We’ve all seen the results. Iconic photos of beautiful models, male and female, featured in incredible settings with beautiful backdrops, on the water looking peaceful and serene in the perfect yoga pose. It looks so effortless, this capture of one dynamic moment dripping with intensity and surreal beauty. Don’t they all just live that way every day? Anyone who knows a photographer - or a model for that matter - knows the logistics and hilarious stories that often go untold behind a live photoshoot.
Standup Journal decided to peek in behind the scenes of Starboard’s recent snow SUP Yoga shoot in stunning Norway to get the real story. How did they do that? Here’s the deets:
SUP Yoga in Snow & Norway’s April Weather
Spring in Norway is both chilly and wet. As the famous Swedish singer & songwriter Ulf Lundell once put it; “April is a cold and fickle friend.”
Well, this late day in April was surely no friend of mine! In addition to low temperatures and cold winds, we could also smell rain in the air, making me start to have regrets about saying ‘Yes’ to a two-day SUP Yoga photoshoot out in the wilds of Norway. But having that old Nordic Viking blood in me, I packed an extra set of clothes, put on a brave smile and was ready for whatever the world would offer. At least, I believed I was.
Our group consisted of representatives from Starboard’s top tier management, other stand up paddle professionals, and a photographer. We set off early in the morning from Arendal, a small town on the East Coast of Norway, to head inland to the county of Telemark. Beautiful, mystical Norway is a country known for its wide variety of settings and scenery. Beautiful coastlines, rocky mountains, verdant forests, crystal clear streams and lakes all make this visitor-friendly country a perfect location for a diversity of outdoor activities.
We made stops on the way to paddle some streams and rivers, while also taking photos and enjoying the beautiful nature all around us. Incredibly, this was my first time on a stand up paddle board! It was a lot easier than I imagined. I guess with all of my yoga and football, I have an advantage with balance. Plus, the inflatable SUP which I was on was surprisingly stable and easy to move around on. This was going to be fun!
Late in the afternoon, we reached Jettegrytene, a beautiful and remote area consists of a river with naturals slides and waterfalls. There are large quarry stones and giant pools of clear water. In summer, it is known as a popular bathing spot. Although in late April, rain was building up and we were all getting soaked after hours of paddling and hiking through the countryside.
When it was finally time for my yoga debut on an inflatable SUP, the rain timed itself perfectly. I was in my first down-dog of the day when the first few drops of rain hit my back and soon came pouring down. We hurried. When leaving Jettegrytene later that afternoon, to head for the Canvas Hotel in Nissedal – the world’s coolest wilderness hotel. I was disappointed with my yoga performance on the board, and hoped to get another chance to do better the next day with a little help from the weather gods.
Darkness fell by the time we reached the Canvas Hotel. The rainfall became heavy and the trail slick with mud. By the time we arrived our group was cold, wet, hungry and tired. Not good. Canvas Hotel in Nissedal provides glamping in luxurious yurt tents, with comfortable beds and wood-burning stoves. As it was still pre-season, no hot shower was available though. So I just changed my clothes and curled up for a drink by the fire. We ended up sharing a brilliant evening with fine food and libations. The company was friendly and the atmosphere most cheerful. It turned into an absolutely perfect ending to a long and adventurous day. I went to bed belly full and happy, falling asleep to the sound of the biting wind and the uninterrupted rain outside.
The first thing on my mind when I woke up the next day was the weather. Was it still raining? No, it was certainly not raining. At some point during the night, the rain had turned into snow! The result, as I stepped outside to have a peek at the surroundings, was a fine, white powder spreading a curtain over the trees and ground. My spirit dropped immediately, even more so as I noticed patches of ice floating around on the lake. But to my surprise, the rest of the team were absolutely thrilled! What a perfect scene for a photoshoot, they enthusiastically called out. Really? Well, ok I thought, let’s get this over with, I thought.
I remember being told I could keep my shoes and jacket on. But in the end, I saw an opportunity to get some unique and memorable photos taken; therefore, I decided to do the shoot in my normal yoga clothing and in bare feet. I can still feel the wet, frozen snow meeting the soles of my feet as I stepped across the ground. It was beyond cold. My knees shook badly as I got on the board. I felt like Bambi on ice. After a few deep yogic breaths to warm my insides, I started a slow and careful practice on the board. Iremember the sensation of the crisp, fresh mountain air on my skin and the freezing temperature rising up from the lake beneath my feet. The encouraging cheers from the Starboard team, along with the beauty of the backdrop and scenery, made this a photoshoot I will remember forever. It was a short session due to the temperature, but thanks to one talented photographer, an incredible, magical countryside, and a little bit of Nordic Viking blood, the result ended with a unique set of photos that I’m very proud of.
Written by, Cecilia Olofsson
Owner and yoga instructor of Arendal Yogastudio, and a SUP yoga enthusiast
Photo Credits: Georgia Schofield
