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Finnish surfers brave stormy conditions to crown national champions

2024 Surf Suomi Open: Finnish surfers battled harsh conditions in Pori | Photo: Esko Pamppunen

It's hard to beat Finnish surfers' love of surfing.

Despite the storm and low temperatures that haunted the 2024 Finnish National Surfing Championship, the event got underway near Pori in western Finland.

Paradoxically, due to the Nordic country's geographical location, swells normally only arrive fueled by nearby low-pressure systems, except if you're surfing in the Finnish forest.

In other words, storms are relatively welcome within the Finnish surfing community, and this one was no exception.

The organization spent weeks on alert, checking the surf forecast several times daily to fine-tune the green light decision.

Wind gusts on Friday, November 1, reached nearly 40 meters per second, contributing to the challenging conditions.

With air temperatures at 39 °F (4 °C) and water temperatures ranging from 43 to 45 °F (6 to 7 °C), the extreme weather conditions were demanding.

Pori, Finland: one of the country's best surf breaks relies on low-pressure systems to have waves | Photo: Esko Pamppunen

Nordic Storm Surfers

So, on November 2, 2024, the day of this year's competition, the brave athletes paddled out aligned with the surf break's requirements.

In the morning, the Pori surfing venue was pumping rideable left-hand overhead waves. Not bad.

The waiting period for the nationals is often at least two months, and this year, it extended to three months, requiring an additional week to ensure the right weather conditions.

Known globally as the happiest people in the world, Finns are also recognized for their "sisu," a term that embodies bravery, persistence, and the ability to get things done.

"Waves in Finland are often inconsistent, as they rely on short-period wind swell rather than ocean groundswell, with ideal surf conditions being rare and short-lived," explained event producer Alexandra Jokinen.

One of the highlights of the competition day was the wave ridden by Outi Pursiainen, who claimed the women's title.

"It feels great to win the title. The waves were good, and I was thrilled by the positive energy on the beach and the cheering crowd," noted Pursiainen.

In the men's division, six surfers advanced to the final from three initial heats, with Ilkka Hannula emerging as the champion.

"Winning the title feels especially good. It's an incredible feeling when dreams come true, and hard work pays off," Hannula said, describing a surreal and tense morning as he walked to the competition site through a forest with over 50 fallen trees from the storm.

"It was eerie walking through, but once in the water, I relaxed and gave my best in the final."

In the junior division, Oliver Piha took the championship title.

"Conditions were tough. It was challenging to paddle to the lineup and find the right spot to catch waves, but I'm stoked I managed to ride a few solid ones. The feeling after surfing is always incredible!" he added.

Surfing in Finland: you've got to love the sport to paddle out in near zero temperatures | Photo: Esko Pamppunen

WSL and Olympics

Judges Tuomas Stenfors and Ville Uotila praised the epic surf conditions in Pori.

"Today, we had the best possible surf. The waves were on all day," Stenfors underlined, describing the impressive sets.

He also highlighted the progress in Finnish surfing, "You can tell that surfers who keep at it in Finland are leveling up," he added.

Young local surfer Kasper Nordlund finished in fourth place.

"It's inspiring to see a surfer who started as a junior in Pori making strides at the national level. He has the potential to grow into an exceptional surfer," Stenfors commented.

Producer Alexandra Jokinen was proud of the surfers who got into the water on Saturday, noting that it takes a wild spirit to surf with cold storm waves - and actually enjoy it.

"Finns are crazy in their own good way," she added, acknowledging their adventurous spirit.

Tanja Piha, the chairwoman of the Finnish Surfing Association, hopes to see more women and juniors participating in the sport and taking part in the competitions.

"Finland doesn't only have crazy surfers who catch waves in the middle of ice and snow," highlighted Piha.

"We also have young Finnish surfers Eeli Timperi and Lukas McMahon, who are currently competing in the WSL, with an eye on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics."

"It’s understandable that the bases of these two promising Finnish surfers are located by the oceans, and they are unlikely to be seen in local championship competitions."

2024 Surf Suomi Open: Pori had a left-hand wave with a few open face sections | Photo: Esko Pamppunen

Surf Suomi Open 2024 | Results

Men

  1. Ilkka Hannula
  2. Markus Ingo
  3. Ville Laiho

Women

  1. Outi Pursiainen
  2. Sointu Mäkelä
  3. Tanja Piha

Junior

  1. Oliver Piha


Words by Alexandra Jokinen | Writer and Project Manager



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