J O H A N

It’s said that ‘the early bird gets the worm, while the second mouse gets the cheese’…

For Johan, there was no waiting for the cheese.
At the age of 12, he had already travelled all around the world, visiting more than 20 countries with his family. A deep curiosity about the world shaped his childhood; a spirit of exploration that ran through everything. Whether it was camping in the Norwegian wilderness or wandering through markets in faraway countries, he learned early that the world is wide, wild, and - worth discovering.

At 13, he made a decision: he wanted to become a cross-country skier. Not just recreationally, he wanted to compete at the highest level. 
For the next ten years, he trained full-time, pouring all his energy into becoming the best athlete possible. In the process, he fell in love with the vast, open landscapes of Norway; the quiet solitude of the mountains, the endless white plateaus, the rhythm of skis moving across fresh, untouched snow. It dawned on his it was never just about the results. It was about being out there.

Eventually (and it is here the cheese comes in), he realized that what truly moved him wasn't the competition. It was the feeling of moving forward, out into the unknown, with everything he needed pulled behind in a sled. With no finish line in sight. That same childhood curiosity, the desire to see what's beyond the horizon, had obviously never left him.

To turn his rediscovered passion towards a profession, he chose to study friluftsliv, the Norwegian tradition of outdoor life. One of his greatest inspirations is none other than Fridtjof Nansen. He not only crossed Greenland and reached further into the Arctic ice than any other but also spoke and wrote about friluftsliv as a source of personal growth, reflection, and character-building.

That Nansen’s values and view of nature have shaped both Johan’s path and perspective, is only one of the many reasons we at Ousland are so excited to have him in our guide team. You will be equally excited to join him!!!