23 year old Enni Rukajärvi from Kuusamo, Finland has a quiet nature. As most of her compatriots, she rather lets her snowboarding speak for itself. She began skiing when she was six, but quickly noticed that snowboarding’s a whole other kettle of fish (read: her real passion). She graduated in the sport school of Voukatti, Finland in 2008, and one year later she won the biggest competitive Snowboard Tour in the world.
No, seriously. Enni’s riding went global when in the 2009/2010 winter she won both the TTR World Tour Title as well as the Burton Global Open title. All in her first “professional” season. She started off with a win at the 4 Star Horsefeathers Pleasure Jam, went on with her first 6 Star victory at the Roxy Chicken Jam, a week later she was again on top of a 6 Star podium at the Burton European Open, and while she was at it, she snagged another number one place at the 5 Star Burton Canadian Open. In 2011 she became the first rookie to take X Games Gold and win the Burton US Open, and since then a good charge of X Games medals and 6 Star podium placings followed – making her one of the most successful slopestyle riders on the World Snowboard Tour.
In February, at the 2014 Olympic Games, Enni took home the silver medal in the slopestyle contest – nicely done Enni !
Photocredits: Harri Tarvainen
What age did you start snowboarding and why?competing since 2007
What is your favorite place to ride and why?Ruka