Ida Grubben
Administration – Guide
Background: Ida is originally from Hamar, in Innlandet County in Southern Norway. She has a MA in Naturbased Tourism and is a trained Arctic Nature Guide. She moved to Alta when she was offered a full-time job at GLØD Explorer. Ida is very fond of training, and does it especially on the mountain bike. Have finished OffroadFinnmark several times.
Funfact: Love the Norwegian delicacy «rakfisk» (fermented fish), and makes everyone at Glød eat it once a year!
Rikki Egon Nilsen
CEO – Guide
Background: Rikki is originally from Solrød Strand in Denmark. He’s educated as a seller of outdoor equipment, with some subjects in economy thrown in. In addition he has a BA in Outdoor life, a MA in Sports Science and now, as of late, some credits in pedagogy. He’s the oldest of six children and moved to Alta to live out his dream of having as many outdoor adventures as he can.
Funfact: He’s a Britney Spears and Celine Dion superfan. His friends only refer to him as Egon.
Trygve Nygård
Founder – Owner – guide
Bakgrunn: Trygve is from Bognelvdalen in Alta Municipallity. He is educated in building/construction with papers on driving construction machinery, mobile cranes, trucks and lorries. Then life took a different turn and he started his university education in BA Sports and Outdoor life (friluftsliv) and finally MA in Tourism. Started GLØD Explorer in 2005. Trygve loves long expeditions and has both cycled along Norway, and skied along Norway and Spitsbergen. Have cycled OffroadFinnmark several times.
Funfact: Lives 30 m from the office, but always manages to arrive late for work.
Kalle Møller Nielsen
Guide
Background: Originally from Århus in Denmark. Educated as a car mechanic, but also has a bachelor in Arctic Outdoor Life. In addition he has the following credentials: Certified Arctic Nature Guide, NOLS, Wilderness First Responder and certified outdoor guide.
Funfact: Has tinnitus from listening to too much loud heavy metal music.
Kristine Bjerring Madsen
Guide
Background: Originally from Denmark, but has fallen in love with Norway and will probably (and hopefully) stay here for quite some time. Kristine is a qualified teacher and has also studied outdoor life for two years in Telemark, at the University of South-East Norway.
Funfact: Surprisingly, she is very fond of lutefish
Natalia Machalova
Breakfast host/Cleaner
Background: Originally from Slovakia. She studied psychology and worked in the HR sector. Quit her job together with her boyfriend, Peter, to travel the world and work. Together they’ve worked for seven different hospitality businesses. They fell in love with Norway and decided to stay here for a while.
Funfact: The only sports competition Natalia succeeded at was a European Championship in chess with an age limit of six years. She got fifth place.
Simone Ciancoini
Chef
Background: Originally from Italy.
Funfact: Loves the Northern Lights and takes a lot of photos of it
Isabel Derosa
Breakfast host/Cleaner
Bakgrunn: Originally from Italy.
Funfact: Has three huge sheepdogs that fill her entire car when she goes on trips with them.
Tor Even Aas
Chef
Background: Grand old man in the kitchen. He has full control and he does not tip the stick when he treats the pots. Has run most of the kitchens in Alta, as well as served most meals cooked over a campfire.
Fun fact: Tor Even is a bird dog man on his neck. And it’s only Pointer that goes in. The bird work must be more than perfect before he lifts the shotgun!