My North - 2019 no. 01 | Jan - Mar

My North

Air Iceland Connect Magazine Nº 01 · January–March 2019 · Your free copy

Adventures across the Arctic

Thjorsa river, Iceland, 64° N, 7 °C, 10/10, 15:03

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Keeping Iceland warm since 1926.

66north.com 3

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Contents 06 07 08 10 12 14 16 20 22 24 26 28 30

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32 34 36 37 38 40 42

From our Managing Director Fly straight north through Keflavik Airport Happenings this winter Bird’s-eye view: Writing with skis in the snow Omnom: Carolyn and the chocolate factory Culinary treasures: Winter soup Snow sports in all destinations: A skier’s guide Midwinter feast to remember Interview: Wrestling in between check-ins Family fun: Sleigh rides and swimming pools AK Extreme: Snowboarding extravaganza Scaling adventures: Dog-sledding Instagrammers inspired Greenlandic rock band plays Airwaves Destination: The visions of Kulusuk News from Air Iceland Connect Service and safety on board Route network and destinations Our fabulous fleet Map: Flying across Iceland

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PUBLISHED BY AIR ICELAND CONNECT Editor: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir (editor@airicelandconnect.is) Cover image: Benjamin Hardman (@benjaminhardman) Copy editor: Sarah Dearne Translations Icelandic ↔ English: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir Contributing writers: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir, Carolyn Bain, KT Browne, Sarah Dearne, Lisa Gail Shannen Contributing photographers: Cattalin, Tiphaine Gautherot, Rebecca Gustafsson, Roman Gerasymenko, Susanne Jutzeler, Lorenzo Meucci, Linda Oladottir, Pezibear, Mads Pihl, Federico Remondi, Arni Saeberg, Haukur Sigurdsson, Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson, Steinunn Snaebjornsdottir, Asa Steinars Advertising: airicelandconnect.com/mynorth Design: Bjorn H. Jonsson / Bertrand Kirschenhofer, Icelandic Ad Agency Printing: Prenttaekni

The warm and cozy Saga Lounge at Keflavik International Airport is a place where you can put your feet up, dine in style and enjoy the picturesque views while you wait for your flight.

We look forward to welcoming you.

The Icelandair Saga Lounge is open to Saga Premium passengers, Saga Silver and Saga Gold members, and certain credit card holders. Guests must carry a boarding pass for a departing Icelandair flight.

ÍSLENSKA SIA.IS ICE 90248 11/18

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

GREETING

From our Managing Director

Magical light Dear traveller, Welcome aboard. Welcome to “Our North”.

The winter solstice in late December marked the return of the light to the Northern Hemisphere. The days are now growing longer again. Slowly but surely, the daylight hours extend and then, suddenly, we wake up to bright mornings again. The afternoons grow brighter, too, which means more time for winter activities. We have now entered the prime skiing season at our destinations, and if it’s after dark, fret not: the ski resorts are illuminated.

Arni Gunnarsson, Air Iceland Connect Managing Director

Winter sports are the big theme of this issue. On page 16, you’ll find an expansive guide to skiing in Iceland and Greenland – we have something to suit everyone’s needs, from absolute beginners to professional adrenalin seekers! In our event calendar on page 8, check out the region’s most curious winter festivals, and on page 26, AK Extreme, a snowboarding competition in North Iceland that is sure to leave spectators stunned. On page 24, we recommend some snow-based family fun, and on page 28, dog-sledding tours to satisfy various appetites for adventure.

Winter is also about culture and companionship. In Iceland, midwinter is celebrated with Thorrablot, feasts of traditional food, fun, song and dance. Read more on page 20.

Icelandic kjotsupa (“meat soup”) is a welcome comfort food on cold winter days (find a recipe on page 14), and on page 12, we cover craft chocolate, ideal for curling up with on the couch by flickering candlelight after a day in the slopes.

Also in this issue are interviews with Air Iceland Connect employee Hafdis Vera Emilsdottir, who spends her free time wrestling with MMA professionals (see page 22), and with Greenlandic band Nanook, who played Iceland Airwaves for the first time last year (see page 32). And don’t miss the photo series from Kulusuk on page 34, along with other inspiring images spread throughout the magazine.

While the return of the sun is certainly a reason to celebrate, some light is best enjoyed in the dark. In towns, artists put up light installations, but outside in nature, true magic happens. The low-hanging winter sun casts an otherworldly yellowish glow on snow-covered vistas. Then the sky is painted orange and pink before the stars begin to twinkle and northern lights blaze across the heavens in bright green or purple.

Book your dream adventure on airicelandconnect.com and share it with us, using the #mynorthadventure hashtag.

Enjoy your adventure!

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NEWS

Air Iceland Connect

Save time with online check-in A i r I c e l a n d C o n n e c t n ow offers online check-in. Go to airicelandconnect.com/check-in then enter your last name and booking confirmation number.

Keflavik-Akureyri express:

You can choose to have your boarding pass sent as an SMS or email. You can also download and print it, or add it to your Apple Wallet.

Gateway to North Iceland It is now possible to book flights between Keflavik International Airport and Akureyri in North Iceland. When you’re flying in from abroad, this is the quickest way to get on with your winter adventure in a sub-Arctic paradise.

Imagine this: in about one hour after boarding the plane in Keflavik you can hit the slopes in Akureyri! Hlidarfjall ski resort is open from November to May, with exciting opportunities for skiers of all levels. You can also buy a pass for Hlidarfjall and four other resorts in North Iceland all within a oneand-a-half hour’s drive from Akureyri. All kinds of tours and activities are available in this winter wonderland of a region. Outside it might be chilly, but expect a warm welcome.

The route is only intended for travellers flying through Keflavik, either from Akureyri and catching a connecting flight for an overseas destination, or passengers travelling from abroad who plan to continue onwards to North Iceland. Book flights directly to Akureyri through Icelandair and fly there in only 50 minutes after a brief stopover in Keflavik. The Akureyri-Kefla­vik flights are available four times a week – the perfect route for northern explorers! →→airicelandconnect.com →→icelandair.com

SMS

EMAIL

PRINT

WALLET

You can check in online at any time of day, up to 45 minutes before departure for domestic flights and 90 minutes before departure for international flights.

Note that Air Iceland Connect may need to close the online check-in for certain flights if disturbances due to weather conditions are imminent. → airicelandconnect.com

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EVENTS

In Iceland and beyond

Out a nd about Exploring the north this winter?

Check out our top picks for the coming months.

TEXT: Sarah Dearne

Iceland

Photo: Arni Saeberg

Photo: Lorenzo Meucci

Photo: Linda Oladottir

All over Iceland 25 January to 23 February

Seydisfjordur 10–16 February

Akureyri 16 March

The protagonist of Journey to the Centre of the Earth muses on his first Icelandic meal, “If this remarkable food was good or not, I was unable to judge”. Come midwinter you can judge for yourself, with Thorrablot celebrations running throughout the ancient month of Thorri. Originally a sacrificial feast to honour the Norse gods, Icelanders celebrate with traditional delicacies such as putrefied shark and pickled rams’ testicles.

You can book Thorrablot buffets at restaurants around the country.

Read more about Thorrablot on page 20.

LIST I LJOSI (ART IN THE LIGHT) AND

After four long months of darkness and snow-coated views, Seydisfjordur is hungry for light and colour. List i ljosi (15–16 February) celebrates the return of the sun while playing with the remaining darkness, illuminating the town’s architecture and surrounding nature with mesmerising projections and light installations. The festival also encompasses a week-long programme of events, with the Flat Earth Film Festival, workshops and performances commencing on the 10th. →→ listiljosi.com

If you’re curious about the Icelandic food scene, or just generally peckish in Akureyri, head to the Local Food Festival at Hof Cultural Centre on 16 March.

