The snowmobile lured the boys

- Let's be honest. It's the snowmobile and not me that's causing a stir, is the recognition of Inutsiaq Lynge, who is halfway through his training as a snowmobile mechanic.

Inutsiaq was part of the delegation from the Greenlandic vocational education and training programs that last week took part in the Skills Championship in Hjørring.

Skills is a competition for young people in vocational education and training programs, where they compete to be the best in their field of expertise – cook, carpenter, mechanic and so on, in a total of 49 different subjects. The Greenlandic students were not part of the competition, but had gone to Hjørring to sniff out the environment and at the same time advertise Greenland and the Greenlandic education programs.

The competition is part of the Danish vocational education and training program's student guidance – and the event attracted more than 50,000 guests over the three days. Especially young people who are about to choose an education.

And it was here that Inutsiaq and the Arctic Cat snowmobile attracted a lot of attention.

A man's thing

- There are many people who are considering becoming mechanics and are interested in mechanics. It is clearly a man's thing in Denmark. The boys and men couldn't handle the snowmobile at all. Because few people have seen one like this in Denmark, says Inutsiaq Lynge.

- So they had to sit on it for a selfie. They also had to hear the engine start – and they were very interested in hearing how to repair the snowmobile out in the mountains in snow and frost. Everyone was friendly and curious – but there were a few who stated that it was far outside their comfort zone.

- There were also some who were a bit surprised by how much snowmobiling means in Greenland. They had never imagined that there were snowmobiling clubs. I am a member of Qamutit myself. They also thought it sounded exciting – especially when I told about the club's safety work and how we prepare our trips before we leave, says Inutsiaq Lynge.

Entrepreneur causes a stir

Another popular feature on Skills was Ulloriaq Kreutzmann, a carpenter and entrepreneur with both a carpentry business and a company that produces dog food.

- The many guests had not come to Hjørring to hear about Greenland, so many of those I spoke to were unprepared and knew very little about the Greenlandic business community, says Ulloriaq Kreutzmann.

- They probably had a feeling that it would be something to do with fish. Most also knew that there are many craft businesses, but it surprised many that most of the businesses today are Greenlandic – and that there is an active entrepreneurial environment in Greenland.

Great media interest

- So I talked about it a lot – and I was also on both the radio and television to talk about it, says Ulloriaq Kreutzmann.

- It was also clear that it gathered a large audience when I talked about it from the stage.

- Afterwards, people were asked a few questions. They were very curious – and most of them patted me on the back and said that they thought it was really cool to start your own business in Greenland.

- I am of course happy about that, because that is my nature – and I would probably start for myself, no matter where in the world I am, emphasizes Ulloriaq Kreutzmann.

Taste samples and seal flaying

The Greenlandic stand showed a wide spectrum of Greenlandic vocational education. In addition to the education at KTI in Nuuk and Sisimiut, Inuili participated, offering taste samples of reindeer – and then there was seal flaying and Inuit games in front of the exhibition tent all three days. Kayaks were also built, and information was provided about the education as a national costume seamstress. Finally, Tusass also participated.

The major event in Hjørring was financed with 500,000 kroner from the Ministry of Education in Naalakkersuisut. In addition, there was support from the business community – including Greenland Business and the local branch in Sisimiut.

- With Greenland Business's contribution, we want to help support new local talents. It is important to us that we work for a talented next generation of craftsmen who will ensure that Greenland's business community can continue to develop strongly, says Maannguaq Philip Lauritzen, chairman of Greenland Business's local branch in Sisimiut.

- Greenland Business sees participation in Skills 2026 as an important step in the work of strengthening the attractiveness of vocational education, promoting the recruitment of skilled labor and increasing awareness of Greenlandic crafts and business, both in Greenland and internationally.

10,999 visitors

All the practical work in connection with the construction of the stand was in the hands of the Uagut association.

When it was all over, the association's project manager Lisa Bundgaard Jensen was both proud and very satisfied with the three days.

- The young people have done so well – and I am so proud. We have achieved our goal of showing a different side of Greenland both in Hjørring and in the Danish media. We have received mention in many places – and it has been positive mention because the young people have done well, says Lisa Bundgaard Jensen.

- I don't have any figures for how many people visited the stand, but we have spoken to the other exhibitors and have concluded that out of the 50,000 guests, at least one-fifth have been in the tent where we were - so a conservative guess is that there have been 5-10,000 visitors to the stand over the three days, says the project manager.