Seven complete crossings of the greatest alpine lakes in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. 324 km of open water, swum non-stop, without a wetsuit.
Inspired by the Ocean Seven, the most demanding open-water challenge in the world, The Alpine Seven is its freshwater counterpart. No ocean currents. But cold water, altitude, unpredictable wind, and distances that have been completed by only a handful of people on earth.
• Lake Attersee: brutal elbow pain two and
a half hours in. Kept going.
• Lake Constance: 65 km. First Austrian ever.
6th person on earth.
• Wörthersee: after a full week of gastroenteritis.
Started anyway. Not for records. Not for glory.
To prove in real conditions that the system works.
• Lago Maggiore: the two days before the swim
I was in a tough mental state. Started
anyway and found my rhythm to finish.
• Lake Lucerne: 32.4 km from Küssnacht
to Flüelen in 9 hours 50 minutes.
I know, because I did. In 2016 I got cancer. I went from Bundesliga water polo to a body that could barely walk 500 metres. I know what it means to live with an illness. The fear. The waiting. The fighting.
That is why this project exists. I started The Alpine Seven to raise awareness for people living with an illness. Today I swim for everyone life has pulled the ground out from under and who doesn’t know where to swim next. Each lake shows that with a goal and one stroke at a time, you get further than you think. And every crossing raises funds for NF Kinder, who care for children with neurofibromatosis and their families. 100% of all donations go directly to them.
Every crossing is a demonstration: endurance mindset and discipline, applied consistently, produce what looks impossible from the outside. Even at 5% capacity.
Seven lakes in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
Distances range from 17 km to 70 km. Each lake brings its own challenge, from cold water and altitude to sudden wind and waves.
Distance 70 KM
Before I started Lake Constance, the odds of finishing were about 5%. 65 kilometres, non-stop, no wetsuit. I finished as the first Austrian ever.
That is the principle every crossing carries: Make 5% your 100%. Not talent. Not perfect conditions. A decision, repeated stroke by stroke.
Attersee with elbow pain from hour three. Wörthersee after a week of gastroenteritis. Maggiore after two of the hardest days in my head. Conditions are never perfect. You start anyway.
And every kilometre raises money for NF Kinder.
Conditions are never perfect. You start anyway.
“And every kilometre raises money for NF Kinder.”
Distance 19 KM
Completed: Elbow pain at 2.5 hrs. Kept going.
Distance 65 KM
Completed: First Austrian ever. 6th person on earth.
Distance 17 KM
Completed: Full week of gastroenteritis beforehand. Started anyway.
Distance 61.5 KM
Completed: 1st Austrian ever. 3rd person on earth.
Distance 32.4 KM
Completed: Küssnacht to Flüelen in 9:50 h.
Distance 70 KM
“Your help goes to NF Kinder, so they can care for children and families affected by Neurofibromatosis.”
“We are a patient organization of those affected for those affected. Therefore, we know best what measures are necessary to improve the quality of life of people with NF in Austria.
100% of all donations go directly
Bernhard’s weekly letter in English for everyone life has pulled the ground out from under: how to find a goal that feels like your own, take the first stroke, and keep going. Plus updates from The Alpine Seven.
Lieber auf Deutsch? Jeden Samstag kommt der Samstagsbrief auf Substack.
