GRIP
GRIP

Jaakko Ojanperä

GRIP

Boneless to Pivot to Oblivion. Photo by Aleks Talve.

WHO

Jaakko Ojanperä, originally from Kurikka but I have lived in Turku for over 10 years. I play drums in Sunniva and I skate too seldom nowadays! For work I sell records in a local record store. I've also gotten pretty hooked on birdwatching during the last couple of years.

MEMORY LANE

How and when did you get involved with skateboarding?

It was around the millenium. A lot of my friends skated and I got a complete from the local sport store and then I just rolled with it around the city of Kurikka with my friends. Got bored with it after couple of summers, but then picked it up again back in 2003. I still remember when I learned to ollie in our garage and I jumped over the handle of a badminton racket. I was hooked after that.

First trick you learned or struggled with the most?

I guess it would be 360 flip..? I landed it for the first time actually in Norway. My sister was studying there and I had board with me when we visited her with my parents. We had some nice skate sessions with her classmate.

Best/worst memory in your skateboarding history?

Just spending time with your friends when summer gives it's best is actually one of the best things about skateboarding. Can't remember anything really bad...maybe when twisting an ankle or something?

Ever been in a skategang? What is/was it called?

Back in Kurikka we had this group of friends who skated and my friend Juuso named our group JARI Skateboards. And we still skate together when we see each other. But people move to different cities and stuff like that. Usually we meet in Kurikka a few times a year. Damn I miss those guys!

STYLE

How would you describe your skating?

Clumsy? Käppä? I love bonelesses, poweslides and no-complys and all that stuff. Also I try to have as much fun as possible. It doesn't have to be that serious. LESS ARTSY, MORE FARTSY (-Jake The Dog) I would say.

What kind of spots do you prefer?

Ditchcurbs are a nice thing to skate! And just regular curbs with decent flat ground aswell. DIY concrete parks are also very nice. Our homearena back in Turku: UJP <3

What kind of a skateboard setup do you have?

8,6” Creature board, 159 Indy´s, Swiss Ceramics and Bones 56mm wheels.

Favorite trick?

Boneless to tail to anything is just very pleasing.

PHILOSOPHY

How has skateboarding changed the way you perceive the world?

Whole lotta! I sometimes wonder where would I be and what would I do if I hadn't found skateboarding. It has opened my mind for sure. I've met so many good friends via skateboarding. And the skaters eye is another thing! It´s a very global thing also. You go to somewhere in the world with a skateboard and you meet people who skate and there you go, you're the same tribe already. It brings people together.

Has skateboarding affected the way you make music or other things?

For me it has taught that if you'd like to do something just do. Don't overthink too much and try to learn from your mistakes. DIY-mentality has grown from when you made the plywood stuff to skate in the beginning and nowadays doing something from music to organizing concerts and stuff. And when you have a lot of people around you who have the same mentality it's a very fertile combo. And skateboading has taught a lot of persistence for sure.

How do you see skateboarding as a culture now or compared to when you started skating?

It has grown a lot! I mean back when I started there wasn't that much variation as there is today. I really like the ”weird” side of skateboarding. I mean no rules is the way I like. The more käppä the better. Skateboarding is in it's bloom once again. Let's see where it takes us. Keep it weird keep it fun!

GRIP

Bs wallride. Photo by Aleks Talve.

GRIP

Fs 5-0. Photo by Aleks Talve.

ART

What music have you discovered through skateboarding?

Shitloads! From Gang Starr to Murder City Devils and from Wovenhand to Turbonegro.

Favorite song to skate to?

Whatever sounds my trucks, wheels and board make! The sound of grinding some coping is just niiiice. And when wheels howl against concrete.

Who are the skaters/musicians you look up to?

Mike Vallely was a big influence for me in the beginning. I really dig his approach to skateboarding. Naturally Arto Saari is the king of Finland for me, because he's from the same area where I'm from. And just friends back here in Turku and other cities when get to skate together. It's a good vicious cycle that we push each other to skate harder.

