Our Story
25 years of building, crises, and discovering what truly matters.
Real history isn't written in smooth sales brochures. It is forged through hard decisions, real crises, and the willingness to learn from our mistakes. What started in 1999 as a somewhat accidental property venture in Pattaya has over 25 years evolved into a deep personal journey of endurance, reconciliation, and building something genuine, lasting, and meaningful.
Act 1: The Rise of Nordic Group
1999-2007: Building a Scandinavian Community in Pattaya
In the late 1990s, Karl Fred "Kalle" Kristensen moved to Thailand and took over the Nordic Garden Hotel & Restaurant in Pattaya. Around him, a close-knit Scandinavian community quickly formed. By the early 2000s, Kalle expanded into property development, establishing the Nordic Group. Over the next few years, 17 low-rise and mid-rise projects comprising around 500 individual units were constructed.
In 2005, Kalle’s son, Tom, arrived in Thailand to visit. What started as a brief stay turned into full involvement as Tom stepped in to manage customer services and the operational side of a rapidly growing business.
Act 2: When the Bubble Burst
2008-2011: The Collapse & The Storm
Behind the impressive growth lay a fragile foundation. A lack of financial controls, complex ownership structures, overly rapid expansion, and the 2008 global financial crisis caused the Nordic system to collapse.
Kalle relocated to Chiang Rai under extreme media pressure and threats, while Tom stayed behind in Pattaya to manage the cleanup. The years between 2008 and 2011 were defined by intense conflict: court cases, angry investors, tax investigations, and damaged relationships—including a deep and difficult rift between father and son.
By 2011, Tom was exhausted, bitter, and trapped in a mindset of "me against the world."
Act 3: The Turning Point & The Thai Forest Tradition
2011-2012: From Conflict to Understanding
Seeking meaning and clarity, Tom set out on a road trip across Thailand. This journey led him to his future wife Rachanee, trusted Thai mentors, and ultimately to Wat Pah Nanachat—the International Forest Monastery in Ubon Ratchathani.
Through his encounter with the Thai Forest Tradition, Dhamma teachings, meditation, and self-reflection, a fundamental shift occurred. The focus moved away from wounded feelings and ego toward understanding, honesty, and empathy:
Understanding Kalle instead of blaming him for everything that went wrong.
Understanding the investors instead of fearing and fighting them.
Understanding the customers instead of playing the misunderstood hero.
Through years of patient, transparent work driven by this new focus, legal ownership for every single customer was secured, all court cases were withdrawn or amicably resolved, and most importantly: the relationship between father and son was fully restored.
Act 4: Reconciliation Through Endurance & The 1,000 km Journeys
2012-2018: Movement as Medicine
Kalle has always been a fitness enthusiast—a lifelong "training junkie." When the world collapsed around him, physical training became his anchor to stay sane through the madness. As father and son reconciled, movement and endurance became the very bridge that re-connected them.
The 1,000 km Rollerski Journey: In a powerful display of resilience, Kalle and a friend picked up rollerskis and skied 1,000 kilometers from his refuge in Chiang Rai all the way back to Pattaya—literally rolling back to face the origin of the crisis.
1,000 km by Kayak on the Mekong River: A few years later, Kalle and Tom set out on a joint expedition, paddling a small inflatable kayak 1,000 kilometers down the mighty Mekong River from Loei to Ubon Ratchathani.
These journeys were far more than physical feats; they were symbolic voyages to process the past, shake off old baggage, and forge a bond between father and son stronger than ever before.
Act 5: The Rollerski Adventure in Chumphon
2015-2020: From Youth Coaching Mission to Equipment Import
In 2015, Kalle moved to Chumphon. Here, he discovered a new passion: coaching local Thai youth on rollerskis. This was where the broader rollerski initiative took off. Kalle invested immense time and personal funds to get young Thais onto skis and kickstart the sport. He gathered used equipment from friends and contacts in Norway and purchased large quantities of new gear so everyone could have skis under their feet and poles in their hands.
The commitment paid off—the sport grew rapidly. Athletes from new provinces traveled to Chumphon to train, and Kalle toured Thailand conducting camps and training local coaches.
Eventually, the movement became so large that establishing a small import operation was necessary to secure quality equipment. Even then, steep discounts were continuously granted to promote the sport across Thailand. Today, our rollerski shop operates with a bit more structure, but it remains fundamentally a labor of love, a health mission, and a genuine community contribution rather than a purely commercial business.
Act 6: The Chumphon Property Project
2016-2020: New Challenges & A New Approach to Collaboration
Parallel to the rollerski growth in Chumphon, Kalle threw himself back into property development. Once again, things moved quickly with major investment commitments to landowners, new investors, and large promises.
The difference this time was that Tom understood his role far better than during the Pattaya crisis. Working pragmatically together, father and son acted to prevent another debt collapse. Ultimately, the solution was to form a strategic partnership with a major investor who possessed the resources required to develop and steer the project safely out of danger.
While the development did not end exactly as Kalle had originally envisioned, the project reached financial balance. Both were less stubborn than in the past and willing to compromise. Most importantly: the partnership and solidarity between father and son stood firm throughout the entire process.
Act 7: Thailand Tour de Ski & Ski Marathon
The Future: The Dream of Long-Distance Skiing in Thailand
Kalle's tireless dedication to endurance training, rollerskiing, and long-distance events (having been an avid marathon runner in his younger years) birthed a clear vision: Thailand must have its own long-distance rollerski race—on par with international classics like Vasaloppet, Birkebeinerrennet, and Marcialonga.
For two full years, Kalle persistently pursued cross-country legend Anders Aukland. That persistence paid off: Anders visited Thailand and was immediately bit by the rollerski bug and local enthusiasm.
Together, we are now working toward establishing the first official Thailand Ski Marathon. The first step on this path is inviting international pioneers and enthusiasts to participate in the Thailand Tour de Ski—marking the beginning of a new chapter for ski sports in Southeast Asia.
Act 8: The Table Project
Care – Fair – Share
The lesson from 25 years of highs, crashes, and cleanups is crystal clear: short-term hype, big egos, and empty promises do not stand the test of time. Real value is created through physical activity, complete transparency, legal integrity, and taking genuine responsibility for the people around you.
Today, SiamNordic operates according to three core principles:
Care: Taking direct, practical responsibility for our family, elders, and surrounding environment by constructing safe, ergonomic, and peaceful spaces.
Fair: Operating with total transparency, honesty, and legal integrity across all relationships.
Share: Creating an informal community where individual interests take a back seat, and homes, equipment, labor, and ideas are shared for the benefit of all.
"The Table Project" is the physical manifestation of this 25-year journey. There, we are building first and foremost a secure and dignified home for Kalle—complete with tailored infrastructure, training setups, and tranquility—designed to stand open as a peaceful haven for friends, retirees, and anyone seeking a meaningful, simple, and active life in quiet surroundings.