The event shines a spotlight on North Iceland’s flourishing food production industry, and it’s hugely popular, drawing around 15,000 guests to sample the region’s most delicious offerings. Watch Icelandic chefs compete, stay for a talk, or just stroll through and grab something tasty for a hotel room picnic. There are also various off-venue events taking place around the town. →→ northiceland.is/foodfestival

THORRABLOT (MIDWINTER FEAST)

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SURROUNDING EVENTS

LOCAL FOOD FESTIVAL

Faroe Islands

Photo: Courtesy of IWG

Photo: Cattalin

Greenland

Detail of an artwork by Anne-Birthe Hove

Akureyri 22–24 March

Klaksvik 18–23 February

Nuuk 7 December to 17 March

ICELAND WINTER GAMES The Iceland Winter Games are one of Iceland’s fastest-growing winter festivals, combining competitive spirit with sheer vibrant fun. Events include skiing and snowboarding, naturally, but you can also expect to see dog-sled racing, downhill mountain biking, snowmobile competitions, Arctic horse riding, and perhaps even a round of snow volleyball.

Sign up to compete, or simply show up to see how we do winter in the North.

The Iceland Winter Games are followed by the AK Extreme winter sports festival, which you can read about on page 26. →→ icelandwintergames.com

As with Iceland’s Thorrablot, the residents of Klaksvik on Nordoy island welcome the fourth month of the Viking calendar with feasts and cultural celebrations. Unlike Icelanders’ soured meats, however, the Days of Torri festival centres around fishing traditions, as the ocean catch is particularly plump and rich in roe at this time of year. This year’s programme includes a lavish fish buffet as well as concerts, exhibitions, storytelling for children and adults, and – for those not too full to move – the annual Torri Run. →→ visitnordoy.fo

The tupilak, a spirit commonly represented in the form of bone carvings, has become a national symbol of Greenland, both as a traditional creature of legend, and more recently as a popular souvenir. The Tupilappasuit art exhibition asks the question: what is a tupilak in 2019? The collection features fascinating interpretations by various artists, including the bold gra­ phic paintings of Mike Kristiansen, an animated short film by Jakob Maqe Nielsen, and evocative works by the late Anne-Birthe Hove. →→ nuukkunstmuseum.com

Reykjavik 28–31 March

Torshavn 2 February

Qasigiannguit 27 March (kids’ event) and 30 March (adults’ event)

DESIGNMARCH DesignMarch is Iceland’s biggest design event, rounding up talents from the fields of fashion, architecture, product design, and every other melding of form and function. The event swings into action with DesignTalks, a day of lectures held by acclaimed guests from Iceland and abroad. This is set to be the largest and most significant festival yet, with over one hundred events planned. Exhibitions and other happenings take place all over the capital, and most are free of charge. →→ designmarch.is

VETRARLJOS (WINTER LIGHTS) The Winter Lights festival shakes off the lingering darkness, bringing light and festivity to Torshavn at the coldest time of year, with a range of cultural events. The holiday lights are switched off until next winter and replaced with vibrant light projections – a final hurrah before the coming months of spring. The festival is also a splendid time to sample the Faroe Islands’ rich musical heritage, with numerous free concerts playing around the capital. →→ facebook.com/vetrarljos

TORRADAGAR (DAYS OF TORRI)

TUPILAPPASSUIT AT NUUK ART MUSEUM

AVANNAATA QIMUSSERSUA (DOG-SLED

Avannaata Qimussersua is Greenland’s annual dog­sled racing championship, drawing the speediest dog teams from around the country. Huge crowds of locals and visitors gather to cheer on the mushers as they race over 40 km (25 mi) of icy terrain.

The championship is held in different locations every year; this year it will be held in the town of Qasigiannguit in the south of Disko Bay, reachable via ferry from Ilulissat. →→ knqk.gl CHAMPIONSHIP)

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EVENTS

Winter sports

Perfect ha rmony

Seljalandsdalur, 66° N, 3 °C, 28/04, 09:16

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TEXT: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir PHOTO: Haukur Sigurdsson

First held in 1935, Fossavatnsgangan in the Westfjords is Iceland’s longest running cross-country ski marathon. Initially, there were seven contestants, skiing an 18 km (11 mi) track from Vatnahnjukur mountain near the lake Fossavatn, after which the race is named, to Seljalandsdalur near Isafjordur. Now, people sign up from all across Iceland – and the world – to compete in distances from 5 to 50 km (3 to 31 mi). This is a family festival, as well as a serious race for professionals, and many participants in the shorter distances have limited experience with cross-country skiing. Everyone is rewarded with the joy of gliding through powder snow and breathtaking views of the snow-covered landscapes. Here, the photographer caught the contestants at a bird’s-eye view, skiing in perfect harmony.

Getting there: Air Iceland Connect flies to Isafjordur daily in only 40 minutes. Fossavatnsgangan usually takes place in early May; 2–4 May in 2019. →→airicelandconnect.com →→fossavatn.com

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Sweet dreams are made of this Savouring chocolate craftsmanship in Reykjavik.

TEXT: Carolyn Bain PHOTOS: Federico Remondi

hallmarks are flavour creativity and clever design. Organic cacao beans are sourced from far-flung locales, farm-fresh Icelandic milk is used, and Grandi has been home to Omnom some flavour combinations are engisince 2016, when the company neered to surprise. The choc bars moved from its original premises (in a make for quirky, luggage-friendly travformer gas station!) with sweet plans el souvenirs, but locals love Omnom, for growth. It was founded in 2013 too (case in point: the top-selling when two friends, Kjartan Gislason uber-Nordic blend of liquorice with Omnom Chocolate’s small factory sits and Oskar Thordarson, began experi- sea salt from the Westfjords). pretty at the far end of Grandi, one menting with chocolate-making. of Reykjavik’s coolest neighbourBehind the factory’s black-and-yellow hoods. It’s an area peppered with an Today, Omnom produces award-­ facade, visitors can spend a fascinatever-growing roster of hipster hang- winning bean-to-bar chocolate whose ing hour learning about chocolate pro-

Good luck discerning the accent of polyglot Kyle Clunies-Ross, the entertaining guide for Omnom Chocolate’s factory tour. It’s easy to pinpoint Kyle’s passion for the product, however: “You might say, in posh terms, that I’m a brand ambassador,” Kyle explains, “but, really, I’m a chocolate pig”. Same, Kyle. Same.

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outs (tool library, co-working space, etc.), artisan galleries, and first-rate dining choices.

FOOD

Craft chocolate

01 Guardians of the chocolate stash: Sandra Hrafnhildur Hardardottir, shop and factory tours project manager, and Kyle Clunies-Ross, tour guide.

02 Tracking progress from bean to bar.

03 Production manager Reynir Gretarsson.

04 Omnom’s award-winning packaging.

05 The door to the candy store.

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duction. This is more than a chance to just please the palate: there’s easily digestible science, too.

over to the dark side,” Kyle explains.

unwrapping more flavours for sampling. During the tour we’ve touched After tastings, hairnets are donned on Omnom’s unique animal-themed and we take an aromatic walk through packaging, and it’s here the compaThe mood is high when the lesson the production area, admiring vats of ny’s brilliant design aesthetic is on reaches the tasting component. A liquids and slabs of untempered choc- show. We nibble, we debate the relhandful of Omnom’s products are olate. The test-kitchen area is a mag- ative yuck-factor of salty liquorice, judiciously compared, with descrip- net, and we are guinea pigs only too we proclaim preferences for chocotors you might expect to hear at wine willing to test potential products (on late studded with caramel, coffee or tastings. Madagascar (containing this visit: milk chocolate with pista- almonds. Everyone leaves on a choc66% of cacao beans sourced from chios, and a delicious chocolate and olate-induced high.

