Frederik Kalbermatten's Ice Cave Snowboarding Adventure

Chasing the Chill

Frederik Kalbermatten, a fearless snowboarder, carved out a fresh trick on an old tale: the ice cave. Saas-Fee, Switzerland, is Swiss for “high alpine paradise” — the Swiss Alps are a mountain range of more than 124 peaks and 18 climbs over 4,000 meters, but it’s the glaciers that cast the longest shadows on Kalbermatten’s adventures. "This was shot in Saas-Fee, a high alpine snow paradise in Switzerland that's surrounded by eighteen 4,000-metre peaks, a unique mountain, and a stunning glacier landscape where incredible adventures await!" Adrenaline and altitude collide. Icy conditions bring snowboarders to test their mettle. For Kalbermatten, an ice cave in the Swiss Alps was just another day in the snow. The snowboarder must test his skills against the unforgiving terrain and sheer vertical drops of the ice cave tunnels, among nearly impossible odds.

The adrenaline-cultivating cafe

It’s the kind of story you think you have heard before. What comes three weeks each winter? People who try to go on ice caves. You’re more likely to hear about skiers than snowboarders braving an ice cave in the Swiss Alps. The terrain is unforgiving, and the high altitude makes hiking slowly. Nonetheless, there are always some who will break through. For that reason, the fanfare around the Saas-Fee video is not only Kaplermatten’s conquest of an ice cave, but his will to try. Few people have enough skill to tackle what Kalbermatten does, and fewer still have the nerve to do so. Kalbermatten isn’t only a hard act to follow, but a hard example for the video era. Skills aren’t the only thing that make Kalbermatten a standout snowboarder. So does his undeniable charm.

The cave’s edge and meaning

The art to keep calm

Ice caves are no joke, and they certainly aren’t the kind of place you want to go snowboarding unless you have extreme skills. But that’s exactly what makes Kalbermatten’s video so thrilling. The Swiss snowboarder expertly weaves in and out of the ice cave’s tunnels, narrowly avoiding the walls and utilizing their natural contours in his runs. The beauty of the ice formations surrounding him is spine-chilling.

Sharpening the eerie hearts above

It’s not just what he did. It’s how he did it. The haunting melodic beat of Lana Del Rey’s "Jealous Girl" song is the perfect backdrop for the ice cave footage. It cuts through the deafening quiet. The imagery of Kalbermatten carving through the natural tunnels while the lyrics sing into the cave comes together expertly. His moves are crisp, clean, and fast, but not rushed. The music and snow go together.

Packing it in

The ice cave not only contains an ice sculpture but an icy heartbeat as well. Icy formations give the caves a personality and charm of their own, but Kalbermatten’s bold determination to enter the cave and show it who’s boss through snowboarding makes it all the more exciting. The intricate designs of the ice itself and well-rounded beats coming from the song keep viewers hooked. There’s no telling how long it took Kalbermatten to pick out the best tunes for his video, but it absolutely makes a difference. Icy textures and the slow movements remain the main attraction, but the music is the glue that binds it all together.

The cave’s cold call

The Swiss Alps don’t offer a beginner course in snowboarding. Snowboarding through an ice cave isn’t an easy task, and it’s certainly not something that beginners should be attempting.

Know what you're packing

Your equipment and clothing are essential when snowboarding. Frostbite easily sets in on an ice cave adventure, so insulated gloves and boots are a must. Helmets will protect you from the inevitable falls, while snowboards and bindings need to be sturdy yet flexible to handle the icy terrain. Kalbermatten isn’t snowboarding through Switzerland in boxers and a flimsy jacket.

Establishment mode

Kalbermatten advises first checking the weather to confirm the ice cave is safe. You will flatten out your face if you try to go down the wrong way. The cave has a few tricky parts, where almost any slight misstep might send the snowboarders flying. The best way to avoid this is to first get a lay of the land and get a sense of the turns. Kalbermatten evaluates the terrain before he starts and plans his route. He recommends that novices take it slow and build their skills.

Autonomous control

Kalbermatten’s navigation skills became exceptional —and snowboarding didn’t always used to be so. That’s why a snowboarder must learn how to navigate the ice cave safely. Snowboarding through an ice cave is an extreme sport, and leaving your safety in the hands of a virtual reality simulator might not be the best option. But even if the snowboarder did have access to virtual reality, what value would that be? Wouldn’t you rather have a personal tour of the cave from a snowboarder with experience? When you know you can rely on yourself or a mentor to get you through any unexpected detours, you’re able to better enjoy the beautiful sights that the ice cave offers. This experience doesn’t have to be a one-time deal. Snowboarding is a sport meant for the adventurous. As you get better, you might find yourself looking for more and more challenging terrain. Once you’ve mastered a cave, you might set your sights for even higher peaks.

The cave’s final roadmap

There are plenty of caves to explore in Saas-Fee where you can show the snow who’s boss. To join the innermost Swiss sky, the exhausting journey through 4,000 meters of elevation so conspicuous in the Swiss mountains, looks for a sympathetic guide in an open carve. Either way, bring the beats loud and your gusty gloves on.