First Descents In The Land Of Fire And Ice

Iceland is known for its dramatic canyons, steep whitewater rivers and mesmerizing volcanic activity. Holding the highest concentration of waterfalls in the world, it’s no surprise that the land of fire and ice is becoming a popular destination for professional kayakers looking to push the limits of the sport.

In summer 2021, Aniol Serrasolses, Aleix Salvat and Mikel Sarasola embarked on an expedition to unchartered waters within the Nordic country in the hopes of unearthing its most technical, remote and previously unrunnable rivers.

Serrasolses and the team spent three long weeks hiking the unforgiving terrain with their kayaks in tow. They pushed themselves to the limits both physically and mentally in their quest to achieve their mission: travel to a series of remote, Icelandic rivers (identified via satellite imagery) and bag some incredible first descents.

The recent RedBull TV documentary Jötunn follows Serrasolses and crew throughout the highs and lows of their otherworldly adventure. It teases us with scenes so spectacular and Game of Thrones-esque that it’s hard to believe that we’re witnessing real footage.

“It’s in nature and in the rivers where we are ourselves and feel fulfilled,” said Serrasolses. “I cannot think of a better place than Iceland to start over again after such a difficult year as 2020.”