Madagascar) is “fruity”, Nicaragua almond paste).

(73%) is “woodsy”, and the Dark Omnom Chocolate conducts tours of its ReykjaMilk of Tanzania (65%) is “delicious Finally, the tour ends in the factory vik factory on weekdays at 2 pm. Book online: enough to woo milk chocolate fans store, where Kyle gets super generous → omnomchocolate.com

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FOOD

Recipe

Warming winter soup Kjotsupa is the perfect comfort food on cold winter days.

TEXT: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir PHOTO: Shutterstock

After a fun day of snow sports or other winter activities, traditional Icelandic kjotsupa (“meat soup”) is the perfect treat. A simple soup with meat and vegetables, the dish exists in some form in our neighbouring countries, too – many know it as Irish stew, for example.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

400 g mutton or lamb shoulder 1 l water 100 g potatoes 100 g yellow turnip (swede) 100 g white cabbage 100 g carrots 20 g rice or pearl barley 1 onion or leek Bunch of chopped parsley 1-2 lamb stock cubes Black pepper (preferably whole peppercorns) Bay leaves Salt to taste

Pour the water into a casserole and boil the meat along with stock cubes, bay leaves and whole black peppercorns for approximately 25 min. I prefer boiling it in large chunks with the bones and fat and slicing it up afterwards. Add your grain of choice and continue to boil for 20 min. Add diced vegetables and boil with the rest for the last 15–20 min. Add salt, if necessary, and the chopped parsley before serving. Traditionally, the meat and vegetables are served on a plate with the soup on the side. Serves four.

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A few ideas: ȫȫ

If you’re using a slow cooker – which is ideal for this recipe – cook everything apart from the grains on “low” for seven hours, then add rice or barley and simmer on “high” for one more hour.

ȫȫ

Experiment with different vegetables: cauliflower, broccoli, kale or spinach, for example. Use what you have in the fridge to prevent food waste.

ȫȫ

Red lentils and yellow split peas are excellent additions to kjotsupa (they should boil for as long as the meat).

Instead of rice and barley, you can also use oats.

ȫȫ

For a special Icelandic touch, omit everything that doesn’t grow in Iceland and season with wild Icelandic herbs like angelica leaves, Iceland moss, wild thyme, lovage or northern dock.

ȫȫ

Kjotsupa tastes even better the day after making it, or on the second or third day, even! It can also be stored in the freezer, for thawing and heating up later.

Domestic flight One way from €65 d l a n G r e e n

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A rct i c C i rc l e

Grimsey

Isafjordur

Thorshofn

40 m

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Akureyri

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Vopnafjordur

Egilsstadir

I C E L A N D Keflavik

REYKJAVIK

From city centre to countryside in u nd e r a n h o u r N o r t h

A t l a n t i c

O c e a n

60°

Your adventure is just a click away. Our airport is conveniently located in downtown Reykjavik, and a trip across the country that’s as quick as your average commute means that you can get started in no time.

airicelandconnect.com

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Snow business Sensational ski destinations in Iceland and Greenland.

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TEXT: Lisa Gail Shannen

of consistently losing my balance was well compensated.

arkrokur) – and it’s possible to buy a five-day ski pass for all five.

Before I came to Iceland, my only snow-sporting skills were making snow angels and snowmen, and throwing (and dodging) snowballs.

Less than 48 hours after landing, I had traded my winter coat and boots for a snowsuit and a set of skis. It was late December, and I was staying in Fljot on Trollaskagi peninsula in North Iceland with a family of avid cross-country skiers. Armed with only my youthful spirit of adventure and a few shots of Icelandic schnapps, my endeavours in snow sports began. I spent a lot of the time that first evening falling flat on my back, but since the powder was soft and the skies above were blazing with northern lights, the indignity

Over the years I’ve travelled to many remarkable ski resorts, some of which are featured here in this roundup, together with advice from local experts and ski enthusiasts.

Hlidarfjall, the biggest of the five and highest in the country (950 m / 3,117 ft) is only seven minutes’ drive from Akureyri town centre, and its reputation as one of the best is well deserved. Its extensive slopes are regularly slammed with fresh powder, the weather is often perfect for skiing, the views are incredible, and the numerous well-groomed runs carve through some of the most epic undulating vistas I’ve seen.

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North Iceland’s fairytale peaks I called Akureyri home for many years and frequented the region’s ski resorts, especially with my kids, who practically lived on the slopes during the winter. There are five main ski hotspots in North Iceland – Hlidarfjall (Akureyri), Boggvisstadafjall (Dalvik), Tindaoxl (Olafsfjordur), Skardsdalur (Siglufjordur) and Tindastoll (Saud­

Though the scenery is spectacular, masters of the slopes may find the elevation for downhill skiing in Iceland limited. On the other hand, there’s plenty of creative forms of skiing on

TRAVEL

Skiing

sports, with up to 35 km (22 mi) of cross-country tracks, and some great easy- to intermediate-level courses for skiers and snowboarders. There’s also a lift to a special snowboarding park fitted with rails, boarder-cross tracks, big jumps and airbags. Solvi B. Helga­ son, an experienced snowboarder and judge at the annual FIS international snowboarding competition, recommends both the snowboarding park and the run from Drottningargil canyon, which has “a more playful and adventurous course”. →→visitreykjavik.is

Dragons of the East

offer, with heli-skiing, ski touring, backcountry and ski mountaineering all increasingly catching on. Bjorgvin Bjorgvinsson, the co-founder of Viking Heliskiing Iceland and threetime former Olympian, runs multi-day tours in the fairytale-like mountains of Trollaskagi. They have 256 landing points and around 500 routes in the “vast and largely unexplored area”, but Bjorgvin’s favourite is called “Thor” – a run which offers a higher-than-heaven ski high from the summit of Vikurhyrna (1,200 m / 3,937 ft) in Hedinsfjordur valley, with an extraordinary run right down to the sea. “There’s nothing like skiing down slopes in between towering peaks, ending the ride where the shoreline meets the North Atlantic,” says Bjorgvin. →→northiceland.is

The Blue Mountains of Reykjavik Iceland has 75 km (47 mi) of treeless ski slopes, 15 km (9 mi) of which can be found at Blafjoll, the country’s biggest ski resort, just 30 minutes’ drive from Reykjavik. (The smaller Skalafell resort is also close to the city.) Blafjoll (“Blue Mountains”) has 15 ski lifts – mostly named after fun characters from Thorbjorn Egner’s Animals of Huckybucky Forest – featuring a nice progression of lifts for the beginner.

So, I decided to have a go at downhill skiing. Once I’d graduated to the “Grandma Mouse” lift there was no stopping me!

The resort is spread over three main areas and caters to all sorts of winter

East Iceland has two main ski resorts offering easy to intermediate slopes and cross-country trails: Stafdalur in Seydisfjordur has three lifts and 5 km (3 mi) of slopes, and Oddsskard (the “East Iceland Alps” between Eskifjord­ur and Neskaupstadur) has three lifts and 9 km (6 mi) of slopes; 4 km (2 mi) classed as difficult.

