[ad_1]
Finland is a novel place. To virgin eyes, it most likely looks as if some other Scandinavian-ish nation (everybody’s largely blonde and good wanting), however upon staying there for over per week, you began to select up on the nuances. The apparent one is how shut Finland is to Russia and Estonia, giving it a slight Baltic affect that the Swedes and Norwegians shouldn’t have. You may take a two-hour boat and hop on over to Estonia at any level from Helsinki, which is like going from the USA over the border to Mexico — a bit cheaper and extra wild west.
However what have been we doing in Helsinki precisely? Nicely, we have been there to take a look at the Helsinki HELride and Koff Race. HELride is type of a extra underground CPH Professional, the place the competition organizers arrange obstacles at avenue spots downtown and everybody skates them for money whereas the gang cheers on for blood like a gladiator battle. The Koff Race is organized by locals and consists of a hill bomb and rail over a pond. Yeah, the one you noticed on IG the place the man broke his nuts.
Saunas are HUGE over there. What I’ve been advised is the winters are so arduous to get via (as a result of there’s so little daylight within the winter) that saunas are a approach to maintain heat and stimulate endorphins to get you thru the tougher months the place persons are susceptible to melancholy. If I have been to re-design their flag, it will simply be a few stripes and an overview of a sauna and a beer subsequent to it.
One night time we went to Sompasauna, which is a DIY sauna run by the local people and open 24/7. I headed there tipsy at round 1AM on a Monday, undecided what to anticipate and positive sufficient, there have been a dozen individuals there, bare, consuming beers and singing songs on the piano in between sauna classes. It was unimaginable. Not a cellphone in sight, simply pure primal forest dwelling shit. Seemed like a new-age swingers conference.
In Finnish, “Pussi” means package deal, and “Mega” means, properly.. mega. Parts are comparatively average in Finland however When you’re capable of finding large luggage of chips within the grocery retailer, they make sure that to let you realize you discovered the most important model of them with “Mega Pussi” proudly written throughout the packaging.
When you’re a sucker for blonde hair, pale pores and skin, and icy blue eyes, you’ll absolutely be overwhelmed in Finland. Everybody’s lovely, and also you’re going to see modelesque cops, McDonald’s staff, handymen, and extra in different non-glamorous jobs. I’m wondering in the event that they know they might be fashions in America in the event that they needed to.
For a comparatively small inhabitants, Finland produces some fairly versatile skaters which have worldwide recognition. Arto is the grandfather of all of it, however Marius Syvanen as you realize has made waves in skating during the last 20 years. There’s additionally Jaakko, Eetu, Eniz Fazliov and Lizzi Armanto. We did options with 3 out of 5 of those individuals. Be at liberty to guess which and if right, we’ll Venmo you $1. (You’re gonna have to depart your Venmo deal with within the feedback although)
We’re fortunate we got here this yr as a result of I can solely foresee this occasion getting increasingly more blown up till it simply looks like one other week extension of CPH Open. That’s not a foul factor, however we do really feel honored (and I imply that) to have been invited and are available earlier than Thrasher and everybody travels from afar and makes it one other main media cease.
I’ve been on a handful of journeys with Marius [Syvanen] and one thing that all the time stands out to me about him is he all the time makes you’re feeling included and a part of the crew. I’ve met different professional skaters who simply suppose you’re there to movie them and care much less about what you do, the place you’re from, or what your title is. Marius really stimulates dialog, it’s not only a one-way avenue about them. I assume these different guys may have a impolite awakening as soon as their careers finish they usually understand the earth doesn’t rotate across the skateboard business.
You don’t must be “within the business” or need to know somebody to expertise this shit. All you want is an airplane ticket, and also you’ll be welcomed in open arms with high-caliber skating, pleasant smiles, and a brand new group of buddies. It’s like summer season camp, you could be just a little nervous at first however by the top of the weekend you realize all of the locals and everybody already is aware of who you made out with.
In America, it’s a must to have a beard and a full sleeve of tattoos to get any DIY builder cred, however in Helsinki, there have been two lanky-looking lads forging the scene. Solely 18 and 19 years previous, the 2 youngsters began making their very own concrete ramps throughout Covid, proudly out of stolen “discovered” additional concrete. Their creations should not good, which is oddly refreshing among the many good skateparks out there all through the capital. Who knew in the event you had it that good you’d simply need to skate some rubbish each every so often.
Finland has additionally produced some notable acts which can be price mentioning. HIM, Bomfunk MCs, and Darude are just some that blew up internationally. HIM is the band Bam Margera obtained a tattoo of above his dick, Bomfunk MCs have that one “Fr-fr-freestyler song” (you realize the one), and Darude made “Sandstorm”, which is like the unique Rickroll. Not dangerous. The steps you see right here within the background are literally within the “Sandstorm” music video, which suggests this contest is routinely the second most enjoyable factor to occur right here.
The spotlight of this journey was absolutely the Japanese game show looking death trap. It was actually harmful and solely a handful of skaters from the occasion even dared to skate it. It shortly devolved into a mixture of a slip-n-slide, jackass nut pictures, and just a few extremely expert rail pinch practitioners ever made it to the opposite facet. Pat Duffy, being one in every of them, getting a 50-50 throughout and a smith grind soaking moist. To not point out he’s the identical age as your dad.
True story, on the flight our filmer Greg obtained bumped as much as enterprise class, I assume due to some overbooking or no matter. He obtained sat subsequent to 2 ladies who have been partying arduous, ordering beer and pictures your entire time, clearly seeking to get together. All of them struck up a convo and one in every of them stored mentioning how remarkably comfortable and sizable the enterprise class rest room was. Nothing occurred, and Greg has a associate, however that’s simply the way it goes. Whenever you obtained it, you’re simply given extra.
[ad_2]
Source link
