WHO
Harri ”Huuki” Huuhtanen, 46v, Turku (born in Ylivieska), Finland. I’m a skateboarder, basketball-, floorball- and ice hockey player. I also play guitar and sing in bands called Cartoon Tree, Ben’s Diapers and Tuomio. And I am a backliner and ”sekatyömies” aka jack of all trades.
MEMORY LANE
How and when did you get involved with skateboarding?
I started skateboarding in 1986. I saw Back To The Future movie at Ylivieska movie theatre in 1985. Marty McFly was so cool with his skateboard and clothes. So I had to go again to see it and I saw a movie twice at a theatre. The movie Thrashin' was also a big thing for me. And 1986 my father bought me my first plastic skateboard. It cost 30 Finnish Marks.
Best/worst memory in your skateboarding history?
Best memory is when I turned 40 and two friends of mine Teemu & Marko and I were on a skate tour in California.
First trick you learned or struggled with the most?
First ”trick” I guess was tic tac? I’m still learning kickflip, maybe some day I understand how to do it!?
Ever been in a skategang? What is/was it called?
Skategangs: YKASK8, & Nestehukat.
Real Deal Oulu (Pipoteam).
PHILOSOPHY
How has skateboarding changed the way you perceive the world?
I don’t know?
Has skateboarding affected the way you make music or other things?
Only the sky is the limit for skateboarding!!!
How do you see skateboarding as a culture now or compared to when you started skating?
When I was young I didn’t even imagine how much skateboarding and tricks can evolve so much if you compare to these days. Now there are concrete skateparks in almost every city. When I started we had to built ramps and ledges from wood by ourselves. Now my hometown Ylivieska has a concrete bowl. If someone would had said around 90’s that some day Ylivieska will have a concrete bowl I would have never believed it!
ART
What music have you discovered through skateboarding?
Huey Lewis and the News - The Power Of Love & MacRad – Weakness.
Favorite song to skate to
Odd Numbers.
Who are the skaters/musicians you look up to?
Skaters: Harri Puupponen & Mikko Kivikoski. The best band in the world is Teenage Fanclub.
Favorite skateboard graphics of all time?
Santa Cruz - Claus Grabke Exploding Clock Deck.
Favorite skate video or part of all time?
Public Domain: Saiz, Barbee, Sanderson, Thomas.
STYLE
How would you describe your skating?
I don’t know. Once when we were in Barcelona my friend Axo heard some local guy say: ”That man in pushing like he's fucking his mother!”
What kind of spots do you prefer?
I mostly like to skate small curves. The best skatepark in the world is Turun Urheilujuomapuisto. We also have the best indoor skatepark in the world, it’s called Cube. These two skateparks are my favourites and dearests!
Favorite trick?
My favourite trick is Frontside Smith Grind.
What kind of a skateboard setup do you have?
Setup: Antihero deck, Independent 149 Hollow Trucks (at this moment Titanium and deck is Polar), Bones Swiss bearings and Spitfire Radial Slim wheels.
HEALTH
Have you had any bad injuries?
Four years ago I had my biggest injury. My right wrist broke and went out of it's joint. It took 42 years when I got my first big injury during skateboarding.
Beverage of choice when skating?
I usually drink sparkling water from Lidl.
How do you take care of your body before and after skating if you do that at all?
I don’t stretch at all and it’s a little bit of shame. But I love sauna and do oululainen jooga. Those things keep me going.
Final words of wisdom or motivation for the young ones?
Skate every damn day because you never know if it is not possible tomorrow. Hiet pintaan ja tunnit täyteen! PÖÖ ja PAM PAM!