About Nordic Paddling
Who We Are
Nordic Paddling provides full-package solutions that cover all the needs and requirements for a safe and enjoyable multi-day kayaking trip in Norway. Our guides are all industry-professionals with some of the highest educations and certifications within outdoor leadership.
Formed in 2019 by seasoned paddlers and outdoor professionals, Nordic Paddling is a company specialised in multi-day trips. With our base in Forsand, we offer guided kayak trips and courses in Lysefjord and Stavanger.
Meet our team
Rasmus
Founder & Co-owner | Marketing & Finance
Rasmus Damgaard Jensen have been working and teaching in the outdoor industry for nearly ten years. He’s been sea kayaking since 2013 and is a certified DKF3 Instructor in Denmark and Turleder (4-star) in Norway. Rasmus has been guiding and teaching courses in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and England. From 2015 to 2018 he studied to be a “Friluftsveileder” (Outdoor Leader) at the University of Southeast-Norway, which marks his courses and guided tours with an educational and curious approach to nature.
Rasmus founded Nordic Paddling in 2019, with the vision to make memorable multi-day kayaking experiences available to anyone at any experience level.
To me, kayaking is like a stew. Kayaking itself may be the vegetables and meat to the stew, but an understanding of the coastal-culture, history and foraging from nature are the seasoning to the stew – otherwise, it would just be flavourless.
Sebastian
Managing Director & Co-Owner | Operations
Sebastian was born and raised in Belgium but has been living in Denmark for most of his life. He is fluent in multiple languages, including French, English, and Danish/Norwegian. He’s been working professionally as a kayak instructor for three years in Copenhagen as well as teaching skiing in Norway during the winter season.
In 2017 Sebastian became a certified “Friluftsveileder” (outdoor leader) through a one-year course at Paul Petersen Idrætsinstitut. Since then, kayaking has been a big part of his work- and personal life.
“I love being close to nature, and it is my experience that kayaking is the perfect vessel to experience nature up close. See you on the water!“.
Tuure
Guide
Tuure is a wilderness guide from Finland with a focus on ecopsychology — the meeting point between the natural world and being human. He has led a broad range of outdoor experiences from restorative workshops in local forests to demanding multi-week expeditions across the Nordic wilderness. Regardless of the setting, the focus centers around three fundamental aims: empowering the individual, building striving communities and deepening our connection to nature. He studied at Outdoor Academy, a two-year wilderness guide program in Finland, with a particular focus on leadership and group dynamics. As part of his education, he completed a six-week specialization in sea kayaking. Tuure holds the Finnish ”Luonto-opas” (Wilderness Guide) qualification as well as the Swedish ”Fjälledarnormen” certification, which is the national standard for mountain leaders in Sweden.
Sini
GUIDE
Sini is a wilderness guide from Finland with a calm, safety-first approach that helps guests feel prepared and comfortable on the water. In Lysefjord, she combines steady leadership with a warm, grounded guiding style — sharing local context and stories along the way, and making sure each guest finds confidence and flow in the experience.
She studied at Outdoor Academy, a two-year wilderness guide program in Finland, with a particular focus on leadership and group dynamics. As part of her education, she completed a six-week specialization in sea kayaking. Sini holds the Finnish “Luonto-opas” (Wilderness Guide) qualification as well as the Swedish “Fjälledarnormen” certification, the national standard for mountain leaders in Sweden. In addition, she has completed a Wilderness First Responder course.
Bak
Guide
The name is Bak. Rasmus Bak. Since we already have one Rasmus on the team, we use his last name to keep things clear for everyone.
Bak is a highly qualified member of our team, holding both IPP-3 and Instructor 2 certifications. A graduate of Paul Petersens Idrætsinstitut, he has spent years honing his craft, from navigating the busy canals of Copenhagen to leading groups through technical coastal waters.
For Bak, sea kayaking is about creating a safe and inspiring platform for guests to connect with nature. He is known for his ability to “economize with words”—choosing exactly the right moment to provide guidance while allowing the landscape of the Lysefjord to speak for itself. His focus is always on fostering a secure and cozy atmosphere, ensuring that every paddler, regardless of experience, feels confident and included.
When he isn’t on the water, Bak brings the energy and rhythm of his background as a professional drummer to the team. He is naturally extroverted and enjoys the communal aspects of outdoor life, whether that involves planning expedition logistics or preparing meals over a campfire on our multi-day tours. With Bak, you meet a guide who combines deep professional expertise with a playful, down-to-earth approach to the Nordic wilderness.
Mads
Guide
Mads is a curious, playful outdoor person and globetrotter based in Norway and is also the proud father of two beautiful boys.
Mads first started kayaking back in 2006 but turned it professionally in 2016 when he became a certified instructor in the Norwegian Paddle Association. In the pursuit of making the most of life, he combines hobbies and work into one, which has resulted in a three-year bachelor’s degree in outdoor leadership from the University of Southeast Norway.
Mads believes that even the smallest detail has the potential to create great experiences – and he is dedicated to passing this on through his work.
Fredrik
Guide
Fredrik grew up on the west coast of Norway, in the Jæren region. His passion for the sea started in his youth while surfing the coasts of Jæren, and has since expanded to kayaking and sailing. Having just completed a three-year bachelor’s degree in outdoor leadership from the University of South Eastern Norway and spending three seasons as a glacier guide, he’s now moving back to where he grew up.