There’s gorgeous scenery at both resorts, but if you’re looking for an off-piste adventure with views to make your eyes pop and your jaw drop, you might want to head into the “Land of Dragons” with Bergmenn Mountain Guides, who run a seven-day “ski-touring odyssey” in the East Fjords. Erin Jorgensen, an avid skier from the US who joined the first trip in 2017, says the area “has it all, from fun terrain to interesting culture,” adding that it’s suitable for all types of skiers and snowboarders with experience of ski touring. “There are wide-open runs as well as some steeper slopes and couloirs, so there is something for everyone.”

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The tour takes its name from an old legend of a fierce dragon which protects the East of Iceland, and with its rugged mountains and jagged peaks, a dragon could easily be imagined hiding in the landscape. Erin also recommends the meals at Randulffs Seahouse, a 127-year-old preserved fishing station on the edge of the water in Eskifjordur. “Eating here after a great day of ski touring and then soaking in the outdoor boat-shaped hot tub at the Mjoeyri lodge, looking out onto the fjord and ocean, provides everything you want from a ski touring trip.” →→east.is

Snow-white Westfjords Ski Week, one of the country’s oldest annual ski events, takes place in Isafjordur during the Easter holidays and attracts skiers from far and wide for its fun and family-friendly races

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and activities. The facilities are located in two separate valleys within close proximity to each other and only five minutes’ drive from the town centre.

Tungudalur valley (open from December) is where all the downhill skiing and snowboarding action takes place, while the cross-country trails are concentrated in the Seljalandsdalur valley.

The latter is host to the legendary Fossavatnsganga marathon, a 50 km (31 mi) race (usually in early May) which attracts 1,500 people from all over the world.

Hlynur Kristinsson, General Manager of the Isafjordur ski resorts, says “the cross-country ski area is one of the biggest in Iceland and known by several famous enthusiasts”. The Westfjords are best known for mountain skiing and cross country, he says, but snowboarding is becoming more popular. “We opened a new snowboarding

park last year that we are planning to continue this season, too.” As for the weather conditions, Hlynur adds that the frequency of snow storms “gives us many good powder days”. →→westfjords.is

Polar peaks of Greenland While Greenland offers a number of modest ski resorts such as the Apussuit resort near Maniitsoq or the Sisorarfiit ski centre in Nuuk, the wild and largely untouched terrain of Kalaallit Nunaat, as the country is known by the locals, is the domain of the more determined explorer, where you can indulge in a variety of extreme snow sports. Backcountry skiing, such as the eight-day lodge and hut-based expedition from Kulusuk offered by Pirhuk Mountain Guides, takes you on some great first descents with mem-

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01 Opening weekend at Blafjoll ski resort. Photo: Roman Gerasymenko.

02 Adventurous heli-skier descending Thor’s Run in Hedinsfjordur Valley, North Iceland. Image courtesy of Viking Heliskiing.

03 Volunteers celebrate a successful weekend as the last participant in the Arctic Circle Race reaches the finish line. Photo by Steinunn Snaebjornsdottir.

04 Snowboard jib session at Blafjoll ski resort. Photo: Roman Gerasymenko.

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orable trips to explore frozen peaks and snow-laden fjords. Heli-skiing is another popular activity, where you can fly out over ice-covered fjords and ski right down to the white sheet of the pack ice. Heli-skiing tours also provide amazing sightseeing opportunities and even the chance to spot some polar bears.

For those who are keen for the extreme, Greenland is also host to the most challenging cross-country ski race in the world – the Arctic Circle Race. The three-day 160 km (99 mi) challenge in -20 to -30°C (-4 to -22°F), first held in 1998, is set in Sisimiut, 40 km (25 mi) north of the Arctic Circle, and attracts 150 participants every year. One heroic contestant of the 2018 race (23–25 March) is Steinunn Snaebjorns­dott­ir, an experienced downhill skier from North Iceland. She hadn’t tried cross-country skiing until 2017 when

she moved to Nuuk, but after having a go, she thought it provided a great way to both enjoy nature and keep fit at the same time. Because of a storm, Steinunn missed the first day of the race but still managed to cover 109 km (68 mi) in two days. “The Arctic Circle Race was an incredible nature experience ... It wasn’t easy; there were lots of ups and downs, and there was rarely even ground.”

Despite the challenges, which also included having to camp, cook, and dry her clothes, she was thrilled with the outcome. Given the chance, she would definitely do it again. →→visitgreenland.com

DID YOU KNOW...

The Greenland ice cap covers 80% of the country’s surface, whereas roughly 10% of Iceland’s surface is covered by glaciers.

GETTING THERE:

Ilulissat Kulusuk Nuuk Narsarsuaq

Isafjordur Akureyri Egilsstadir Reykjavik

Air Iceland Connect flies daily from Reykjavik to Akureyri in the North, Egilsstadir in the East and Isafjordur in the Westfjords in under one hour and to several destinations in Greenland. The best time for skiing in Greenland is from April to May. The ski season in Iceland usually runs from late November through April (March to June for heli-skiing). → airicelandconnect.com

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CULTURE

Festival

A selection of thorramatur, including pickled ram’s testicles, head cheese and blood pudding, as well as seared sheep’s head, smoked lamb, dried fish, rye bread and flatkokur (“flat cakes”).

Party like pagans Thorrablot: Iceland’s beloved midwinter feast.

TEXT: KT Browne PHOTO: Arni Saeberg

It’s the 13th week of winter in Iceland. In towns all across the country, something special is happening. Hundreds are gathering around tables, dressed in their finest, preparing for a feast. Songbooks are handed out, plates are piled high, and music plays long into the night. Participants recite poems, give speeches, sing songs, dance, and enjoy the many culinary delicacies the event has to offer. Friends and neighbours go up on stage, performing a rendition of the year’s events. Laughter rises into warm, dim-lit rooms for hours until another day arrives.

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This is Thorrablot – the midwinter feast that takes place in Iceland every year. An ancient pagan festival held in honour of the Norse gods, the tradition was resurrected by a group of Icelandic students in Copenhagen in 1873. Thorrablot has taken place ever since, much to the unending delight of Icelanders.

Part of what makes Thorrablot so beloved is the tradition of its food, thorramatur. Consisting mostly of surmatur, secondary cuts and lamb offal pickled in whey, rugbraud (dark rye bread), butter – and, of course, a bit of Brennivin schnapps to wash it down – thorramatur is perhaps an acquired taste for

those visiting Iceland, but often truly enjoyed by Icelanders. Surmatur is, after all, the reason their ancestors were able to survive the long, harsh winters.

While most Thorrablot celebrations are officially open to the public, they are often community-oriented and it might require a bit of asking around to get your hands on a set of tickets. Talk to the reception desk at your hotel, visit a nearby tourist office, or befriend a local to get insider information. For a more lowkey Thorrablot experience, check out the menus of local restaurants, which often feature thorramatur during midwinter.

www.slippbarinn.is

www.aurorarestaurant.is

www.satt.is

www.vox.is

www.geirismart.is

A feast for all the senses Five unique restaurants to discover, savor and treasure.

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INTERVIEW

Air Iceland Connect

Fight, f light and peace of mind Hafdis Vera Emilsdottir at training.

Hafdis Vera Emilsdottir is fascinated by flying. She works at the check-in counter for Air Iceland Connect at Reykjavik airport and takes care of bookings. In her spare time, she challenges men and women, laymen and MMA professionals (including Sunna “Tsunami” Davidsdottir) in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Mjolnir sports club.

TEXT: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir PHOTO: Arni Saeberg

What do you love about Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

I’ve always thought fighting was fun.

