audacious slopes.
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Postscript: In exploring Saudan’s life a bit more, we came across some excellent reads, some of which are referenced below.
“It’s got Ups and Downs,“ in SI
“Skiing the Steeps,“ in the NYT Magazine
A self-supported American team with no oxygen repeated Saudan’s visionary route on G1 today. All this after they skied G2 about a week ago.
Exciting stuff. Been trying to follow from afar. Thanks for the heads up.