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 & CEO
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
HEAD GUIDE
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!“.
Steffi
Admin & Guide
Steffi is from Germany, where she studied photography and worked as a travel photographer. She has since worked in Norway’s outdoor and tourism industry for several years. She spent several years working as a kayak and hiking guide in the Norwegian fjords.
Her expertise includes project management, marketing, web design, and guide coordination. Steffi is fluent in German, Norwegian, and English. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature with her dog.
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.
Sandra
Guide
Sandra grew up in a small city on the west coast of Finland, living close to nature she spent a lot of time on the horse back in the woods. Having fallen in love with nature she did an outdoor guide school in Finland which she says is the best decision she could have made for herself.
During the two year education, she found her love for kayaking and how much joy and harmony spending longer periods in nature brings. She has a never-extinguishing spark for asking questions and exploring all the wonders of life.
For Sandra, people and community have always been very important.
She loves having conversations while kayaking or around the fire but also encourages people to take time to enjoy nature’s atmosphere in silence.
Rebecka
GUIDE
Rebecka grew up in the countryside on the west coast of Finland, with forest and fields as her backyard. She was always interested in outdoor adventures but started going deeper into them when she began studying guiding at the Outdoor Academy in Finland. She discovered a passion for sea kayaking, which she chose to specialize in. Rebecka is a trained wilderness and sea kayaking guide with extensive experience leading multi-day tours and instructional sessions. She has a background in kayak skills on both river and sea, group leadership, tidal knowledge, and group dynamics. She loves to share her knowledge, experiences, and passion with others.
When not on the water, Rebecka likes to spend her time in the garden, taking care of her herbs and plants. In the winter, she works as a ski patroller, drawn by her love of first aid and helping others.
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.