I started out when I was a little kid in Hnifsdalur by Isafjordur, where I grew up. I was always fighting my friends there, play-fighting the boys.

I used to wish that I had an older

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brother to fight. You can control wrestling and wrestle slow – like yoga – or put up a strong defence.

Often when I’m wrestling my friend Sunna, we get worked up and have to remind ourselves: “Calm, stay calm…” Just because it’s so much fun and we both have such a strong competitive spirit.

You started wrestling at 30, 10 years ago. What sports did you play before that?

I have trained in many sports. I was kind of hyperactive as a kid, very energetic. I tried swimming, football and skiing for a while. I did handball and then basketball for seven years

ships in Lisbon in 2016. I participated in one wrestle there, which was very good and tough, but she won by one advantage point. We wrestled until the time was up. In 2017, I won my category, -69 kg, in the Mjolnir Open.

I had planned to continue competing, but in August last year, I fell while horseback riding and injured my neck – but I’m coming back strong!

How often do you go to training?

I train six days a week and rest for one day. Jiu-jitsu is my main sport and I practice with Mjolnir’s competitive group. After the injury I have turned more towards technical practices in boxing with the help of my boyfriend. I do more weightlifting now to strengthen myself and have focused more on techniques in wrestling while my neck is healing.

And you also work as a personal trainer?

and played with the premier league, KFI in Isafjordur. When I moved to Reykjavik I did a lot of weightlifting and competed twice in fitness, but it wasn’t for me. In January 2009 I won a free two-week course in jiu-jitsu.

After the first class I thought: “This is where I belong”.

What is your best achievement?

I placed second in the Icelandic championships in 2012, which was my first tournament. In 2015, I landed the championship title in the -70 kg category, defending it in 2016. In 2015, I also placed second in the Nordic championships, Swedish Open, and I took part in the European champion-

I offer personal training, which is a mix of everything I’ve learned. I do warm-up exercises, teach kicking and punching and use kettlebells a lot, as well as rubber bands, and teach strength training with cardio boxing.

I try to keep the exercises diverse. I also offer remote training and make training programmes. I love helping people feel better in their own skin.

Tell us about your work at Air Iceland Connect.

I handle check-ins and bookings and take the “load” [papers for the pilots to sign] out to the airplanes. I’ve worked there for 12 years. I think it’s fabulous to work in aviation, to meet people from other countries. I also enjoy being in contact with people, although it can be challenging and difficult, especially if flights are cancelled due to weather or if something comes up, then we are the face of the company. I do it as calmly as possible, try to be friendly and show support,

because of course it’s inconvenient if the flight is delayed and people cannot travel as planned. We try to make the best out of the situation.

Are you an avid traveller yourself?

I love travelling and wrestling and finding other clubs out in the world and have done that a lot. I love the tourist industry and want to work as a flight attendant.

You have three children, ages 8–22.

Isn’t it difficult to coordinate work, hobbies and family life?

It goes pretty well. I taught my girls how to use the bus. My neighbours have kids the same age and we help each other out. I’ve had a kid since I was a kid myself; I was 19 when my son was born. I’ve always brought the kids along, sleeping in the car seat while mummy was wrestling.

Are martial arts a hobby for the whole family?

My son plays football, one of my daughters does gymnastics, and the other, dancing. When I can’t make it to training, I sometimes use my kids as weights, let them hang from me and we do a bit of wrestling techniques.

My boyfriend is a five-time Georgian champion in boxing. He came here for a little while and wasn’t planning on moving, but then we met and after one and a half months he decided to come back. We have very similar hobbies.

You have the purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. How many do you have left before the black belt?

The first belt is white, then you have to earn four stripes, and then the blue, purple, brown and black belt, with stripes in between. My goal is to earn the black belt. I won’t quit before I do!

I’m not going to quit. My goal is to be the oldest woman wrestler!

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ACTIVITIES

Family

Photo: Susanne Jutzeler

Photo: Pezibear

Photo: Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson

Like there’s snow tomorrow Whether your kids are hoping to ski, sled, or simply stay warm, winter in Iceland offers ample possibilities. Here are some quick tips for having fun both in and out of the snow.

TEXT: Sarah Dearne

Downhill sledding is also a guaranteed hit, and a good way to make friends with local children who’ve had the On a snowy day in Reykjavik, head to same idea. Hit the shops for a basic Blafjoll ski resort for comfy facilities sled and head for the nearest hill. and easy runs for young skiers. Win- There are good ones with free ski ter temperatures are pretty mild in the lifts in Breidholt, Artunsbrekka and capital though, so if snow is on your Grafar­vogur, but most slopes will do. kids’ must-see list then aim further north to avoid disappointment. Ski FORECAST: areas such as Tungudalur near Isafjor- No Way dur, Hlidarfjall in Akureyri, and Odds­ skard near Egilsstadir are all splendid Icelandic weather is unpredictable, so it’s wise to have something up your for a day on the slopes. sleeve for when it’s not cooperating. It Resorts are strictly optional though may sound counterintuitive, but pools – snow in town works just as well are wonderful throughout the year. All for igloo building and snowball fights. are geothermally heated to a toasty FORECAST:

Snow Day

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temperature, and you can find indoor pools in Reykjavik, Isafjordur and other towns around the country. Alternatively, try bowling or ice-skating for drier fun in the larger towns.

If you have stir-crazy kids in the capital area, you can try the fab indoor play areas in Kringlan and Smaralind, Iceland’s largest shopping malls.

Smaralind also has flashier entertainment in the form of laser tag, arcade games, and a couple of rides, perfect for older kids and teens. A short drive from there, the Rush Iceland trampoline park is another great place for all ages to burn energy; there’s a special toddler time for the youngest kids.

KEFLAVIK AKUREYRI

Choose yo ur e r u t n e v d a n w o Air Iceland Connect will be flying between Keflavik and Akureyri four times a week.

There will be flights every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. airicelandconnect.com

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EVENT

Winter sports

s p m u j g i B At AK Extreme, snowboarders battle gravity to the blast of fire cannons.

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TEXT: Lisa Gail Shannen PHOTO: Asa Steinars

The signature kick-drum intro of New Order’s “Blue Monday” blasts out from the sound system as I arrive at the site of AK Extreme’s “Big Jump” – the highlight of the annual fourday snowboarding event in Akureyri, the northern capital of Iceland. The competition hasn’t started yet, but as the unmistakable baseline of the track kicks in, so does the spirit of

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excitement and anticipation. Thankful for arriving ahead of the crowds, I secure myself a good spot and observe the last-minute preparations being made to the enormous ramp.

It’s taken a well-orchestrated team to build this construction and lots of hard graft: standing at over 15 m (49 ft), the ramp, made with large shipping containers, towers above the already-vertigo-inducing incline of Kaupvangsstraeti, the main road that winds up from the town centre, now

closed to traffic. The view from the top of the inrun with its sheer drop must be both spectacular and terrifying. It stretches 45 m (148 ft) from the platform to the sharp upsweep of the ramp at the end, which is supported by a pickup truck fitted with two fire cannons on either side; these blast into action every time a rider launches over the edge.

