The second season of Ettala, Sorsa and Heiskari’s internet bromance wraps up with some end-of-season bangers in Finland. Check it…

For the last CWG of this season, Eero, Heikki and Lauri hit some kickers and jibs in Ukkohalla before dropping in on the mother of all snowboard ‘contests’ – Wappulounas.

Make sure you check the previous episodes here.

[Words: Tuukka Tams]

As usual, Wappulounas was absolute madness. Three days of snowboarding on weird obstacles and partying all night long like the past 15 years, that’s what it’s all about. The best Finnish riders such as Roope Tonteri, Eero Ettala, Heikki Sorsa and Antti Autti gathered at Ruka to end the season, and this is what happened.

Chef’s Team Special – The Best a Man Can Get

Wappulounas 2013 presented by DC was set to go in the conditions that could not have been better. The halfpipe at Ruka itself is a piece of art, but to Wappulounas it was reshaped. There were two bowls, hips in ’n’ out and other obstacles were just here and there as the team challenge was about to start.

The teams did what they were expected – they killed it. Teams consisted of three riders were showing off with not just by their riding but also with their outfits. B-maajoukkue (Joel Lahti, Saku Tiilikainen and Hans Kestilä) were dressed like those jackass patriots, Lapinpolthajat (Antti Autti, Tuukka Tams and Jari Salo) hit the jumps like true Lappish people, Cooking With Gas (Eero Ettala, Heikki Sorsa and Lauri Heiskari) were cooking the whole playground and there were a bunch of others too who got the crowd smiling. Special cheers go to Joel Ahola who was riding like maniac with his 20+ years old Burton Air and to Meri Peltonen and her comeback. Congrats to everyone!

But there were two teams that were above others. In men American Horse Show (Tero Poikajärvi, Tuomas Alapieti and Jeppe Rontti) were going faster and further than everyone else. Their tricks were insane! In women the best was Battery Sisters (Kristiina Nisula, Merika Enne and Vilina Koivisto). They were flipping and spinning like true masters. Yet there were other masters at the hill, too. Riku-Matti Jurmu and Jyri Keskiaho (caamos.fi) did an amazing skidoo show by jumping over the whole halfpipe. You should’ve seen the faces from the crowd…

With a huge amount of lines straight from Napoli Wappulounas got a man from The Dudesons, HP, to be one of the judges. This is what he had to say about the first day and how to head to the overall victory and Asenne surf trip–that’s what the winner gets: – “Although riding at Wappulounas is important, if you want to be the champion, it’s necessary to represent at every stage – wheter it was afterski, nightlife or the morning after. Especially having fun is most important, because you can’t come to Wappulounas to win–you come to enjoy. If it ends up with winning a trip to Indonesia that is just bonus.” Wise words, my friend.

Chef’s Recommendation Powered by Battery – There’s Something In It

And Wappulounas continued, and with good vibes as usual. Chef’s Recommendation went through in a great weather, and bands such as J. Kiesi Grandes and Jam-A-Holics weren’t a weight in rider’s legs. The playground from last day was on fire. Two different stages served two sessions. The day consisted great riding combined with impressive usage of the playground. Riders were pushing it to the limits, but yet the joy was truly touchable.

In men the best rider was Jeppe Rontti, who was in the winning team the other day. He found lines no one else did, and his tricks were beyond. In women the best was Merika Enne, from the winning team also. She was pushing it with rock ’n’ roll attitude throughout day and bigger than anyone else. Yet other riders were also awarded. Antti Autti was Mr Old School with his great lines and deep tweaks, but young guns were killing it, too. This time Ville Mustonen was awarded as Best Rookie, but there were also bunch of others. Ville wasn’t shy at all riding with the big boys–he was going huge!

Of Chef’s Recommendation HP had this to say: “Wappulounas day two was personal overshoot from the beginning–actually from the night before. But what was really warming my heart was seeing old masters like Antti Autti and Risto Mattila showing to younger dudes how to pull it–fast as shit day and night!”

Oskari Heikkinen & Arktinen Voodoo pulled an awesome show at the terrace and at the nightclub Piste with Jätkäjätkät, where people eventually ended after numerous before-parties. About the best of them one must be mentioned. DJ Chili hosted an incredible party at one hotel room with quite thirsty crowd: over 800 cans of refreshments were enjoyed at their party. There must’ve been couple of people partying there!

DC Knockout Jam – And the Winner Goes to Bali

Countless days of partying wasn’t showing at the riding as D Knockout Jam forced riders to do their best. Tight course made them truly thinking about their runs–and that’s what they really did. As knockouts went face-to-face it was off the hook. For example Lasse Ihalainen, Antti Komulainen and Antti Autti were riding better than well. Few scary moments were also seen as the course ended up riders upside down and never back.

