Meet the Skida team

We’ve brought together the most talented people we know and spent a long time working hard on what we love most. What we’re best at—and most passionate about.

We have Bjarte, who came up with the idea and took the initiative. An innovative and experienced IT all-rounder who loves skiing off-piste. Markus, an avalanche instructor with a master’s in predicting weak layers in avalanche forecasts. Kjell, who specializes in AI. Ida, our designer and expert in building robust and user-friendly apps.

Then there’s Trond, the mathematician and tech lead at Fishbuddy, who also plays a key role with us—developing and integrating new technology. Johan, who brings a ton of experience from the Swedish app PickALine, combining technical expertise with a passion for alpine outdoor life.

Bjarte has over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, where he has gained deep insight into the digital landscape we now navigate through a variety of roles. With a focused approach, he has accumulated experience from several industries, including energy, finance, entrepreneurship, and pure tech companies. This has given him the ability to identify opportunities and synergies across companies and sectors.

In 2023, he founded two B2C companies in different segments: Matlat, which simplifies making the right choices when grocery shopping, and Mountainsnow, which is developing Skida, a digital service for ski touring adventures.

Johan has a solid and diverse background in development, with extensive experience from various tech projects. He brings not only strong technical skills but also a deep understanding of how digital tools can make outdoor activities more accessible and safer.

As the creator of Pickaline.se—an app with many similarities to Skida—Johan has already proven his ability to build smart solutions for outdoor enthusiasts. His experience with that platform provides us with valuable insights and inspiration to further develop and improve Skida.

Ida is an experienced and passionate designer with expertise across the entire design process, particularly strong in user research, concept development, and user testing. She has worked with well-known Norwegian brands such as FINN and Vipps, as well as scale-ups like Firi.

As an avid ski touring enthusiast herself, she has a deep understanding of the context and user needs in the mountains. At Skida, she leads the design process—gathering and synthesizing user insights to shape product strategy and translating those insights into app design that delivers value to both users and the company.

Markus holds a master’s degree from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at NTNU, where he wrote his thesis on predicting weak layers in avalanche forecasts. His studies provided him with in-depth knowledge of applying mathematics to real-world challenges, with a particular focus on computational statistics, statistical learning, and machine learning.

Markus is also a passionate skier, ambassador for VPG and K2, and a ski film producer. He is a certified avalanche instructor and uses his expertise to promote mountain safety—even in his free time.

With an MSc in Applied Mathematics, Trond is a key contributor to creating unique experiences for safer navigation in the backcountry. His mathematical expertise and analytical skills ensure we build precise and reliable systems that enhance user safety.

Trond’s combination of hands-on experience and academic background makes him a pivotal figure at Skida, where he continuously works to integrate advanced technology and mathematics into the company’s products and services.

Throughout his solid career, Kjell has gained extensive experience and insight into how to develop robust and user-friendly applications. His technical skills span both frontend and backend development, and he is known for his ability to find innovative solutions to complex problems.

Kjell is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, which benefits us greatly at Skida. He is a key contributor to driving the company’s technological innovation forward.

With over 30 years of international experience in both the sports and business sectors, our chairman has developed a unique combination of leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic insight.

Trond Are is the founder and CEO of the successful fishing app Fishbuddy by Fiskher, which has been downloaded over 800,000 times and is used by anglers across Europe. Through this work, he has gained valuable expertise that we greatly benefit from at Skida.

Ketil has over 20 years of experience working with innovation and startups—regionally, nationally, and internationally (through CONNECT)—and in recent years through his own investment and consulting firm, Bnapp AS. He is currently an active owner in several startups.

A passionate skier, he has explored the mountains of Troms and Lyngen since the early 1980s. Ketil also serves as chairman of the board at Kroken Ski Resort in Tromsø.

Vivi is a former banker turned ski bum with deep expertise in strategy, UX, communication, and networking. With a background from Nordea working on Apple Pay and digital innovation, she’s now focused on mountains, skiing, and safety.

She’s a certified winter tour leader, active in DNT Fjellsport, and a freelance ski touring guide. As a soon-to-be avalanche instructor, she’s passionate about snow safety and how tech can support safer travel in the mountains.

We met Vivi through the Sportstech Academy, where she was a mentor—and her insight into intuitive services and sharp communication makes her a key asset to Skida.