1.) Lets hear it straight from Jari. Introduce yourself. When did you start and why freestyle?
Hi my name is Jari. I was born 1985 and live in Lahti Finland. I started skating in early summer 2001 when i was finishing junior high school. I saw other kids skating in neighborhood and some of my classmates got skateboards so i decided to buy a skateboard too. My brother discovered freestyle at somewhere from online and he printed bunch of tricktips for me. Not sure if i remember right but my first freestyle tricks was learned from Bob's trick tips, Yoyo and Lillis. 50/50 fingerflip at the barn was really my first stationary freestyle trick that got me stoked. Later I guess learned Pineappleflip, but was intend to do M-80 kickflip. I ended up land a sort of pressureflip. Anyways I was stoked again. Third and final trick that made me want just skate freestyle was the Butterflip. It was early autumn 2002 after the schoolday, I decide want to learn that trick. I discovered it from one of books in library. Again trick went a bit different than in books. I landed it with both feet on truck and holded it with both hands. I was happy could do trick that i never believe was possible. Winter came and i had no place to skate but our garage. There i learned most of my tricks. Fingerflips, railflips, no hand 5050 and Casper. Did all stationary, because there was such a small area to roll and I skated on piece of cardboard. Next spring it was time to bring tricks i've learned in our garage to home street and started do fingerflips and kickflips rolling. Also I saw the Casper video and watched footage from Tommy Harward on his website where i got most influence for skating and new freestyle tricks. Old F-forum on internet was place where i got knew freestylers world-wide and heard about freestyle skateboarding events.
2.) Most newbies know you these days from your short practice videos on Facebook and Youtube. I know you from the 'Frogman' video 15 years ago. This was one of my favorite videos from that era. You had some impressive and strong tricks. Tell us more about how often you skate back then compared to now. What's the difference between young and older Jari.
I used to skate couple hours a day after studies and on holidays I skated like everyday. Today i skate three or six times a week. Back in the day I kept diary of what I've learned and what was good about the day. Writing things down helped a lot. I use this method when travel. Also do some videovlogs that my brother edit and upload on youtube. What comes to skatetricks I even learned couple of new tricks in older age. Carousel I really like that trick. I remember practice trick in 2007, but landed my first Carousel two year ago after my comeback 2020. There has not much changed when I was 18 than what now at age 37. Excluding I had several miserable years that was wasted for alcohol and drugs. While trying to find happiness I was struggling through years and felt really bad. That point when i was giving up, I met my wife. It's been seven years since first met and we went married recently. I never was planned marriage, but it felt right path for both of us. I am also absolute no for alcohol, tobacco and drugs these days.
3.) What is the skate scene like in Finland and are there any challenges skating over there. I know it can get extremely snowy with below freezing temperatures.
We have few skaters who skate freestyle in Finland, but it is not quite popular here at youth, yet. In next two years we might see some finnish skaters in Euro Freestyle competition too. Most of time I skate alone. Keeping freestyle as a sport for me. Contest run practice, routines and been recently uploading short videos on youtube and instagram. I am happy when can catch up and skate with other skaters. Freestyle contest like Euro Freestyle are great opportunity to meet freestylers. Winter is challenging indeed. Winter I skate two times a week over weekends only. Because people work close to railwaystation tunnel where I've been skating four winters in a row. Minus 15 Celsius is minimum temperature that I am willing to skate, but no longer than an one hour.
4.) You left for the military for a period of time. How long were you gone, did you skate while you were gone and if no, was the transition back into skating easy?
I left Military for six months after I was graduated from baker-confectioner school. I skated with my brother during weekend off from military service. I got little pause in winter time and then practiced a lot for Paderborn contest 2006. Made it 4th place in pro's. I met Mario Steinemann in Schweinfurt while we were visiting at Bernhard's house and he did recommendation to ask sponsor from Chaos Bros. I emailed John Leathers soon when i got back home. John took me to team and I skated for Chaos Bros two summers. Rest in Peace John! 2008 I got internship from a local bar and did got more excited about drinking than serving alcohol. Life was falling apart. Even i got full time job from bakery after that and paid my quickie loans. I was able to work two years and I got fired. I've had long hiatus from skateboarding like eight years or something. All i did was drink, steal, rehab, drugs and prison. I am not happy about these choices made. It is past and I've been sober four years now. I did comeback 2018 and started skating again so i believe much have changed in a good way. Freestyle scene is getting bigger and happy to see new faces out there doing freestyle. Yeah it is just great to be back!
5.) Tell us about your skate equipment today. What do you look for for your perfect setup and do you modify your setup in anyway for your tricks.
I ride for Never Enough skateshop from Germany. Last year I asked sponsorship from Christian Heise owner of shop and he said will think my question over weekend. All good I guess everything happened and they welcome me to team. I am happy to promote company these days and skate their freestyle decks. My recent complete is Never Enough End 2 End 7.5"×29". Indy 109's with Mini logo 100a bushings. Never Enough 54mm Felines wheels and Synopsis stingrays bearings. Last but not least the most important parts Yoyo skidplates. I like decks between 7.3"-7.5" size. If I had to choose between singlekick or doublekick. I'd take double. Well I don't modify my deck much, but sometimes I reshape my skidplate with knife if it's not perfectly mounted and put Gorilla tape on nose and tail ends for when skating indoor's slick floors.
