Meet the Team That Makes Magic on Ice
World champions, Hollywood veterans, and Arctic warriors
– the people who’ll guide your Spirit of Speed journey
A NOTE
I’m Cheyenne Webster, and I’ve recently stepped into the role
of General Manager at Kalmar Beyond Adventure.
This newsletter isn’t about selling you a driving experience. It’s about introducing you to the people who will, quite literally, hold your life – and your transformation – in their hands. Because here’s what I’ve learned in my first few months in this team: Spirit of Speed Arctic 2026 isn’t remarkable because of the ice, or the cars, or even the 3 km² arena.
It’s remarkable because of the humans.
The instructors who’ve driven everything from F1 circuits to Hollywood blockbusters.
The paramedic who’s saved lives in war zones and on Arctic ice.
The mechanics who can hear what a car needs before it speaks.
These aren’t just credentials on paper.
These are the people who will make you feel safer pushing your limits than
you’ve ever felt standing still.
So let me introduce you to them.
The Instructors: Where World-Class Meets Ice
JAN KALMAR
The Visionary
The man who built this entire arena from a frozen iron-ore mine has one philosophy: „We don’t build tracks to impress drivers. We build tracks to transform them.“ Jan doesn’t just teach ice driving – he designed the physics of it. Every corner, every stage, every moment you’ll experience was shaped by his 30+ years of understanding
what breaks through fear and builds mastery.
When you’re sideways at 120 km/h and everything suddenly makes sense,
that’s Jan’s legacy at work.
JOE HOPKINS
The Precision Artist
Some instructors teach you to drift. Joe teaches you to think in millimeters while moving in kilometers. His background in high-performance circuit racing means he understands the mathematics of momentum, the geometry of grip, and the psychology of progressive improvement. Translation: He’ll get you sideways with confidence you didn’t know you had.
TIM MARSHALL-ROWE
The Hollywood Pro
– Remember the tandem drift scene in Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson? That was Tim.
– The London Olympics closing ceremony taxi sequence? Tim.
– Kingsman, Transformers 5, Allied with Brad Pitt, The Grand Tour? Tim.
Here’s what 20+ years as a precision driver for film and television teaches you:
perfect execution under pressure, first take, every time.
Now imagine that level of precision… teaching you.
„Driving a Porsche on ice at 200 km/h requires more than skill,“ Tim will tell you. „It requires trust. In yourself, in the car, and in the person beside you.“
He’s driven alongside Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Now he’s driving alongside you.
CHRISTIANA OPREA
The Technical Whisperer
Christiana brings something rare to ice instruction:
The ability to diagnose exactly what you need in real-time.
Not what the last driver needed.
Not what works for most people.
What YOU need, in this corner, on this lap, right now.
Her technical precision, combined with natural teaching instinct, means you’ll improve faster than you thought possible.
DENNIS LIND
The Ice Surgeon
They call Dennis „the surgeon“ because of how precisely he dissects
every element of ice driving technique.
Weight transfer. Steering input. Throttle modulation. Brake pressure.
Most people see a drift as one flowing motion. Dennis sees seventeen distinct technical decisions happening in sequence.
And he’ll teach you to see them too.
The Safety Guardian: Your Swiss Army Knife
SACHA HAWKINS
Combat Paramedic. Arctic Specialist. Your Safety Net.
Let’s talk about something most luxury experiences don’t mention:
Who’s there when something goes wrong?
At Spirit of Speed, that person is Sacha Hawkins.
We call him our Swiss Army knife – and not just because of his medical expertise.
Former combat medic. Wilderness rescue specialist. Arctic environment expert.
But here’s what matters most: Sacha has spent decades in situations where being second-best isn’t an option. War zones. Remote expeditions. Emergency extractions.
He brings that same level of preparedness to Spirit of Speed.
You’ll probably never need him – our safety record speaks for itself.
But knowing he’s there? That changes everything.
It’s the difference between driving cautiously because you’re worried…
and driving boldly because you’re protected.
