In the world of riding insane ski lines, there are a few legends who have sent lines so sick, most of us will never ride them. From deadly steep spines to remote peaks no lift will ever take you, these runs are the ultimate no-go zones for the everyday rider. We’re talking terrain that makes your legs shake just thinking about it. But for these guys? Almost like just another day in the mountains.
We won’t get you riding these insane ski lines, but check out where we can take you on our Off-Piste Ski Adventures!
Here are seven legends who hit lines that made freeski history.
1. Dédé Anzévui – Matterhorn, North Face (Switzerland)
Dédé Anzévui’s descent of the Matterhorn’s north face in 1989 is one of the most insane achievements in the history of extreme skiing. Yet, almost nobody knows about it. The steepness, exposure, and ice of this iconic Alpine peak make it a no-go zone for even the most seasoned skiers. Anzévui’s line was so sketchy, one wrong turn could’ve sent him free-falling thousands of feet to the valley below. And he nailed it with his old, 2.07m skis.
Now here’s the kicker—after this epic feat, the sponsor that backed the mission went bankrupt. With no marketing machine behind him, Anzévui’s groundbreaking descent never got the attention it deserved. This legendary ride is barely mentioned in the annals of extreme skiing history. But for those who know, Anzévui’s run remains one of the most hardcore and underappreciated achievements in the game. There is no public video footage, nothing you can find on social media.
But to this day, he remains the only known person to have ever skied that face.
30 years later, the Swiss newspaper NZZ honored Dédé Anzévui’s legendary descent of the Matterhorn’s north face. They acknowledge the event as one of the most remarkable yet underrecognized achievements in the history of extreme skiing.
I had the privilege of skiing with Dédé in his hometown of Arolla. It’s a tiny Swiss village surrounded by towering peaks. Meeting him in person was like stepping into a secret history of skiing. I can say firsthand, this guy is as humble as he is hardcore!
Picture Source: Neue Zürcher Zeitung
2. Andrzej Bargiel – K2 (Pakistan)
In 2018, Andrzej Bargiel made history by becoming the first person to ski down K2, the world’s second-highest mountain. Known as “The Savage Mountain,” K2 is infamous for its deadly conditions. With a 23% fatality rate among climbers, it’s far higher than Everest. What makes Bargiel’s feat even more remarkable is that he completed the entire descent without using supplemental oxygen or ropes. Just pure skill and guts.
Starting from the summit at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet), Bargiel linked together multiple challenging routes. They included the Abruzzi Spur, the Polish Route, and sections of Voie Normale. The conditions on K2 are notoriously brutal. Ice fields, deep crevasses, and the constant risk of avalanches make it one of the deadliest peaks on the planet. Any mistake could mean the end, but Bargiel handled it all with remarkable precision and control.
One of the most innovative aspects of this expedition was the use of drones. They were operated by Bargiel’s brother, Bartłomiej, to scout the route and monitor for avalanche risks. This unprecedented use of technology was vital in helping Bargiel safely navigate one of the most dangerous lines in skiing history.
Bargiel’s K2 descent stands as one of the most impressive feats of human endurance and technical prowess in the world of ski mountaineering. Watch the video here.
3. Cody Townsend – The Crack (Alaska)
If you’ve seen The Crack, you know it’s no ordinary chute. Located in Alaska’s Tordrillo Mountains, this impossibly narrow, rock-walled gully looks more like something out of a nightmare than a ski line. In 2014, Cody Townsend dropped into this claustrophobic corridor, barely wider than the span of his skis, and skied it like a pro. His descent was so clean, controlled, and jaw-droppingly technical that it earned him the prestigious “Line of the Year” title.
But here’s the kicker—there’s zero margin for error. One misstep, and you’re not just tumbling—you’re wedged between sheer rock walls, possibly facing serious injury. The line itself forces skiers to confront their worst fears: steep drops, tight confines, and brutal exposure. The Crack is the kind of line that burns itself into your memory and forever defines what “extreme skiing” truly means.
For anyone dreaming of riding it, watching Townsend’s descent is a must-see, and you can catch the footage here.
4. Jérémie Heitz & Samuel Anthamatten – La Liste: The 11 Peaks
In the movie La Liste, Jérémie Heitz and Samuel Anthamatten redefined big mountain skiing, taking on some of the steepest and most dangerous peaks in the Alps. Over the course of the film, they tackled 11 legendary 4,000-meter peaks, descending vertical faces that left no margin for error. These mountains aren’t just steep—they’re vicious, with razor-sharp ridges and exposed lines where one mistake could be fatal.
