Switzerland has more to offer than the big ski resorts you see in ads and all over social media. But where are they? Our newest video series follows Swiss freerider Sam Anthamatten as he goes from his hometown of Zermatt to smaller ski areas that are among the country’s best-kept secrets.

Check the dial of any of our watches and you’ll see that little “Swiss Made” label that proves where they come from. We’re proud of our Swiss heritage, and that’s why we’re excited to capture the breathtaking Alpine views that Switzerland is known for in this video series starring Sam.

The series starts in Zermatt in the canton of Valais in southern Switzerland. Skiers and snow bums around the globe are familiar with this town and its iconic peak, the Matterhorn. Sam has ventured to some of the world’s highest crests and gone after some of the most treacherous mountainsides for adrenaline-pumping runs, but he’s always happy to come home and explore what lays just beyond his front door.

“I grew up in Zermatt and the mountains were my playground. As an adult, they’re still my playground,” Sam says in Swiss-German. “You don’t need to travel halfway around the world to go skiing when you live in a country where the sport has a big tradition and the conditions are so good.”

Zermatt is special because of its height and the fact that you can ski here year-round. Sam makes the most of this by skiing in the lower parts at the beginning of the season and then moving up to the areas at 4,000 meters at the end of the season. But bigger isn’t always better – Switzerland’s smaller ski areas are full of surprises, and these unique surprises are exactly what Sam hopes to discover.

As Sam says in the video, the goal of this series is to “show what we have on our doorstep. That’s why we went freeriding in several small ski areas in Switzerland – to find new descents and see new mountains, and also to meet the locals and get to know their mindset.”

Sure, it may be a little cliché, but it’s true: Switzerland is known for watchmaking and the Alps. We’re excited to team up with Sam and take the time to explore the paradise in our very own backyard and uncover the ski areas that are off the beaten track. Stay tuned!