„Safety isn’t about preventing adventure,“ Sacha says.
„It’s about enabling it.“
The Mechanics: The Invisible Perfection
MORTEN SCHMIDT
Lead Mechanic – The Conductor
Every car you drive will be perfect.
Not pretty. Not impressive.
Perfect.
Morten doesn’t accept „good enough,“ which is exactly who you want preparing a car that’ll be sideways at speed on ice. His pre-drive checks are legendary among the team.
Every tire stud. Every brake line. Every weight balance.
When Morten hands you the keys, you’re not driving a car. You’re driving a promise: that every mechanical element has been optimized for your safety and performance.
KAUR & THE MECHANICS TEAM
The Precision Squad
Behind Morten stands a team that treats your car like it’s their own.
Because here’s the truth: on ice, mechanical precision isn’t a luxury. It’s survival.
The difference between controlled drift and uncontrolled spin lies in tire pressure adjustments measured in half-PSI increments.
That’s the level these guys work at.
What This Actually Means For You
Let’s be direct about something.
If you’re reading this, you’ve achieved things most people only dream about.
Professional success.
Financial freedom.
The ability to choose how you spend your time.
But when was the last time you felt like a beginner?
When was the last time something genuinely challenged you – not stressed you,
challenged you? When did you last finish a day feeling more alive than when it started?
That’s what this team creates.
Not by making it easy.
By making it possible.
YOU DON’T NEED TO BE AN EXPERT
(YOU JUST NEED TO BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE A BEGINNER)
Here’s what we see every season:
Successful executives who haven’t felt nervous-excited in a decade.
Entrepreneurs who’ve forgotten what it feels like to not be in control – until they learn to control a slide. Professionals who’ve mastered their domains are now discovering they can master something completely new.
The common thread?
They all show up thinking, „I hope I don’t embarrass myself.“
They all leave thinking, „I didn’t know I was capable of that.“
„Two of the best things I have done in my life were A – to go ice driving with Jan this year, B – to go ice driving with Jan last year. Last year, it was a mind-blowing experience to get to do what Kalmar offers. To drive beyond our wildest imagination. Then to come back and see the newcomers with the same smiles on their faces and see how it just was beyond anyone’s expectations was quite fun to see.“
— Kennet, Monaco | Spirit of Speed Guest
What Makes This Different
From Every Other Driving Experience
The instructor-to-driver ratio: 1:1.
Your instructor sits beside you. Every session. Every lap.
Maximum cars on track simultaneously: 5.
No waiting. No crowds. Just you, the ice, and immediate feedback.
Seat time per day: 6-8 hours.
Not demonstration laps. Not watching others. You. Driving.
Safety infrastructure: F1-standard.
Medical. Barriers. Communications. Professional standards that exceed circuit racing requirements.
The team credentials: Unmatched.
This isn’t their side business. This is what they do. World-class instruction
isn’t marketing language. It’s their resume.
„The professionalism exhibited by the entire team is top-notch, ensuring everything operates with precision, much like a well-oiled machine. The accommodation, catering, and overall service are of the highest quality, contributing significantly to the overall experience. The driving itself is an absolute thrill, pushing the limits in a fun yet safe environment. Navigating a Porsche on ice is an unparalleled experience, and even in moments where control is lost, the only consequence is a soft landing in snow, eliminating any sense of danger. The blend of adrenaline-packed driving, coupled with luxurious hospitality, makes this an unforgettable adventure. It’s no surprise that I have already secured my spot for next year.“
— Carsten, Denmark | Spirit of Speed Guest
The Question You’re Really Asking
„Is this for someone like me?“
If you’re asking that question, here’s your answer:
Our youngest participant last year was 28.
Our oldest was 67.
We’ve taught complete beginners who’d never driven anything faster than their daily commute. We’ve taught professional racing drivers looking to master a new discipline.
The only requirement?
Show up ready to be challenged.
Show up willing to trust the process.
