Interview: Tomas Ari programs, bakes and bikes

Baking and biking

Tomas Ari Gislason is project manager of the IT department at Air Iceland Connect. He also studies mathematics at the University of Iceland, bakes breads and cycles.

TEXT: Eyglo Svala Arnarsdottir PHOTO: Arni Saeberg

Can you tell us about your work at Air Iceland Connect?

In the IT department we work on various projects, like implementing new solutions for the check-in system and payment system for the web. We are constantly developing the website by improving the booking system and offering more options. There are many systems used in an airline operation: maintenance, shift management, flight scheduling and booking all require a variety of systems, to name some examples. They need to be able to communicate with each other, and the main challenge lies in integration. It can be complicated to find a solution to discrepancies. I’m also involved in business intelligence; I need to gather the key information from the operating systems and make it visible for the executives who take care of decision making regarding bookkeeping and other factors. It has to be very accu-

rate and I have to make sure that everything is correct so that their decisions are based on the right information.

How do you apply mathematics in your work?

I learn a lot of programming, which I can make use of here, as well as mathematical methods. Analysing data is not a large part of my work but that is something I enjoy, working with data and numbers.

Baking is one of your two biggest hobbies. What are your baking preferences?

Once a week we bring baked goods to the office, and when it’s my turn, I bake everything myself. That’s what I enjoy the most: baking for a lot of people, not only myself. I mostly bake breads, from yeast, and I also cook a lot at home. I bake all kinds of breads. I’ve experimented with “country-style” sourdough but lately I’ve turned to country loaves with regular yeast for simplicity. I’ve also made doughnuts with yeast, which need to be proofed and then deep fried. I brought doughnuts like that the other day, which proved very popular. I make them with all kinds of icing, like coffee and lemon. I also enjoy baking cinnamon rolls and I’ve experimented with butter dough and croissants.

You’re also into biking.

Yes. I cycle both in summer and winter. From where I live, it takes me 15–20 minutes to cycle to work along the shore of Skerjafjordur – it takes a little longer in winter because the studded tires slow me down. I like to think when I cycle. Then there’s no interruption and I can dig deep into organising my day or finding a solution to a problem. I find cycling relaxing yet I feel as if I’ve achieved a lot.

Where do you cycle when you’re not going to work?

I often go to Ellidavatn lake and sometimes through the forest in Heidmork and all the way to Hafravatn lake. I also take shorter tours to Karsnes in Kopavogur or Grotta in Seltjarnarnes. There are many routes around the capital area. I’m from Isafjordur in the Westfjords and I prefer cycling away from the towns and into nature. I usually go by myself, but sometimes I go with my brother, who’s also a cycling enthusiast. We’ve gone on cycling trips in the Westfjords together.

Can you tell us about a memorable trip?

We once did a roundtrip of the Westfjords in five days. There were five of us cycling and others who joined us along the way and barbecued with us, and we carried tents and mattresses and camping stoves and sleeping bags. We cycled from Isafjordur to Thingeyri through the tunnel. Then we cycled along the Svalvogur coast but not across Hrafnseyrarheidi mountain pass. From there we cycled to Dynjandi waterfall and up Dynjandisheidi pass, down to Trostansfjordur fjord and from there to the villages of Bildudalur, Talknafjordur and Patreksfjordur. We continued to Flokalundur and from there to Gufufjordur fjord. There, we were picked up and driven to Mjoifjordur, and then we cycled along the rest of the Isafjardardjup coastline back to Isafjordur.

Wasn’t it hard?

It was quite a challenge. On the first day on the Svalvogur route, many of the bikes broke down. We all had adventure or gravel bikes with drop bars, not mountain bikes, and some were shaking apart. It was a rough trail and we had to make many repair stops. We could fix most things, but I broke a spoke and needed a new rim. I could finish the day, and then my family brought a new rim so that I could replace it. It was a little cold and wet. The first days were calm, but it was windy during the last two. The weather was rather bad for July but could have been worse. We weren’t freezing but the headwind was difficult. I was tired during the latter part of the trip.

What do you get out of a journey like this?

It’s amazing to experience nature when you’re cycling. You travel in a slower fashion and are able to take everything in. It’s totally different from driving, which is fun too.

Do you travel to the Westfjords often? What do you miss about Isafjordur?

I try to go every two months or so to visit my sister and my grandparents. And the town – I like being surrounded by mountains. My in-laws also live in the Westfjords. There’s a different rhythm there, somehow. In Reykjavik everything takes longer. In Isafjordur I feel close to the town and the people. I know everybody and trust the entire community.