Alexander Rydén


Alexander Rydén is a Swedish former elite-level climber, gimbal operator, and filmmaker. Rydén is also known as a followcam skier, which involves skiing with a camera next to other athletes.

Early life

Rydén was born and raised in Edsåsdalen, a small ski resort in Åre Municipality, Jämtland County, northern Sweden. He started filming his friends as a teenager, eventually becoming a professional followcam skier.

Sporting career

Skiing

Rydén's skiing career spans 30 years and includes multiple extreme ski descents. His skiing highlights include steep skiing on the Chlyn Wendenstock and Marcelo Couloir, as well as a famous 20m cliff jump in Sweden known as the Högsta, Östra Ravin.

Rock climbing

Rydén has been a rock climber for 18 years. He has performed in numerous first ascents and competitions at the Swedish elite level. His rock climbing highlights include a 7c+ onsight on Arugliopoulos, a 500m big wall on Presten, and a 7c+ first ascent on Via Burrata. He has achieved 40 first ascents between 6c and 7c+, 30 onsights graded 7b+ or harder, and has completed 40 multipitch routes. Rydén has also completed a free solo ascent of Vit November, graded 6c+.
In 2017, Alexander performed a rope swing stunt from Åre Kabinbana in Sweden. This stunt was a fusion of bungee jumping and a high-intensity playground swing and took place at a ski resort. With the help of an aerial circus technician, Rydén executed this massive rope swing from the resort's cable car.

Filmmaking and followcam skiing

Rydén works as a filmmaker and gimbal operator. As a filmmaker, he has collaborated with Moncler, Ford, Red Bull, GoPro, Thule, Discovery, Visa, Peak Performance, Sunrise, Cake, and others.
His filmmaking credits include serving as a camera operator for the skiing documentaries Shades of Winter: Between and Aksel.
Rydén is noted for being a followcam skier, which involves skiing with a camera next to other skiers. He has followed athletes such as Shawn White, Marco Odermatt, Axel Lund Svindal, Henrik Windstedt, and Kristoffer Turdell with a camera, capturing their performances in sports documentaries and feature films.