As the competition kicks off, excitement builds to a soundtrack of hip-hop

02

03

01 Young Big Jump contestant does a Frontside 900.

02 Competitor performs a One-Foot Indy Grab at the Jib Session.

03 Fireworks go off to mark the end of AK Extreme 2018.

04 Big jumper does a 720 Grab through the fire cannons.

04

with enthusiastic commentary provided by Emmsje Gauti and Hrafnkell Orn Gudjonsson. Around 8,000 people have now gathered under the powerful floodlights (and buzzing drones) to watch the core force of Iceland’s snowboarding community battle gravity with some impressive manoeuvres. There are many stand­out moments, with some brave dare­ devils even launching themselves off the platform backwards and still managing to land on their feet. But

in the end, it’s a young chap named Aron Snorri who takes home the AK Extreme snowboarding title, with Johan Duus crowned best ski-jumper. There’s also a prize for the best snowmobile jump, which goes to Bjarki Sigurdsson. An after-party at a local nightclub awaits those who still have enough energy, but before that, there’s just enough time for the champions to take an obligatory group bumslide down the landing ramp while fireworks go off in the background.

GETTING THERE:

Akureyri

Reykjavik

Air Iceland Connect flies to Akureyri daily in only 35 minutes. The next AK Extreme takes place 4–7 April. → airicelandconnect.com

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ACTIVITIES

Adventure guide

Season to taste

So, which appeals to you most?

Calm, curious or exhilarating?

TEXT: Sarah Dearne

Photo: Tiphaine Gautherot

If you’re visiting the North this winter, you might have planned on catching culture or enjoying the outdoors.

To give you some inspiration, we pick a theme and sort activities by adventure level, from keen beginner to expert explorer. This issue, we take a look at dog sledding.

Photo: Rebecca Gustafsson / Visit Greenland

Photo: Mads Pihl / Visit Greenland

Calm

Curious

Exhilarating

Shorter dog-sledding tours are suitable for just about everyone, including those with limited mobility and children aged six years and up.

All you need to do is bundle up and enjoy the ride. You can book tours in Iceland operating from Akureyri, Myvatn, and close to Reykjavik, all ideal for a dose of pup-powered fun.

And if you’d rather skip the sledding and just cuddle up with some huskies, opt for the guided kennel tour at Myvatn.

Dog sledding is not merely a sport in Greenland but a way of life, and a tour is a wonderful way to combine a cultural experience with seeing the country’s rugged nature. You can join tours in many of the larger towns, but Ilulissat (pop. 4,500 people, 3,500 dogs) on the west coast is dog-sled central. This is also one of the most intriguing regions in the country, and a few hours on a sled will take you past icebergs, mountains and fishing villages.

For the ultimate dog-sledding adventure, plan a multi-day tour from Kulusuk along Greenland’s east coast, or around Disko Bay in the west. This is an incredible way to experience the country’s icy wilderness, as you weave your way around fjords, glaciers, icebergs, and explore cultural sites and settlements. Several companies offer multi-day packages in March and April, and you’ll need to be over 18 and reasonably fit to join.

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Adventure awaits

The road travels from Greenland to all around the world.

airicelandconnect.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Competition

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02

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Adventure by Instagram Share your northern adventure with the world, using the hashtag #mynorthadventure. A selection of photos will be published on the Air Iceland Connect website and social media channels and the cream of the crop on the pages of this magazine, too.

Please note that by using the #mynorthadventure hashtag, you are granting us permission to use your image in our magazine, website, and on our social media channels.

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01 Greenland @sarahbeer_fotografie It is always exciting to get close to a muskox.

02 Dyrholaey, Iceland @mirek.tran Evening blue hours over the lighthouse in Dyrholaey.

03 Iceland @lukasfilms A mighty red and green crater in the Icelandic Highlands.

04 Iceland @valentinovalkaj Photo trip in Iceland.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Competition

Sisimiut, Greenland @nordicphotocraft

And the winner is…

Mia Vanessa (@nordicphotocraft). Here is the story behind her amazing shot: “Wind in your face, snow in your hair... Absolute silence, only interrupted by the sound of the sled whooshing through the snow and the dogs puffing.

If you’re ever going to North Greenland, dogsledding is a must! This was the first time I went, when some of my family members were visiting me in Sisimiut. It was awfully cold and snowy, so we couldn’t go very far. But it was absolutely amazing. And it never got old!”

Mia wins a flight to any of Air Iceland Connect’s destinations in Iceland. Congratulations!

Do you want to participate in our photo contest?

Tag your favourite image from any of our destinations with #mynorthadventure and the winning shot will appear in the next issue of My North. Bird’s-eye view is our favourite angle. The photographer will win a flight to any of Air Iceland Connect’s destinations in Iceland.

Click away!

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God of the pola r bea rs Greenlandic rock group Nanook was one of the standouts at Iceland Airwaves 2018.

01

TEXT: Lisa Gail Shannen PHOTOS: Roman Gerasymenko

Started by brothers Christian and Frederik Elsner (guitars and vocals) in 2008, Nanook also features Martin Zinck (drums), Mads Ron (keys) and Andreas Otte (bass). My North caught up with the Greenlandic band after their first-ever concert at Iceland Airwaves, in Reykjavik in early November 2018, to find out more about their unique brand of rock/pop.

What has your Iceland Airwaves experience been like so far?

We were really thrilled that so many people showed up for our show.

There was a good vibe and we got loads of positive responses. Iceland Airwaves is a great inspiration for us.

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In Greenland, we mainly have large venues for well-known bands. It’s been great hanging out listening to upcoming Icelandic artists and seeing some of the performers we know and collaborate with, like Warmland and Eivor. Today we hope to get a seat at Asgeir’s show; his music was very influential on our 2014 album Pissaaneqaqisut (“Those that hold the strength”).

name and the dog. Furthermore, it turned out that in Inuktitut mythology, Nanook is the God of polar bears, and we are fascinated by this animal and concerned with how climate change is threatening its way of life.

The polar bear has become a symbol of climate change, and we want to contribute to worldwide awareness of this problem. Our name is one way of doing this.

What’s the story behind the band name?

Singing in Greenlandic makes your music stand out. Is there any word you could teach your foreign fans to help them sing along?

Nanook was the name of a white husky in the small town of Nanortalik, where Frederik and Christian grew up, and Christian really liked the

Our biggest hit in Greenland is “Ingerlaliinnaleqaagut” (“Let’s

MUSIC

Festival

01 Nanook performs at Gaukurinn during the 2018 Iceland Airwaves music festival.

02 Christian Elsner, singer, guitarist and one of the founding members of Nanook.

02

leave together”), and the lyrics in the chorus just go: Uhh, uhh, Ingerlaliinnaleqaagut. That’s perhaps a place to start. Greenlandic is polysynthetic, so it’s not easy if you have a European lingual background. We try to put some “uhhs”, “aahs” and “Ais” into [the lyrics], to make them accessible even if you don’t speak Greenlandic. So, another song to start out with is perhaps “Ai Ai”, where the chorus goes: Ai Ai, Ai Ai takkuppoq (“The sound of positivity appears before you”).

What’s next for Nanook?

We’re performing a full set with the whole band in Nuuk at the end

of November for the first time in two years. We’ve had a really busy 2018 since we recorded our fourth studio album here in Reykjavik with the magnificent Arnar Gudjonsson and are probably going to take it a bit easy in the beginning of 2019.

But we’re getting more invitations to do international gigs, so probably that’s what the near future will bring for us.

GETTING THERE:

Nuuk

DID YOU KNOW...

Greenland’s tallest mountain, Gunnbjornsfjeld, is 3,700 m (12,139 ft). It’s almost double the size of Iceland’s tallest mountain, Hvannadalshnjukur, at 2,110 m (6,923 ft), and quadruple the size of Slaettaratindur, the tallest mountain in the Faroe Islands, at 880 m (2,887 ft).

