Must Watch: Kilian Bron Rides Glaciers, Ice Caves, & Alpine Ridgelines in 'Switzerland Paradise'

Nov 23, 2021
by COMMENCAL BIKES & SKIS  


Join Kilian Bron and his film crew to discover the highest peaks of Switzerland in all their glory!
Like with all their latest projects around the world, including “Follow the Light” in Turkey and “Colors of Mexico,” Kilian and his media team have spent months researching, organizing and filming as much as they possibly could.

The results are in the magnificent and out of the ordinary images that highlight the most beautiful places in the country! From the most remote alpine glaciers to ice caves, footbridges of several hundred meters or the immense variety of landscapes that Switzerland can offer, let yourself embark on this new ‘MISSION.’

“Switzerland Paradise” is a video project made with one of Kilian's partners, Tissot. Photos are by Mathieu Ruffray and Tristan Shu, and are shown in the latest published book by Kilian Bron that goes by the same name.


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Over the years, mountain biking has become my preference. The “discovery” and “exploration” runs gave their names to the MISSIONS and I spent more and more time inspecting summits and other spots of Switzerland.
- Kilian Bron


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Glacier

My interest in glaciers started with our adventures around Mont Blanc, in 2015. I think back to a particular ride with my mate Antoine Montegari. The very same Antoine who used to guide me and support me then for the track inspections in our impressive trip to the Dolomites in Italy. (…) That’s what I eventually did this summer, spending two whole days exploring the area. And it was one of the two highlights of the trip. The shelter we were staying at looked like a spaceship that had landed in a boulder field. The view of the Matterhorn was simply fantastic, and we were about to film the glacier and an area full of huge crevasses that I had spotted from my window before!
- Kilian Bron


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Ice Caves

After the glacier, it was logical and essential to find an ice cave. As usual it wasn’t easy! (…) It is the second biggest highlight of my trip after the Zermatt glacier. A technical and fast ride where previously, skiers had done natural jumps with repeated turns in the same places. An impressive discovery in the Arolla region, where you can ski down as well . One question though: for how long?
- Kilian Bron


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Dam

A succession of images in the video follows the flow of water. I set off from the top of Glacier 3000 before hurtling down snow, ice caves, mountain pastures and the various valleys. On my way, there was this dam. Artificial, I admit, but which becomes a playground like everything else. These structures are part of the Swiss landscape and I’d rather use them as a wall ride than just cross over it. (…) In all our videos, I try never to deviate from the trail or to modify the existing field. All you need is to do is adjust, even if it means having a less smooth and more technical ride than it could have been with a few blows of the shovel.
- Kilian Bron


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Behind The Shot - FPV VS Kilian Bron

Behind each video of 3 or 4 minutes are hundreds of hidden shots, days of hiking and many hours waiting for the right light. Depending on the locations, the weather and seasons must also be considered. Our alpine adventures force us to film in a window of 3 to 4 months during the summer, particularly in high alpine areas at snow-covered-altitudes that are inaccessible the rest of the year.

When all the conditions align, you must seize the opportunity! This FPV rush is a good example. A one-minute line which only represents a few seconds in the final video, integrated into the other shots.

- Kilian Bron


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Huge thank you to TISSOT for the support !

Directed by: Kilian Bron & Mathieu Ruffray
Film: Mathieu Ruffray - Pango Visual
Drone FPV: Cinematic Flow
Edit: Mathieu Ruffray - Pango Visual
Photography : Pango Visual / RedBull / Tristan Shu
Music & Sound Edit:
Fakear - Out Of Reach
Tristan Barton - Life Force


Regions in Article
Switzerland

Author Info:
commencal-bikes-skis avatar

Member since Sep 14, 2009
431 articles

62 Comments
  • 87 0
 Is it just me or is he Kilian it with the videos lately?
  • 18 0
 You bron to something
  • 6 0
 I could watch that again.
  • 2 4
 its getting ridiculous.. Its like there isn't any competition anymore. he kilians it every fckin time..
  • 37 8
 Love the riding, love the views, but I always struggle watching Kilian Bron's videos, the constant cuts and zoom ins/outs make me motion sick after like 2 minutes...
  • 14 6
 The settings and locations are completely stunning, but I too think it's quite over-edited, there are so many amazing shots in there that would be better off with a bit more time/room to breathe.
Also, and I say this as an FPV drone enthusiast, I find most of the FPV drone shots in bike videos quite irritating, it always seems like they are on the bring of getting too close to the rider and have to take evasive action with some jarring maneuvers. I either want to watch a video of an FPV pilot doing ridiculous flippy freestyle or a cinematic one, but not a mix of both. The super-wide FOV of the GoPro is not always beneficial either, I wonder why they don't just stick an Insta360 on there and worry about reframing the action later.
  • 3 0
 Indeed, it's not very epileptic-friendly Smile
Nice edit anyway, but not its best by far... and the music is so cheesy.
I was used to much better soundtracks from Commençal.
  • 3 2
 Terrible edit, terrible music(edited by Fakear...) stopped it after 3 Minutes. More a tourism advertisement.
Could have been a great movie.
  • 1 0
 @rarerider: The FPV thing is getting very overdone lately. It's not terrible in this video, but not great. The one exception is the waterfall shot. Definitely motivated and was executed very good.

