Welcome to a 3000 km journey across the snowy countries of Northern Europe, by sailing, skiing, and snowkiting to learn and share about water and snow protection, sustainable travel, and local economies.
Man on the Snow: Oslo to Nordkapp by Fair Means was a project to travel sustainably by ski from Oslo to Nordkapp, crossing Norway, Sweden, and Finland between late January 2014 and May 2014. The goal was to film a documentary, the first in a series, to research possible ways of coexisting positively with nature while analyzing the increasing and long-term impacts of winter tourism.
I grew up in the Alps, where hundreds of ski resorts were operating. I witnessed the pros and cons of what was called the “white gold business”, seeing both its benefits and the damages it caused.
I wanted to see and talk to the people of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and film their approach to their white world. It was a 3000 km ski journey, touching famous ski resorts like Lillehammer and traversing wild territories still inhabited by Europe’s last nomads: the Sámi.
I traveled using eco-skis built with recycled wood, flax, and eco-resins, with locally made ski bindings. I also used a special, revolutionary device for water rescue, ski boots made of bioplastic derived from beaver beans, manufactured by Scarpa, and clothing made of organic cotton and wool.
With the help of the Museo Marítimo de Barcelona and the boatbuilder Sebastià Vidal, I built a pulk-kayak made only from hemp fiber and recycled fishing nets, bonded with eco-resin, to carry my gear and provisions. I slept in a Lavvu, a tent inspired by the traditional Sámi tipi, built with organic cotton and later donated to a rescue operations camp. I wore traditional clothing made from natural materials and produced by companies committed to sustainability, respect, and ethical production, such as Bergans. Whenever possible, I also used a kite to aid my journey.
I recharged my batteries using solar panels provided by FuturaSun.
At ISPO, I also received a very interesting wooden bike—who knows, maybe it would come in handy! One thing I knew for sure: I loved wood!
A Project of Total Freedom
The project was carried out in complete freedom. We were a No Logo, No Sponsor NGO (Verhein). Only credits of partners who provided or sold us gear and equipment were displayed on our website.
We never asked for donations or gifts. Any suppliers who worked with us received a detailed report on the actual performance of their gear during this 3000 km journey, along with credits in the documentary and visibility in interviews and reports.
We simply wanted to support companies working ethically and following the principles of the Circular Economy.
Presentations and Departure
I presented this journey in the Green Area at ISPO 2014 in Munich from January 26-29, then in Christiania, Copenhagen, and on January 30 in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden.
I was preparing for an expedition to create a documentary, the first in a series, about the impact of winter tourism.
I was a ‘one-man band’, very light and flexible. The aim was to travel without using fossil fuels, relying only on skiing, kayaking with the same pulk (which I towed), and using the wind with the help of a kite.
A pulk (from Finnish pulkka) is a Nordic, low-slung toboggan used for sport or transport, pulled by a dog, a skier, or—traditionally in Lapland—by a reindeer (Source: Wikipedia).
Snow is frozen water, and since we depend on water, our aim was to promote a sustainable and respectful approach toward rivers, lakes, the sea, and water in all its forms.
Full project here manonthesnow.com
