A Life on Skis — Meet Vivian Bruchez

Born and raised in the Chamonix Valley, Vivian Bruchez is unmatched when it comes to skiing big terrain. He also approaches the mountains in a unique way: his passion is skiing the steepest lines on the Mont-Blanc massif. Whether it's skiing with buddies, guiding clients, or teaching, for Vivian, his passion is only fulfilled if he's sharing it with others.

I was born and raised in Chamonix, where I learned to ski when I was three years old. The sheer height of the surrounding peaks shaped my vision for skiing. My parents and siblings are all ski instructors. I was just four years old when I first skied the Grand Montets.

I started competing intensively in alpine skiing, then ski-cross and freeride; but my attention was quickly drawn by steep slopes, which offer the perfect balance between skiing and mountaineering. When I was working on completing all the itineraries required to become a high-mountain guide, I wanted to ski all the lines I climbed. the  At age 19, skiing the Mallory-Porter route on the north side of the Aiguille du Midi, I was alone, but I felt at home; in my element. So that's what I focused on.

I love sharing my passion, so I became an alpine ski instructor at the Argentière Sports Club and joined the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix. It brought me a lot of joy to teach and support young talents in the Valley. After touring the “classic” routes on the Mont-Blanc massif, I was tempted to open new lines. Meeting inspiring mountain athletes, like Kilian Jornet, gave me a new impetus: to create. 

Follow your path to find your life

I did a lot of skiing with snowboarders like Jonathan Charlet, whose ability to read the mountain inspired me a lot. I also had the opportunity to share a few turns with Pierre Tardival and realize my passion with my first movie, “T’es pas bien là”.

In 2018, I skied the Nant-Blanc at Aiguille Verte with Paul Bonhomme, then crossed the Mont-Blanc massif on steep slopes with Mathéo Jacquemoud. I also joined the National Ski and Mountaineering School where I teach off-piste courses for ski instructors. In 2021, I decided to tour the Obergabelhorn. But this time, I left my house on my bike and did the tour with Mathieu Navillod and Sébastien Montaz-Rosset. This adventure renewed the motivation that drives my vision for the sport. In the last 4 years, I’ve shared many days in the mountains with Tom Lafaille; we make a great team. And today, as a father of two daughters and with support from my partner, I’m finding the balance between family, living my passion, and sharing it with others