Here’s the full list of the 11 peaks they shredded:
- Weisshorn (4,506m)
- Dent Blanche (4,357m)
- Zinalrothorn (4,221m)
- Obergabelhorn (4,063m)
- Matterhorn (4,478m) – climbed but didn’t ride
- Nadelhorn (4,327m)
- Lenzspitze (4,294m)
- Alphubel (4,206m)
- Liskamm (4,527m)
- Grand Combin (4,314m)
- Mont Collon (3,637m)
Among these, the Weisshorn stands out as one of the most extreme lines. It’s not just its height, but its sheer sharpness—skiing down the Weisshorn is akin to riding a knife edge. The ridges are narrow, the slopes are unforgiving, and the exposure is relentless. One wrong move on the Weisshorn, and there’s no room for recovery. The vertical drop and difficulty of the terrain make it one of the hardest lines ever skied.
In La Liste, these 11 peaks aren’t just conquered. They’re shredded, with Heitz and Anthamatten showcasing their unparalleled skill and pushing the limits of what’s possible in big mountain skiing. Watch a teaser here.
5. Seth Morrison – The Pyramid (Haines, Alaska)
Big mountain legend Seth Morrison has taken on some of the gnarliest lines in Alaska, but The Pyramid in Haines is in a league of its own. This heli-access-only line is notorious for its steep, sketchy terrain and constant avalanche danger. Even the approach to the line is daunting, with unstable snow conditions and exposed drops creating serious risk at every turn. This is the kind of terrain that’ll put even the most seasoned riders in check.
The Pyramid demands absolute precision. Morrison, known for his fearless style, managed to handle this beast of a line with unmatched finesse. His ability to navigate such a steep and complex descent while maintaining control solidifies it as one of the most epic runs of his career. The technical difficulty, combined with the need to anticipate avalanche risks and tricky snow conditions, makes The Pyramid one of the sickest lines ever dropped. Watch the video here.
6. Sylvain Saudan – Messner Couloir, Denali (USA)
Sylvain Saudan, known as the OG of steep skiing, was a pioneer of the sport in the 1960s and 70s. Nicknamed the “skier of the impossible,” he tackled lines others wouldn’t dare attempt. One of his most famous feats was skiing the Messner Couloir on Denali (Mount McKinley). At the time, Denali’s vertical ice fields, unpredictable snow, and harsh weather made it almost untouchable for skiers.
The Messner Couloir is a steep, narrow chute with deadly consequences. One mistake could lead to a fatal fall. Saudan’s technique, known as the “windshield wiper turn,” allowed him to carve down near-vertical faces with control and precision. His approach to skiing these extreme lines laid the groundwork for what we now know as extreme skiing.
At over 6,000 meters (20,310 feet), Denali adds the challenge of altitude to an already dangerous descent. The Messner Couloir, often called a “death chute,” is infamous for its steep drop-offs and avalanche risks. Few have dared to follow in Saudan’s footsteps. His fearless approach and technical skill revolutionized skiing and continue to inspire a new generation of steep-skiing athletes.
7. Xavier de Le Rue – Mount Vinson (Antarctica)
When you think of “remote,” Antarctica tops the list. In 2011, snowboard legend Xavier de Le Rue took on Mount Vinson. It’s the highest peak in Antarctica at 4,892 meters (16,050 feet). Mount Vinson is deep in the frozen wilderness of the Ellsworth Range. Temperatures regularly drop below -30°C (-22°F), and the winds are relentless. It’s one of the most isolated places on Earth. Survival is a challenge, let alone shredding one of its steepest slopes.
De Le Rue didn’t just face freezing temperatures—he had to navigate dangerous crevasses, ice walls, and steep slopes. The terrain was brutal, leaving almost no room for error. De Le Rue, with his freeride background, approached this line with speed, precision, and adaptability. He seized the few weather windows available to make his descent.
The remoteness of Mount Vinson adds an extra layer of difficulty. Few riders will ever set foot there, let alone attempt a descent. The logistics alone are extreme, requiring specialized gear, satellite communication, and a team experienced in polar expeditions. But de Le Rue, known for pushing the boundaries of freeriding, thrived in this hostile environment. His successful ride cemented his place as one of the boldest riders in the sport.
This line was more than a test of snowboarding skills—it was a fight against the elements and extreme isolation. With every crevasse, ice fall, and windblown ridge, de Le Rue proved that even the harshest conditions on Earth couldn’t stop him from riding like a true freerider. Watch the video here.
Final Thoughts
These lines aren’t just off-limits—they’re legendary. The mountains don’t care how good you are, and the consequences for failure on these descents are dire. For these riders, though, it’s just another day of pushing the limits. For the rest of us? We’ll be watching from the safety of our screens, in awe of what’s possible when you take freeriding to the edge.
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