ZERMATTERS: your local outdoor specialists

ZERMATTERS – the name says it all: these are the local people and the real Zermatt experts who have been moving and shaking Zermatt for more than a century. But what is the history of the largest outdoor specialists in Zermatt? What are the stories and pioneering decisions that have driven its success?

ZERMATTERS is a co-operative with over 300 members. It is a strong team that is expanded by a host of seasonal employees who work in the Zermatt mountains. Its size and wide range of services make ZERMATTERS a unique company in the region. Whether it's ski and snowboard lessons, mountaineering, ski touring, climbing, mountain biking, glacier trekking or hiking – it is the go-to place for almost everything for all ages and abilities. But there is a clear common thread running through all its activities: a passion for nature, the mountains and the people who want to discover them.

A history that still resonates today

As stakeholders who were there at the very beginning, the ZERMATTERS have hospitality in their DNA. The original founders, who went to school together and got up to all the usual mischief, were later instrumental in shaping Zermatt's history.

The foundation stone was laid back in 1858 with the founding of the mountain guide association. At this time, a fascination for alpinism impacted the entire Alpine region, including Zermatt. But it took time to conquer the legendary Matterhorn.  Like a diva making her public wait, it wasn't until 1865 that a seven-man rope team dared to scale the ‘mountain of mountains’. The tragic first ascent left deep scars, especially on the Zermatt mountain guides. Yet, despite the tragedy, this event marked the beginning of the golden years of mountain guiding.

Zermatt also made history in skiing: 1908 saw the founding of the ski club and the first proper use of wooden boards. With the Swiss Ski School Zermatt established in 1929, Zermatt now boasts one of the oldest ski schools in Switzerland.

It wasn’t until 2019 that the two long-established associations – the mountain guide association and the ski and snowboard school association – made a forward-looking decision to pool their strengths and combine their extensive expertise under a common name. This gave rise to the ZERMATTERS cooperative, which has been operational since June 2019. The aim was clear: to expand the range of services and optimise the synergies of both organisations.

As always with major decisions, there was a lot of lively debate around the best way forward. And this dialogue shows what really counts for the ZERMATTERS – finding the best solutions for guests, locals and the future of Zermatt.

Combining experience with passion

The guides take guests to the next level – literally. Whether perfecting a carving turn on a ski course or scaling a 4,000 metre peak – it is all about these feelings and experiences.

Experiences that are priceless.
Intense moments that are the culmination of years of work.  Adventures that are deeply engraved in the memory.

Anyone who has experienced a sunrise during an ascent, high up in the midst of the silence and vastness of nature, understands the meaning of moments like these.

One thing is always sure: healthy respect for nature and the mountains is essential. The mountains are the best teachers – they instil boundaries, patience and humility. In the end, nature always has the last word.

The synergy of complexity and passion

How does a company of this size manage to keep an overview and maintain a personal approach? Around 300 qualified ski instructors, mountain guides, hiking guides and bike guides come together to form the ZERMATTERS cooperative. Depending on the season, a host of auxiliary staff support the operation. On peak days, over 250 snow sports instructors are on duty in winter, and more than 30 mountain guides in summer.

Is it possible to guarantee quality within this model? Is there a way to match guides to the linguistic abilities and personalities of guests? These are precisely some of the challenges that the ZERMATTERS management team faces time and again – especially on busy days.

The answers are often found in the small details, like regular dialogue, conscious listening and personal conversations. This is the only way to ensure that everyone is pulling in the same direction – with the aim of offering guests unforgettable experiences at the highest level.

Local people meet international guests

Zermatt attracts fascinating guests from all over the world – people looking for peace and personal connections with others. Many ZERMATTERS guides maintain links with their guests for years, sometimes even for generations. Genuine friendships can flourish from this and it is touching to see how one place can create so many precious memories. When parents want to follow their own parents and share the same great holidays with their children, it shows the deep bonds that are forged with this place.

 

And any way you look at it, a day in the mountains is a day well spent. ZERMATTERS is all about the outdoors – fresh air, endless expanses, and breath-taking panoramas. As well as learning a new skill, you also get to know yourself better, test your limits and keep moving. Could anyone want more?