Photo: Elias Koli @eliaskoliphotography
Rider Spotlight: Iina Kurunsaari
Pyhä’s friend and rider: Iina Kurunsaari
Age: 22
Ride: snowboard (goofy)
Tell us about your background in skiing and snowboarding?
I was on skis for the first time when I was four years old, and I first tried snowboarding at the age of six. Soon after that the skis were left behind and the snowboard became my number one thing. Until I was 16, I mostly practiced downhill sports during holidays and sometimes on weekends. Then I moved to Kittilä to study winter sports at Levi Snow Sport Academy alongside high school. Since then, skiing and snowboarding have been part of my everyday life, and nowadays snowboarding pretty much defines my daily routine, lifestyle and where I live (in winter it’s of course Pyhä <3). Snowboarding has also become a goal-oriented pursuit for me, and my aim is to compete in the FWT Challenger competitions.
How did you end up freeriding, and what attracts you to the sport?
I got into freeriding during high school because many of my friends were into it. My first actual freeride experience was at 17 when a friend took me skinning. My first freeride competition was in 2022 at Pyhä during Free'kend (shadow event), almost exactly a year after I had tried freeriding for the first time. What attracts me to freeriding is of course the soft powder snow and the feeling you get after climbing a mountain or fell yourself – it’s indescribable and I think everyone should experience it. These days, the adrenaline from competitions and the feeling of pushing your own limits is also something that really hooks me.
Who or what has inspired you the most as a rider?
The rider who has inspired me the most is Joona Alaverronen. Joona inspires me because I’ve seen for a long time the work he puts in and the passion he has for freeriding and skiing. Joona rides purely for himself, which is why his riding looks so stylish and effortless. I think he has a unique style and he makes it look easy even when he’s riding in extremely challenging terrain. Joona is also very persistent and has an incredible drive to keep improving, and I think that energy spreads to the people around him. He’s also been someone who has supported and encouraged me enormously since the beginning of my skiing journey. Whenever we ride together, I feel like Joona constantly pushes me forward. He’s also annoyingly talented in pretty much every downhill sport.
What has this winter looked like and what’s still ahead this spring?
This winter has been incredibly snowy and cold as well. Early in the season I rode in Pyhä and explored the new freeride areas. Joona and I spent a lot of time riding together and training outside the slopes too. In February we headed to Switzerland and the competition season in the Alps. I’ve competed in four different events here, as one was cancelled due to a high avalanche risk – so there’s been plenty of snow here as well. Daily life here revolves around riding at different resorts and practicing drops (that’s been my main development focus this season). After the Alps I’ll return home to Pyhä for the end of the season, and there are still two competitions left: one in Narvik and the season finale at SBMC in Riksgränsen.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned or realized in freeriding?
The biggest thing I’ve learned in freeriding is probably how much your riding partners affect the quality of what you do, and that you can never be too careful. Talking openly with your riding partners about how you feel while climbing and when planning routes is extremely important.
Finally, name your favorite run or line in Pyhä?
My favorite run in Pyhä is probably in the Honka or Huttu area. On the slopes, I probably ride the FIS run the most.
