Andris Ozoliņš

Andris grew up in Sigulda and spent his childhood exploring the Gauja River valley. That early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for Latvia's natural landscapes and eventually led to his career in outdoor recreation. It's not often someone gets to turn their childhood passion into a profession, but that's exactly what happened.

After completing his degree in Sports Science and Environmental Management from the University of Latvia in 2008, he worked for five years as a fitness instructor. But something was missing. The indoor gym environment felt limiting — he wanted to help people experience movement in nature, not under fluorescent lights.

His breakthrough came in 2012 when he developed the first formally mapped easy-access trail network in Gauja National Park. The project earned recognition from Latvia's National Parks Administration and opened up new possibilities. Over the following years, Andris earned his professional hiking guide certification and made a deliberate shift toward senior-focused route planning. He'd noticed a significant gap in accessible outdoor offerings for older adults.

Today, his approach combines practical field knowledge with research into age-appropriate exercise physiology. He's conducted biomechanical assessments of over 40 trails in the region, documenting the details that matter: incline percentages, surface conditions, rest point placements. Every recommendation in his guides is grounded in both personal experience and scientific understanding.

As Senior Hiking Guide at sportandhorse SIA, Andris collaborates with healthcare providers and retirement communities across Latvia. He works with people who thought their active outdoor days were behind them. Watching someone rediscover hiking in their sixties or seventies — that's what drives his work.