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Meet the crew

The crew aboard Varg consists of an experienced and dedicated skipper, guide and a chef who work together to ensure safe and unique experiences at sea. With deep expertise and a passion for nature, they create an environment where guests can relax and fully enjoy their journey.

To maintain safety and elevate the quality of activities on board, they collaborate closely together. The guides bring specialized knowledge in skiing, cycling, and hiking, making each expedition safer and richer in experience. Additionally, a chef is an essential part of the crew, ensuring that the meals contribute to a complete and enjoyable experience on board. Together, they ensure that guests can explore nature in a secure, engaging, and unforgettable way.

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Jérôme Cohen

Jérôme is an experienced skipper with French-Norwegian roots and a lifelong love for sailing and nature. He has been sailing along the coasts of the Mediterranean since childhood, and in recent years, he has developed a deep connection to the wild landscapes of Northern Norway through ski-and-sail adventures in the Lyngen Alps.

Meet Jérôme Cohen – one of the skippers aboard Varg. The 48-year-old French-Norwegian sailor grew up on the water with his family, exploring the coasts of Algeria, Tunisia, Spain, and Sicily. In his twenties, he began borrowing his father’s sailboat and taking guests on adventures across the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. In 2017, he sailed from France to Northern Norway – and fell in love with both the raw beauty of the landscape and a Norwegian woman.

Since then, Jérôme has developed and led several ski-and-sail concepts in the Lyngen Alps, combining his passion for the sea and the mountains. Now he brings his extensive experience and enthusiasm aboard Varg – ready to create unforgettable journeys with a new crew of adventurers.

“Sailing up here in the north can feel a bit like being a real Viking,” Jérôme says. “I promise that everyone who joins us will leave with lifelong memories and lasting friendships. Life on a sailboat brings us closer to nature, closer to each other – and closer to ourselves. A journey with Varg is like writing your own adventure.”

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Höskuldur Jónsson

Höskuldur Jónsson is an experienced Icelandic captain, sailor and maritime professional with many years of experience operating sailing vessels in Arctic waters, including Iceland, Greenland, Norway, and Svalbard.

He spent ten years living in Northern Norway (Lyngen), where he has worked as a captain and expedition leader. Höskuldur combines strong seamanship and navigation skills with a deep background in adventure tourism and hospitality. He has led expeditions and passenger voyages in remote and often icy environments, always with a focus on safety, comfort, and creating memorable experiences for his guests. Calm, practical, and people-focused, he enjoys working with crews and travellers alike to deliver well-run, safe, and inspiring journeys in some of the world’s most remarkable regions.

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Giorgia Vezzani

Meet Giorgia Vezzani – one of the skilled chefs aboard Varg. Originally from Italy, Giorgia graduated in Food Science from the Università degli Studi di Parma in 2020.

She then began traveling through the Nordic regions, working in a variety of restaurants, from international hotels to Arctic concept kitchens. Always pushing the limit forwards, both professionally and geographically, Giorgia spent the past three and a half years living at the edge of the world in Svalbard, working in remote outposts. This experience connected her deeply with raw nature and allowed her to bond genuinely with people around her, far from civilization. It also gave her the opportunity to follow every ingredient she works with in the wilderness, from the field or the sea to the plate. Giorgia believes that being able to see where the food comes from fully enriches the experience of eating.

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Jakob Østergaard

Say hello to Jakob Østergaard – one of the chefs whose life has always been shaped by the sea, travel, and the discovery of new cultures. The Copenhagen-based Danish chef grew up sailing the world, as his father was a captain of cargo ships. From an early age, Jakob was exposed to different countries, flavors, and traditions – experiences that would later define both his personality and his culinary path.

He trained as a chef with a strong focus on maritime gastronomy and began his career as a trainee aboard the ferry operating between Denmark and Norway. His journey later led him to the historic Danish training ship, the classic tall ship Danmark, where he has served as Chef Steward since 2012 — welcoming guests from all over the world and on several occasions cooking for members of the Danish Royal Family.