Eventually it was Joel Lahti and only 13-year-old Rene Rinnekangas who made to the final, and it was Joel aka DJ Chili who ended up being number one. But yet Rene didn’t let Joel win easily. He’ll be one you’re about to hear a lot! In women Kristiina Nisula and Sanna Niilola were against each other in the final with Kristiina taking the victory.

Only one thing was left to do at Wappulounas 2013 Presented by DC: to announce the overall winners. In rookies it was Rene who made to the top, and it was a victory well deserved. Can you even imagine any other event where young gun like Rene and nearly two decades older Miikka Hast would be against each other like they were on knockout – and Rene taking a tight win. That’s what it’s all about! In women Merika Enne was riding bigger and better than the others all event, so it was no wonder she was the overall champion.

In men the overall victory and Asenne surf trip was won by Jeppe Rontti. He represented the whole event with a great spirit, helped out younger riders and of course rode like maniac! Way to go Jeppe, congratulations!

“The level of riding was amazing and creative. It was positive to see that the same spirit Wappulounas has lives on,” said head judge Timo Lahti. And that’s just damn right: Wappulounas has a spirit you can’t find anywhere else. It’s the soul of snowboarding that’s beating.

To the very end Wappulounas Houseband called The Rautavas (with musicians from J. Kiesi Grandes, Relentless and Highway Burns) pulled an amazing gig at the afterski. With a set list constisted hits like Gangnam Style and reading SMS’s you can’t go wrong. And of course, there was a night party, too, with Karri Koira & Ruudolf making people to part-ee. It was a great way to end Wappulounas that is the best a man–and a woman–can get.

RESULTS

Chef’s Team Special, men:
American Horse Show (Tero Poikajärvi, Tuomas Alapieti and Jeppe Rontti)
Chef’s Team Special, women:
Battery Sisters (Kristiina Nisula, Merika Enne and Vilina Koivisto)
Playground Line Master: Jeppe Rontti
Playground Line Mistress: Merika Enne
Beauty & Style: Merika Enne
Mr. Old School: Antti Autti
Comeback Kid: Juho Manninen
Best Rookie: Ville Mustonen
DC Knock-out Jam, men: 1. Joel Lahti
2. Rene Rinnekangas
DC Knock-out Jam, women: 1. Kristiina Nisula
2. Sanna Niilola
Overall winner, men: Jeppe Rontti
Overall winner, women: Merika Enne
Overall winner, rookies: Rene Rinnekangas

Onboard Magazine endorses this Finnish shred mayhem. Should you be anywhere close to Ruka – and in fact, even if you aren’t – attend this event. It’s going to be an unforgettable trip…

Welcome to Wappulounas!

Wappulounas presented by DC Shoes brings the amazing snowboarding season to the end in Ruka, Finland at April 28th–30th. The most famous Finnish snowboard event gathers the best riders and everyone into great vibes to end the season with amazing and unique riding and unforgettable parties.

Three tense days of jam sessions in weird obstacles that you can only see at Wappulounas and parties with high-class bands and DJ’s under the warm sun of Finnish spring: that’s what Wappulounas is made of. With over 15 years of celebrated snowboard events, it has been awarded thrice as Riders Choice Event of the Year. There have been dozens of world-class riders such as Eero Ettala, Heikki Sorsa, Scotty Lago, Roope Tonteri and Antti Autti, who says: “It’s just the best event Finland has to offer. I recommend it to everyone, no matter of your age or riding skills!”

We're not sure what's going on there, and they don't seem to be, either...

It’s hard to imagine a Finnish event without good parties–and why should one? This year amazing bands like The Irrationals, No Smoking Team, 60100 Soundsystem, Relentless, DJ Miky Mau and The Capital Beat host the wild after-parties at Piste. There’s something unique also at Wappulounas after-skis, where 2–7 Miehen Trio keeps the dances on, and there might be some surprises too. Those of you who have been partying with Finns, you know what to expect when things go wild–those are to parties to remember!

"Spring is the best time of our lives, and Wappulounas is the best thing spring has to offer."

Spring is the best time of our lives, and Wappulounas is the best thing spring has to offer. You don’t want to miss this!

More information and vibes from recent years with photos and videos:

www.wappulounas.com

Follow us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/298211536875705/

Take it all in... it's a unique thing this Wappulounas.

Antti Autti’s been a busy man on the video front lately, and following on from his highlights of his Antti’s World Cup he’s just dropped the edit from the ‘best event in Finland and probably in the world!’ – Wappulounas.

