Hallvard Kolltveit

Born?

I was born and raised in Oslo, Norway, and spent my early years skiing in the surrounding forests and mountains. I was never a big water person, and as a child I was almost afraid to go into the dark blue sea. At 22, I moved to Hawaii to finish my degree, started taking pictures and surfing, and the rest, as they say, is history. Since then, I've been travelling all over the world and can't get enough of this beautiful planet we call home.

Basis?

I live in the magical and truly magnificent Lofoten Islands in northern Norway. The combination of world-class surfing, beautiful landscapes and great, open-minded people makes it the best place in the world for me. I travel a lot for work, but I don't need to - everything I need is right on my doorstep.

Dream destination?

Alaska. I've had my eye on this stretch of land for a few years now and would love to get on a boat with some friends and explore the coast. I also have to say that both Iceland and Lofoten are still dream destinations for me, even though I have spent some time in both countries. The countless fjords and headlands make for fantastic surfing, and the scenery is incomparable.

What does "travelling" mean to you?

Stepping outside your own front door. Some of my best travel experiences have been close to home, so for me it's about just getting out. Doing things you've never done before, visiting places you've never seen and meeting people who might be with you for life. It's about making memories and experiencing beautiful moments.

The best experience when travelling?

I've been on two surf trips to Iceland already, and both times I've had career-changing moments and photos. The last time I was there, we found this piece of land in a remote fjord on Google Maps, drove 7 hours through a snowstorm in the middle of the night and woke up to a perfectly sized breaking wave. We know there's been a lot of surfing here, but the fact that we found it on our own and it was so good just took our breath away.

Plans for the future?

Summer is just around the corner, which means we're heading for the warm waters. We have a lot of small projects coming up in the autumn, but we've also been working on a mission on the other side of the world with a couple of friends for two years. Apart from that, Lofoten has so much to offer in terms of landscapes, hiking and surfing that I try to stay here as often as possible to experience all the good swells and weather.

Your 3 favourite products from HPT:

The Cave, the Monolith Daypack and the Snapback. The Cave The Monolith Daypack and the Snapback have become my favourite tents for weekend trips, as they offer the perfect mix of portability and size. When I first got them I couldn't imagine not using the Monolith Daypack or any clothing, but now I take them everywhere and wear them. As the kids would say: They are dope (I'm pretty sure kids don't say that anymore).