Reykjavik

Air Iceland Connect flies to Nuuk from Reykjavik airport two to three times a week, year-round, and to many other destinations in Greenland. → airicelandconnect.com

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DESTINATION

Kulusuk

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TEXT: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir PHOTOS: Arni Saeberg

Only two hours away from Reykjavik city centre is a magical place.

Off the scarcely-populated coast of East Greenland lies Kulusuk, a village with 250 people on an island of the same name. From the tiny international airport, visitors walk the 3 km (2 mi) into town – or hitch a ride on an ATV – while taking in the surreal view of mass­ ive floating icebergs off the coast.

The path winds past the village’s graveyard with nameless white crosses – according to the Inuit religion, the soul lives on and new-

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borns are given the names of the deceased. Characterised by colourful houses, the village is home to hunters and fishermen, who are still in touch with the traditions of their ancestors. Local storytellers share ancient tales and myths with visitors, and women in national costumes perform drum dances.

Sailing and hiking are popular activities in summer, but winter is the season for skiing, snowmobiling and dog-sledding, which remains a practical mode of transport. The larger town Tasiilaq (pop. 2,000) – which offers a broader range of tours and services – is a mere 10 minutes away by helicopter.

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In touch with t ra dition Adventure island off Greenland’s eastern coast.

GETTING THERE:

Kulusuk

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01 Adventure island Kulusuk.

02 Tourists observe a traditional drum dance.

03 Sailing is a popular activity in summer.

Reykjavik

Air Iceland Connect flies directly from Reykjavik airport to Kulusuk up to three times a week in winter and six times a week in summer. Special day tours and hotel packages are available both to Kulusuk and Tasiilaq during summer. → airicelandconnect.com → visitgreenland.com

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NEWS

Air Iceland Connect

Connecting the dots There’s always something happening at Air Iceland Connect and the airline’s destinations. Here’s a roundup of some of the most newsworthy events.

TEXT: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir

Tolli (left) preparing the exhibition in Egilsstadir. Photo: Arni Saeberg.

Photo: Akureyri Art Museum.

Flight plan for young artists

Akureyri Art Museum revamp

An exhibition of 23 new oil paintings

by Icelandic artist Tolli opened at Egilsstadir Airport in September, and in November he opened another exhibition at Akureyri Airport. Come spring, he intends to open the third exhibition at Isafjordur Airport. The art shows are a collaboration between Tolli and Isavia, the airports’ operator, and their future plan is to use the buildings for introducing the works of young artists. “I’m doing a test run and want to make sure that my conviction of this being a great idea is correct,” says Tolli. The exhibition at Egilsstadir went really well.

People went there specifically for the show and were very pleased.”

Fast facts about Air Iceland Connect

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Tolli explains that airports are excellent locations for art shows because of the spacious capacities and high ceilings. “Thousands of people constantly flow through the building and stop for 10–15 minutes, maybe longer, and enjoy for a while before boarding the plane or picking up their bags, and then a conversation takes place.” Tolli is passionate about providing a platform for up-and-coming artists. “I talked with Isavia about focusing on young artists who are starting their careers after studying, and opening a window towards what’s happening in the grassroots,” he says, adding that the exhibitions also “build a bridge between the capital and the countryside,” help promote understanding, and spread joy.

9,577,921

passengers passed through airports in Iceland in 2017.

direct international flights took off from Akureyri in 2017 – a 57.7% increase from 2016.

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While celebrating its 25th anniversary last August, Akureyri Art Museum formally opened new galleries with six new exhibitions, as well as a new café, located in a new building connecting the main museum with the adjacent Ketilhus. This creates a better flow between exhibition rooms (now 12 instead of five) and increasing possibilities for art shows.

A two-year historic exhibition about the industrial Kaupvangsstraeti (nicknamed “Arts Alley”), the street on which the museum stands, is one of those opening last summer. Shows

by Kristin Gunnlaugsdottir, Margret Jonsdottir, Tumi Magnusson and Elina Brodherus are coming up in February and March.

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tonnes of mail were delivered through Reykjavik Airport in 2017.

2,000 m

(6,562 ft) is the length of the single runway at Egilsstadir Airport. It lies at 23 m (75 ft) above sea level.

SERVICE

Air Iceland Connect

Duty free – Drop by our store When you travel through Reykjavik or Akureyri before or after an exciting trip to Greenland, drop We would love to hear about your travels. In the seat pocket is a journal by the Duty free store where where passengers who have sat in this seat before you have made some you can buy cosmetics, sweets, notes about their travel experiences. What did you discover on your trip? alcoholic beverages and variPick up a pen and share your adventures with future travellers the old- ous other items at a bargain.

Check out the selection at: fashioned way. →→dutyfree.airicelandconnect.com

Shared stories

Service on board Sit back, relax and enjoy your journey. The Air Iceland Connect crew will do their utmost to make your flight as pleasant and comfortable as possible. If you need anything, you can call a cabin attendant by using the call button above your seat. On all Air Iceland Connect flights, passengers receive a complimentary beverage: coffee, tea or water.

Inside the plane Please follow our safety demonstration closely and read the instructions on the safety card in your seat pocket. Kindly follow the guidance and suggestions of the cabin crew throughout the flight. The use of mobile phones and electronic devices on flight mode is allowed gate to gate.

Cabin baggage should be stored in the overhead compartments or under the seat in front of you. We recommend that you keep your seatbelt fastened for the duration of the flight. Smoking is prohibited on all Air Iceland Connect flights. That also includes vaping.

Environmental policy We recognise that our activities have an impact on the environment in terms of the use of raw materials, emissions to air and water, and waste generation, and we seek to minimise this as far as is reasonably practisable.

Air Iceland Connect is committed to operating in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner, complying with all applicable legislation, environmental standards and other relevant requirements and commitments. This policy shall apply to all activities carried out by or on behalf of Air Iceland Connect and to locations in which we operate.

Air Iceland Connect has achieved the Gold Award from Vakinn’s environmental criteria.

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ROUTE MAP

Air Iceland Connect

Snowshoeing in scenic surroundings

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Ilulissat

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Tried backcount ry skiing – Wow!

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Nuuk

Kulusuk

Visited Viking sett lement

Seduced by drum dance

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Narsarsuaq

Shape your adventure

N o r t h

You’ve arrived in Iceland. So why not explore the northern region a little further? Our partnerships, route network and innate curiosity mean you’re never more than a decision away from your next adventure.

→ Visit our website airicelandconnect.com and make it happen.

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60 °

A t l a n

75°

75 °

Takeoffs and touchdowns

D

The beginning and end of a terrific journey, Air Iceland Connect’s main airports are not just for passing through.

Sighted a muskox!

REYKJAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT In the heart of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik Airport serves as the centre for domestic flights in Iceland. It’s located in Vatnsmyri, where aviation in Iceland began on 3 September, 1919, with the takeoff of the first airplane in the country. Scheduled flights from cle C i r launched in March Reykjavik Airport were tic A rc 1940, when Air Iceland moved its headquarters from Akureyri to Reykjavik.

Nerlerit Inaat

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d l a n n e e G r

Wondrous Ma stered cross- winter calm country skiing

A rc t i c C i rc l e

Visited a shee x Thorshofn

Grimsey

Isafjordur

Akureyri

Explored the food scene

p farm

Vopnafjordur

xEgilsstadir

Glowed at the lights festival Torshavn

Went for a Torri run

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E FARO

EGILSSTADIR 6 0 ° INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Egilsstadir International Airport serves as an alternate for Keflavik International Airport and is open 24 hours a day. Located on the banks of Lagarfljot river in Iceland’s tranquil East, the airport is just a short drive away from Hallormsstadaskogur National Forest, serene seaside towns at the foot of majestic mountains and other attractions.