If you actually want to get a headache, go watch the first segment from "Tales From Cascadia." I had to skip most of that section. How editors are ok with putting that out is beyond me... I guess it's maybe new and exciting? But, damn, that was rough.
  • 2 0
 The location and images are amazing, but indeed this is getting old and overused. All these locations with short cuts would make great stories by themselves. Why not show the whole story of one project instead of cutting the best clips together for just looks.
  • 28 0
 Wow.
This does more for Switzerland tourism than some multi million campains.

Thank you Commençal for all the quality videos.
  • 20 5
 I like most of kilians movies. But in this one he rides several trails that are banned for bikers and/or in protecte nature areas. As a pro you should respect this and not show in in movies. Can't understand why the watch brand supports this...
  • 1 0
 Not the first time...
  • 1 0
 Exactly , not sure they received any autorisation
  • 11 3
 Is there anything Switzerland doesn't have??? Stunning mountains, glaciers, giant rock slabs, epic single track, mountain huts disguised as giant rocks, minaret bans, Nazi gold....they've got everything!
  • 31 1
 Why are you so reductive!?! We accept gold from dictators and tyrans, druglords, corrupt corporations etc. from all over the world!
  • 6 0
 Sea?
  • 3 0
 @powpowpow: Ha ha!!! Excellent!!! Self-irony at its best Smile
  • 3 0
 you forgot cheese, chocolate, and massive tax reductions for the super rich
  • 8 0
 I would really love to see your movies on a genuine cinema screen. It could also be on a longer format. Any plans to broadcast them in a mountain movie festival ?
  • 1 0
 Just watching it on a big screen tv in full hd would be really good. I'm watching them on a computer screen.
  • 1 0
 The video is / will be broadcast throughout 2022 as part of the "Tous en selle" festival around the world Smile
You can look at the dates on the festival website
  • 12 1
 VIDEO OF THE YEAR!
  • 2 0
 Thanks for this comment! Smile
  • 3 0
 Great movie! Kilian Bron rides in locations where 99.99% of all inhabitants of the planet will never be able to ride a bike. The nature is amazing! The atmosphere of nature is very beautifully conveyed - sunsets, sunrises, fogs, animals, glaciers. Very nice and stylish mountainbiking. Editing and filming at the highest level.
  • 6 0
 xmas came early this year! That was beautiful... Thank you.
  • 6 0
 One best videos I've seen in a long time.
  • 3 0
 This guy is some mystical dude that just constantly rides gnarly ridges everywhere, never gets off his bike just goes and goes. Does he even eat? Where does Kilian sleep? Finally we know, In a rock.
  • 5 0
 Beautiful. After "Arthur", we are definitively spoiled this week.
  • 7 7
 What I love about Killian's videos is that they are more focused on the location than they are on the riding. The riding done in these videos isn't the most technical, and the trails/spots he goes to don't seem too difficult to ride (don't get me wrong, there are some really techy bits in this video), but the cinematography, and the breathtaking views that the riding is surrounded by makes it absolutely stunning to watch. And as always the photography along with it is incredible.
  • 1 1
 Nah dude, you're talking about the PB photo of the year winner. Kilian shreds.
  • 3 0
 The most stunning advert for a watch company that I've ever seen. Well done.
  • 2 0
 It's hard to be thankful for the small mountains and decent trails you have locally while other mfs out here doing shit like this.
  • 3 0
 Epic! Need more clips form Killian and from Switzerland.
  • 3 0
 His videos are just next level. The riding areas are just amazing places.
  • 3 0
 Honey, pack your bags, were going to Switzerland!
  • 2 1
 Spectacular video, BUT some of the trails he rides are banned for bikers and/or in protected areas. As a pro rider you should respect this!
  • 1 0
 A slice of riding, drone flying and cinematography perfection. And with added tension from being a pedal strike away from death on a couple of those trails. Loved that.
  • 2 0
 I’ve got plenty of time for videos like this
  • 3 0
 EPIC!!!!!!!
  • 2 0
 What an inspirational movie. So sick!
  • 1 0
 I'm staggered........ This is what I dream about when I ride.....pure magic.
  • 1 0
 I was holding my breath a few times, but the most cringing moment was when he bunnyhopped the via ferrata ...
  • 1 0
 Your cinematography has blown me away. High alpine adventure with knife edge precision riding. Keep her stoked.
  • 1 0
 The count of cool pictures is more than my brain can perceived
  • 2 0
 Subtle and crazy!
  • 2 0
 Chapeau, that's massive!
  • 2 5
 Absolutely steller filming and editing. Killian is so stylish and has so much control. The drone guy needs a raise too.
Has vibes of "dream ride" but in Swiss style - wish they would have chose a different swiss watch sponsor though with real movements like Omega or even Breitling.
  • 3 0
 This isn't sailing.
  • 1 0
 Cool vid but trying this hard makes the rest of us look bad
  • 1 0
 This makes me REALLY want to go shred my bike! Soooo good!
  • 1 0
 it's a pleasure everytime i'm watching 'them videos...thank you Killian !
  • 1 0
 Very good rider, not a good gran turismo player lol
  • 1 0
 Is it just me or can most of these images be photo of the year?! Stunning
  • 1 0
 Award Winning!!
  • 1 0
 Amazing
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