DESCENDING THE LAST PEICE OF THE PUZZLE, SOGNDALSELVA, NORWAY, APRIL 2024
The Sogndalselva in Western Norway has seen countless descents over the years. Sogndalselva is tucked away in a small valley and runs out into the Norway’s longest fjord, the Sognefjord. On the classic eight km long section all but one rapid is run frequently.The rapid has been run before but it has a very tricky line into a sketchy pocket that feeds directly behind the falls. A perfect room of doom. It is an easy hike around the rapid and this makes the decision to portage simple, until portaging is a well-known habit. Local kayakers Eirik Hansen and Victor Mœhl were there in 2020 when the rapid got its name. They came up to the rapid they had been portaging for years. Eirik went into the eddy and got out of his boat. Victor messed up above the portage rapid and got swept back into the current, missing the last eddy. As Victor was getting pulled into the main flow, both quickly realized what was about to happen. Victor was going backwards, with no speed directly into the worst meat of the falls. Eirik locked eyes with Victor and the only word Eirik could say was “snakkes,” which means “see ya,” before Victor disappeared in the chaos. Eirik ran out and quickly moved downstream expecting the worst, only to see Victor puffing but smiling below the falls completely unscathed. His line went well but the line down the falls was not inspiring enough for Eirik to follow him. The rapid was named “Snakkes Victor,” and they both kept portaging. On the first of April, 2024, Eirik was paddling with local Kristoffer Myrseth. At Snakkes Victor, Eirik decided to fire up the line; his portage train was about to finally stop after seven years. Eirik dropped into the rapid and flew out, landing inside the room of doom, but was able to power out