Driven by a deep passion for adventure, Jakob spent the past two years working as a chef aboard a sailing vessel operating in Greenland during the summer season. There, he embraced the challenge of cooking with Arctic ingredients while surrounded by some of the most remote and breathtaking landscapes on Earth. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Jakob has led some of Copenhagen’s most renowned restaurants, in addition to running his own restaurant and catering company. His culinary foundation is rooted in French and Scandinavian cuisine, but his curiosity makes him a true “food nerd” — always evolving, always learning, and constantly exploring international gastronomy. Now, Jakob brings his versatility, precision, and warmth to every table he serves.

“For me, cooking is about more than food,” Jakob says. 

“It’s about creating moments people will remember – meals that feel like journeys, where every detail matters and every guest feels cared for.”

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Petter Edvardsen Westgaard

Petter is one of Norrøna Adventures full time guides. He is trained as a ski guide and has a lot of experience - both as a free skier and when it comes to ski touring.

Petter is from Narvik, but is now living in Lofoten - also in the Northern part of Norway - surrounded by beautiful mountains and unlimited ski & hiking possibilities right outside of his front door. 

Growing up, skiing and being outdoors in the mountains were a daily part of life, but eventually, it was no longer enough. This was a lifestyle to be lived 100%. A bachelor's degree in Outdoor Activities and Nature Guiding, as well as ski guide training under the auspices of NORTIND, was therefore the next stop, but of course after a couple of years as a genuine ski bum. Japan, Canada, and the Alps were quickly crossed off the list as temporary residences. When skiing is not the chosen nature activity, there are plenty of other activities that take up time: kayaking, glacier tours, climbing tours, and hiking are mentioned in the same breath. Petter is also certified as a kayak instructor, trough the Norwegian Canoe Association (NPF).

With Petter, the total experience is the focus when he guides. He occasionally refers to the pyramid of experiences from Finland when it comes to landing meaningful experiences.

Petter's philosophy is simple: Just be, that's why you are. See you on the trip!

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Trond Olav Glimsdal

Trond Olav started full-time as a guide and project manager for technical tours with us in Norrøna Adventure in January 2023. He is a certified mountain guide, and has worked full-time with skiing and climbing since 2015, and has, among other things, worked with ski tours for us in the past.

As an internationally certified mountain guide through NORTIND/UIAGM, Trond Olav may guide and instruct skiing, climbing and glacier tours all over the world. He is also an NF (Norwegian Mountain Sport Assisiation) avalanche and climbing instructor, as well as mountain guide level 2, and has experience from NARG (Norwegian Alpine Rescue Groups). Trond Olav also has managed to build up many years of experience with climbing and skiing in various mountains from the south to north, both on his free time and through work. He also climbed a number of high mountains, such as Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Gokyo Ri, Island Peak and Aconcagua. Employed in Norrøna Adventure in January 2023, but was former active as a ski guide for the company.

Although he grew up in Hamar on the east side of the country, Trond Olav has always been drawn to the mountains, and Jotunheimen was for a long time his closest and dearest area. After living in the north of Norway - Tromsø - for 7 years, he has also become well known in this area. Here he worked as a ski and climbing guide in the mountains. But Trond Olav is not only fond of steep mountains, in his spare time hunting and cross-country skiing are also among his favorite activities. As if that is not enough, he worked in a sports shop for several years, and has an excellent knowledge of equipment. Trond Olav is in charge of our technical tours, and guides - among other things - climbing and ski touring. A calm and steady guy to trust!

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Tore Bergbjørn

Enthusiastic Mountain Guide who began guiding for Norrøna Adventure in 2023.

For Tore, the outdoors is about more than just activities; it's a lifestyle where he plays in nature, climbing, skiing, biking, hunting, and fishing. Based in the picturesque Skjomen, near Narvik, he often ventures out to explore the mountains in his "backyard."

Educated at Nortind, Tore is a UIAGM/IFMGA certified Mountain Guide with extensive training and experience in steep outdoor life. His certification entails in-depth knowledge of mountain climbing, safety, navigation, and facilitation for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Tore is passionate about sharing his love for nature with others and aims to inspire people to experience the majestic Norwegian landscape up close.