Hold Fast X (HFX)
Why “Hold Fast”?
The phrase goes way back. Inked on the knuckles of sailors who worked the lines in heavy seas. It was a reminder to hang on. To stay steady when things got rough.
That same mindset drives HoldFastX.
| Concept | Presenting seafarer culture with grit and relevance. Launched 2025 |
|---|---|
| Ambassador | Li Karlsén |
| Mentors | Li Karlsén Jill Heinerth Christa Funk Tha Maclean Brothers Ella Hibbert Seas the Day Ocean Rowing |
| Website | www.holdfastx.org |
Li Karlsén world record, freediving under Greenland ice. Photographer: Alexander Dawson
The art of living life fully.
The HFX Masterclass is an interdisciplinary learning program that helps people strengthen life skills. Learning directly from; ocean adventurers, explorers, and record-holding athletes.
Through short lessons, practical exercises, and powerful storytelling, participants discover how to apply the same life-changing skills that keep freedivers calm under ice and rowers steady through storms. Skills that increase life quality and help people live more fully.
The concept combines research from neuroscience and psychology with insights from exploration, sports, and real-world endurance. It bridges science and experience to teach how small, consistent habits build lasting strength and clarity.
Learning from mentors such as Li Karlsén (world record freediver under ice), Jill Heinerth (cave diving pioneer), Christa Funk (pipeline photographer), and The Maclean Brothers (world record ocean rowers), Ella Hibbert (Solo-sailor in high latitutes) and Seas the Day (world record ocean rowers). Participants gain an inside look at how to sustain focus, optimism, and courage through pressure and change.
The program is structured around five key pillars proven to improve wellbeing and resilience:
1️⃣ Optimism: Training the mind to see possibilities.
2️⃣ Purpose: Connecting actions to deeper values.
3️⃣ Support: Building trust and belonging.
4️⃣ Mastery: Experiencing progress through practice.
5️⃣ Resilience: Adapting and recovering when things shift.
Expected outcomes:
Improved mental strength and emotional balance.
A stronger sense of meaning and direction.
Increased life quality and everyday wellbeing.
Tools to sustain focus and purpose under pressure.
Format:
The HFX Masterclass is delivered through short digital modules, pop-up events, and workshops. Designed to be accessible, inspiring, and adaptable across schools, teams, and organizations. It offers practical tools and real stories for anyone who wants to live with more purpose, strength, and depth.