From humble beginnings to leaders in the industry. On the photo is the beginners course participants at the Askvoll Seakayak Symposium in 2003. A blur print copy of the Anglesey Sea Kayak Symposium where our founders went to learn to properly paddle a seakayak.
Our Founders
Eivind Nordeide started the company as “Aktiv Askvoll” in 1994, which then became NJORD in 1999. The company’s first base was in the village of Askvoll, in the Sogn og Fjordane county. The idea of starting an outdoor adventure company came to Eivind whilst being on a skiing holiday in Canada.
In the early days, NJORD was fuelled by youthful enthusiasm and a genuine wish to provide outdoors experiences to young people, and to give those from the area an experience that would make them appreciate nature and the environment. This was done is close cooperation with the municipal authority.
In many ways, this enthusiasm still fuels those who are involved with NJORD, although it’s not as youthful as it once was! In 2000, Eivind got a scholarship from the municipality of Askvoll, which was spent on a kayak instructor’s course in Anglesey, Wales. If you meet him, then ask him to tell you the story!
NJORD became the supplier of outdoor services in several international youth exchanges and training courses, with the majority being based on EU funding. However, this was not enough to sustain the company and to make a living out of it. We then expanded to include kayak courses and tourism.