Show up prepared to discover the capability you didn’t know you had.
Everything else? That’s what this team is for.
A Message From Jan Kalmar
„People ask me what Spirit of Speed is about.
I tell them: it’s about the moment when fear becomes focus.
When uncertainty becomes precision.
When the voice saying ‚I can’t‘ becomes the voice saying ‚Again.‘
That transformation doesn’t happen because of ice or cars. It happens because
you’re guided by people who’ve spent their lives perfecting one thing:
helping others discover what they’re truly capable of.
I built this arena.
But this team? They’re the ones who make the magic happen.
Come meet them.
Come discover what you’re capable of.
We’ll be waiting.“
– Jan Kalmar, Founder
The Details: Spirit Of Speed Arctic 2026
DATES:
January – February 2026
Select waves still available (limited capacity per wave)
LOCATION:
Ylläsjärvi, Finnish Lapland
3 km² private Arctic complex, 25 km of purpose-built stages
VEHICLES:
Kalmar Automotive Arctic-prepared performance cars
Light. Balanced. Pure feedback. 7mm WRC-spec studded tires.
INSTRUCTION:
One-to-one coaching throughout
Your instructor. Your car. Your journey.
GROUP SIZE:
Maximum 5 cars per wave
No crowds. No compromises.
ACCOMMODATION:
Kide Lodges Modern Nordic luxury near the track.
Where silence continues after the engines stop.
SAFETY:
Professional paramedic on-site, F1-standard infrastructure
Former combat medic. Full Arctic rescue capability.
Because adventure requires protection.
DURATION:
3-4 day programs available
Enough time to transform. Not so long you’re away from what matters.
INVESTMENT:
€9,911 – €18,911 per person
(Varies by program length and accommodation selection)
Your Invitation
Some experiences challenge you.
Some experiences change you.
Spirit of Speed Arctic 2026 is the second kind.
Not because of where it happens.
But because of who’s there when it does.
Jan. Joe. Tim. Christiana. Dennis.
Sacha. Morten. Kaur and the team.
They’ve been preparing for months.
The ice is waiting.
The cars are ready.
The only question left is:
Are you?
To Begin The Conversation:
Contact us directly:
WhatsApp: +27 62 113 0195
Or submit an inquiry:
We’ll reach out personally to discuss availability, answer questions, and help determine which wave and program best fits your goals.
Spirit Of Speed Arctic 2026
You don’t come for the ice.
You come for who you become on it.
And the team that makes that transformation possible.
We’re ready when you are.
DISCOVER MORE UPCOMING
BEYOND ADVENTURES:
Namibia & Botswana Specials
Available Upon Request
Beyond Adventure SPECIALS invite you and your friends on a thrilling safari in your own personalized Porsche Tour — across towering dunes, wild deserts, and close-up wildlife encounters in one of Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes.
Read more „Namibia“
Read more „Botswana“
Sept 01 – Sept 10, 2026
Sept 15 – Sept 25, 2026
Discover the ultimate Alpine adventure across five countries and 18 legendary mountain passes. From hidden gravel roads to breathtaking peaks, you’ll experience the Alps like few ever have – behind the wheel of a specially prepared sports car, surrounded by endless views and unforgettable driving.
Read more >
Created in partnership with the Mount Etjo Wildlife team, this unique adventure is unlike anything we have done before. Step into the heart of African conservation, where elephants, rhinos, and lions roam free. With limited driving and a focus on wildlife encounters, you’ll experience intimate moments in nature, guided by experts who dedicate their lives to protecting it.
Read more >
Bhutan in Safari Car
Sign up for interest
Discover the hidden kingdom of Bhutan in a way few ever will – behind the wheel of your own safari-prepared sportscar. This exclusive Beyond Adventure trip takes you deep into one of the world’s most remote and culturally rich destinations, far beyond the reach of ordinary tourism.
Read more >
STAY TUNED FOR MORE BEYOND ADVENTURES TO COME!