ISAFJORDUR AIRPORT Isafjordur is the base for exploring Iceland’s Westfjords and some of the country’s most rural and isolated areas. The flight approach is an adventurous experience on its own – enjoy the thrill as you descend at the end of the majestic Isafjardardjup fjord, the view of the many smaller fjords that fork out of it and the tall mountains all around.

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AKUREYRI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Located in North Iceland’s largest town, Akureyri International Airport is the gateway to the Arctic. From there, scheduled flights are offered to several locations in Iceland, including Grimsey island in the North, as well as Thorshofn and Vopnafjordur in the Northeast. International flights from Akureyri include scheduled and charter flights to Greenland. Akureyri International Airport is also the centre for ambulance and emergency flights in Iceland.

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M

FLEET

Air Iceland Connect

n w o n k n u e h t s d r wa o T In the Age of Settlement they embarked on a journey into the unknown with their loved ones. The six Bombardier aircraft in our fleet are named after female settlers and Icelandic saga heroines. Still flying high, we uphold their legacies with pride.

Audur djupudga TF-FXA Q400

Hallgerdur langbrok TF-FXB Q400

Thorunn hyrna TF-FXI Q400

Audur djupudga (“deep-minded”) was the only woman to lead a settlement expedition to Iceland. She was considered peerless among women, provident and wise, as witnessed by her epithet. After losing her husband and only son, she sailed to Iceland along with her crew. It is said that her settlement extended across all the valleys of Breidafjordur in West Iceland. Audur was a Christian and was considered to be particularly noble and generous. She gave large estates in her settlement to her crew and made her home at the current church estate of Hvammur in Dalir.

The most infamous heroine of the Icelandic sagas was dashing, long-haired and beautiful. Extremely proud, Hall­ gerdur never took orders from anyone.

She started a feud with her neighbour Bergthora; and Hallgerdur’s husband, Gunnar, had to pay for a slap he gave her with his life. When besieged by his enemies, Gunnar begged his wife for a lock of her hair to repair his bowstring.

She refused and he was killed. But what was the source of her epithet?

One explanation is that Hallgerdur had particularly long legs (langbrok means “long pants”). Another that the original meaning of the word is “long-haired”.

Does her epithet refer to a shawl she wore over her head or shoulders? Along with her husband, Helgi magri (“the lean”), Thorunn hyrna settled in Eyjafjordur, Northeast Iceland, and was the first woman to do so. Thorunn was the sister of Audur djupudga, the most famous of all female settlers. While Thorunn and Helgi sailed into the fjord, looking for a place to build their farm, Thorunn gave birth to a daughter on a small holm in Eyjafjardara river.

Their daughter, Thorbjorg holmasol, was the first native-born resident of Eyjafjordur.

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Wind beneath our wings Q400

Q200

The Air Iceland Connect fleet comprises of three Bombardier Q400s and three Bombardier Q200s. The Bombardier Q400s are larger and 30% faster than conventional turboprop aircraft and therefore offer new opportunities.

In addition to being used for domestic flights, the Bombardier Q400s fly a steadily increasing number of passengers to Greenland. The Bombardier Q200 aircraft have certain qualities: they require a short runway (e.g., they can take off when fully-loaded from an 800 m / 2,625 ft runway), can withstand a stronger side wind than comparable aircraft and can carry more freight. The Bombardier Q200 can be specifically configured for cargo transport.

→ Read more about our fleet at airicelandconnect.com.

Our extended family Air Iceland Connect is part of Icelandair Group, an Icelandic travel industry corporation. The largest corporation in Iceland, Icelandair Group is the owner and holding company of the airline Icelandair and several other travel industry companies in Iceland.

Its headquarters are at Reykjavik Airport.

ICELANDAIR GROUP SUBSIDIARIES: Air Iceland Connect FERIA (VITA Travel) Fjarvakur Icelandair Icelandair Cargo Icelandair Hotels Iceland Travel IGS, Icelandair Ground Services Loftleidir Icelandic

Arndis audga TF-FXG Q200

Thorbjorg holmasol TF-FXH Q200

Thuridur sundafyllir TF-FXK Q200

Her father was a settler in Dalir, but she wished to choose her own land. Arndis audga (“the wealthy”) settled in Hrutafjordur, Northwest Iceland. Her epithet suggests that she acquired wealth while presiding over her estate. Little is known about Arndis, as written documentation is scarce.

However, if one reads between the lines it is clear that she was a powerful woman who defied the patriarchy.

Arndis married Bjalki Blaengsson but their son Thordur became known by his matronymic surname: Arndisarson.

Thordur later appeared as a character in Kormaks Saga, a poetic love story.

The first person born in Eyjafjordur was a girl who was given the name Thorbjorg holmasol (“Islet-Sun”). It is said that she was delivered on a delta in Eyjafjardara river when her parents, settlers Thorunn hyrna and Helgi magri (“the lean”), were sailing their ship to Kristnes. There, they built a handsome farmhouse and raised the girl, who was bestowed with the most cheerful epithet in the history of Icelandic settlement. In Akureyri, the region’s first settlers are remembered in various ways; there’s a kindergarten called Holmasol after Thorbjorg.

She was known as a volva and was said to be well-versed in magic when she settled in Bolungarvik, the Westfjords. She was called “sound-filler” due to her ability to cast spells that filled every sound with herring. As thanks for her spell, each farmer in the area awarded her with a hornless ewe.

Her son was the poet Volu-Steinn Thuridarson. His father was unknown.

DID YOU KNOW...

Approximately 50,000 people live in the Faroe Islands, of whom 20,000 live on Streymoy, the island where the capital Torshavn is located.

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GRÆNLAND GREENLAND Nerlerit Inaat A rc t i c C i rc l e

Grímsey

Ísafjörður

Akureyri

Breiðafjörður

Blöndulón

Ljósufjöll

Snæfellsjökull

Hofsjökul Langjökul

GRÆNLAND GREENLAND Ilulissat Kulusuk Nuuk Narsarsuaq

Faxaflói

Geysir Gullfoss Þórisvatn

Þingvellir

REYKJAVÍK Keflavík

Bláfjöll Bláa lónið

Hekla

(Blue Lagoon)

N N o o r ð u r - A r t h t l A t l a n a n t s h a f t i c O c e a n

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Eyjafjallajökull

Vestmannaeyjar

Mýrdalsjökull Katla

Heimskautsbaugur

Hvað sést út um gluggann?

What can you see out the window?

Þórshöfn

Dettifoss

Vopnafjörður Dimmuborgir Mývatn

Egilsstaðir

Á ferð um óbyggðir Ef þú villist hringdu í Neyðarlínuna 112. Vertu kyrr á sama stað og bíddu eftir því að björgunar­ sveitir finni þig.

Askja Holuhraun

Landsbjörg býður upp á niðurhal á ókeypis smáforriti fyrir snjallsíma (emergency app) af vefsíðunni safetravel.is. Hnitin þar sem þú ert staddur verða send björgunarsveitum ef þú virkjar forritið.

Vatnajökull

Travelling in the wild If you get lost, call 112, the emergency service line. Stay where you are and wait for rescue services to find you.

Öræfajökull

FÆREYJAR FAROE ISLANDS Þórshöfn / Tórshavn

The Search and Rescue Associa­ tion also offers a free emergency app, downl­oada­ble from their website safetravel.is. Your coordinates will be sent to the emergency re­sponse crews if you turn on the check-in setting.

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