If you’ve never heard of Wappulounas, it’s the traditional end-of-season gathering of the whole Finnish snowboard scene in Ruka, where the crew shape up a fun bunch of shred terrain and they hold a contest that’s seemingly about who can manage to ride best with several gallons of booze still in their gut from the night before. If you know Finnish people, you’ll know this is no obstacle to throwing down the hammers and so in what could be loosely called a contest – really it’s more about seeing out the season in style with buddies - Antti, Joel Lahti, Miikka Hast,  Janne Lipsanen and way more of Finland’s finest send it in the awesome setup.

Each May 1st for what seems like ever, anyone who’s anyone and even a bunch of people who aren’t descend on Wappulounas (currently located in Ruka) for a long weekend of shredboozing. No idea what took them so long to get the edit together, but we’re claiming it was something to do with copious amounts of alcohol and lost memories.

WWW.WAPPULOUNAS.COM

Where: Ruka, Finland

Tetanus: Untimely outbreak.

Check on their website and you will read this: “For sure and no bullshit, Wappulounas is the coolest event ever! Good vibes from morning to evening and impressive riding. It’s the best Finnish snowboard event I’ve ever been to. – Eero Ettala“. Apparently the event in Ruka/Finland is THAT good. Well, our budg… pardon: schedule did not allow for a first-hand experience this time, but we received this quirky report alongside some interesting pictures. This should be enough to keep you entertained for the next five minutes. Read on, dear visitor!

Another great Wappulounas has been completed and partied to the end. Three days of awesome riding and unforgettable parties are over, and tired yet happy riders are now waiting for the next year. In sunshine, pouring rain and everything in between we saw great emotions and enjoyable riding by thousands of partygoers.

Wappulounas did not even shy away from the Finnish version of the Arc de Triomphe.

Contests were held in some unique formats. The hip sessions had a basic backside hip and a gap to the top of the hip and down, “D.O.N.K.E.Y.” was held on the “W” which was a W-letter-shaped feature with lots of lines here and there,
and the “Knockout” was a double slopestyle with small features close to one another where riders were riding together on the slope. Every day was filled with amazing and fun riding from double corks to fully tweaked methods.

Overall winner was Joel Lahti who showed everyone what Wappulounas is all about: having fun and riding hard! He was wearing leopard patterned pants and a cowboy hat all day every day, and yet he was killing it. He won a surf trip to Bali by A Senne and a brand new Rip Curl surfboard. More glory for one household as Joel’s girlfriend Hanna Laukkanen won the women’s overall ranking. The special award for the spirit of Wappulounas went to Joonas Mustonen and his mustache.

Joel Lahti with a sloppy strapping-in technique.

Every evening and night was full of huge parties with live-music from after-ski to nightclub. Everyone was enjoying themselves and having a blast – and you know how it’s done in Finland!

For over ten years Wappulounas has gathered riders to celebrate the end of the season and do some partying. It’s the longest lasting Finnish snowboarding happening, and Wappulounas 2010 was definitely one of the best: riding was incredible, parties were awesome, lots of people gathered there and everyone had a good time. The crew wants to thank everyone for being there – see you next year!

One of the live acts.

Results

Hipsessions
Men: 1. Sami Luhtanen 2. Joonas Mustonen 3. Antti Seppälä
Women: 1. Hanna Laukkanen

D.O.N.K.E.Y.
Men: 1. Saku Tiilikainen 2. Roope Tonteri 3. Joel Lahti
Women: 1. Heidi Latola

Knockout
Men: 1. Antti Autti 2. Roope Tonteri 3. Janne Lipsanen
Women: 1. Saana Pehkonen 2. Senni Hyyppä

Overall men: Joel Lahti
Overall women: Hanna Laukkanen

The Spirit of Wappulounas Award: Joonas Mustonen

More videos and photos on www.wappulounas.com.

Ruka, Finland
April 29th to May 1st 2010

It’s only a week to the legendary Finnish snowboard-happening Wappulounas. The season wrap-up is ready for the riders, and the schedule is now published.

The competition will be held on Hip Sessions, Battery BagJump; D.O.N.K.E.Y., and Rip Curl Knockout Jam. As usual, it will be kept as a secret what they include, but sick obstacles are guaranteed. The competition will be fun yet tough as winner of the overall goes to Bali with A Senne surf camp and a brand new Rip Curl surfboard. To Ruka are coming such familiar names as Peetu Piiroinen, Antti Autti, Matti Kinnunen, Miikka Hast, Markku Koski and many others so it will a party to remember!

Wappulounas is the oldest snowboarding event in Finland with a history nof more than ten years of closing season with partying. It started as a small get-together party, and now it’s at Ruka with hundreds of riders, including nearly every Finnish professional rider.

If you like snowboarding and beer, get yourself here.

For more information and the whole schedule go to: www.wappulounas.com