Bruce Grant Youth Trust

Bruce Grant "Son of Queenstown" 1963-1995

Bruce Grant was an Olympic skier, mountaineer, extreme adventurer and an extraordinary individual. Whether he was skiing, climbing, hiking, or adventuring, his love of the mountains was in his blood.

Bruce competed for NZ in the 1984 Winter Olympics at Sarajevo, placing 31st in the downhill event. He featured in the iconic film The Leading Edge along with other local skiers, ruled the local Dash For Cash event on Coronet Peak for years, and was re-selected for the 1988 Olympics, but couldn't compete due to knee surgery.

Bruce also used his adventuring skills for good, and in 1994 was awarded a medal for "Courage and Humanity" from the Royal Humane Society for his part in a local mountain rescue.

Sadly, on 13 August 1995, Bruce died during a violent storm while descending from the summit of K2 in Pakistan. He was aged 31.

Devastated friends and family set up a trust in his name, to preserve his legacy, acknowledge his love for live and to recognise the efforts of other  young people who show a similar passion for life, adventure and the desire to succeed. In 1996 the trust made the first grant.

The Bruce Grant Youth Trust awards grants to local youth, under the age of 25, who are looking to further themselves in the Arts, Cultural and Sporting fields.

Past recipients have included Olympic skier Alice Robinson, World junior mountain bike champion Scarlett Hagen, Actor Ben Farry, NZ Ice Blacks captain Simon Glass, Singer Emily Burns, Snow boarder the late Hamish Bagley, Olympic Skier Tim Cafe, Tennis players Ricky and Ben McLachlan, Olympic skier Adam Barwood. The trust has also made annual scholarships to the Wakatipu High School winter academy, grants to local sports clubs and many more. Since 1995 nearly $450,000 has been distributed to local Whakatipu youth.

13 August 2025 will mark 30 years since his passing.   

DONATE TO THE BRUCE GRANT YOUTH TRUST HERE 

Listen to Bruces last interview from K2 Here