Sylvain Saudan - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Nicknamed the "Skieur de l'Impossible" (Skier of the Impossible), Sylvain Saudan is a Swiss former professional skier known for his daring descents of some of the world's most challenging mountain slopes.
- 2. Saudan was born on June 4, 1936 in Lausanne, Switzerland. He grew up skiing in the Swiss Alps and honing his skills on the steep, technical terrain of the region.
- 3. Saudan gained international fame in the 1970s for his groundbreaking descents of extreme ski lines that were previously thought to be unskiable. He pioneered a style of skiing known as "extreme skiing," which involved skiing down steep, rocky, and icy slopes with little room for error.
- 4. One of Saudan's most famous descents was his ski descent of the Eiger's north face in 1967. This treacherous face had never been skied before and was considered one of the most challenging and dangerous ski descents in the world.
- 5. Saudan is credited with inventing the "Saudan Couloir," a skiing technique that involves making quick, controlled turns down steep, narrow couloirs. This technique revolutionized extreme skiing and became a signature move of Saudan's.
- 6. In 1978, Saudan set a world record for the highest vertical descent in a single day by skiing 24,000 vertical feet in the French Alps. This record still stands today.
- 7. Saudan's skiing career was not without its risks, and he suffered several serious injuries throughout his career, including a broken back and multiple broken bones. Despite these setbacks, Saudan continued to push the boundaries of extreme skiing.
- 8. After retiring from professional skiing, Saudan became a ski instructor and mountain guide, passing on his knowledge and skills to the next generation of skiers.
- 9. Saudan has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the sport of skiing, including being inducted into the Swiss Sports Hall of Fame and the International Skiing Hall of Fame.
- 10. Today, Saudan is considered a living legend in the world of skiing and continues to inspire skiers around the world with his fearless approach to the sport.