Mike Scheidt, David Eugene Edwards, Jason Roeder, John Theodore, Dylan Carson and Emil Amos to mention at least!

Favorite skateboard graphics of all time?

I've been a Creature fan for some years and the way they have some featuring artists is something I really like. I have a Creature / High On Fire deck on my wall and artwork is by Skinner and that's awesome.

Favorite skate video or part of all time? 

Tikari's Lost Boys, because it blew my mind back in the days!

HEALTH

Have you had any bad injuries?

Actually no! Knocking on wood...

Beverage of choice when skating?

Water. Or during warm summer days Peroni Libera! Tastes good and doesn't get you drunk!

How do you take care of your body before and after skating if you do that at all?

I try to strech before and during skating, but I'm too lazy usually afterwards. Should pay attention to it more in the future!

Final words of wisdom or motivation for the young ones?

If you pick up this wooden thing with trucks, wheels and bearings on it and learn to skate with it it'll be fun, but hard and sometimes painful for a couple of years. But after that it's up to you what to do with it. I've had fun with it for almost 20 years now. And hopefully that will continue. This wooden thing is very important for you mental health also and it will be ginger slice of sushi for your head! Enjoy!

↑

Jaakko Ojanperä

WHO

Jaakko Ojanperä, originally from Kurikka but I have lived in Turku for over 10 years. I play drums in Sunniva and I skate too seldom nowadays! For work I sell records in a local record store. I've also gotten pretty hooked on birdwatching during the last couple of years.

MEMORY LANE

How and when did you get involved with skateboarding?

It was around the millenium. A lot of my friends skated and I got a complete from the local sport store and then I just rolled with it around the city of Kurikka with my friends. Got bored with it after couple of summers, but then picked it up again back in 2003. I still remember when I learned to ollie in our garage and I jumped over the handle of a badminton racket. I was hooked after that

First trick you learned or struggled with the most?

I guess it would be 360 flip..? I landed it for the first time actually in Norway. My sister was studying there and I had board with me when we visited her with my parents. We had some nice skate sessions with her classmate.

Best/worst memory in your skateboarding history?

Just spending time with your friends when summer gives it's best is actually one of the best things about skateboarding. Can't remember anything really bad...maybe when twisting an ankle or something?

Ever been in a skategang? What is/was it called?

Back in Kurikka we had this group of friends who skated and my friend Juuso named our group JARI Skateboards. And we still skate together when we see each other. But people move to different cities and stuff like that. Usually we meet in Kurikka a few times a year. Damn I miss those guys!

GRIP

Boneless to Pivot to Oblivion. Photo by Aleks Talve.

STYLE

How would you describe your skating?

Clumsy? Käppä? I love bonelesses, poweslides and no-complys and all that stuff. Also I try to have as much fun as possible. It doesn't have to be that serious. LESS ARTSY, MORE FARTSY (-Jake The Dog) I would say.

What kind of spots do you prefer?

Ditchcurbs are a nice thing to skate! And just regular curbs with decent flat ground aswell. DIY concrete parks are also very nice. Our homearena back in Turku: UJP <3

What kind of a skateboard setup do you have?

8,6” Creature board, 159 Indy´s, Swiss Ceramics and Bones 56mm wheels.

Favorite trick?

Boneless to tail to anything is just very pleasing.

PHILOSOPHY

How has skateboarding changed the way you perceive the world?

Whole lotta! I sometimes wonder where would I be and what would I do if I hadn't found skateboarding. It has opened my mind for sure. I've met so many good friends via skateboarding. And the skaters eye is another thing! It´s a very global thing also. You go to somewhere in the world with a skateboard and you meet people who skate and there you go, you're the same tribe already. It brings people together.

Has skateboarding affected the way you make music or other things?

For me it has taught that if you'd like to do something just do. Don't overthink too much and try to learn from your mistakes. DIY-mentality has grown from when you made the plywood stuff to skate in the beginning and nowadays doing something from music to organizing concerts and stuff. And when you have a lot of people around you who have the same mentality it's a very fertile combo. And skateboading has taught a lot of persistence for sure.

How do you see skateboarding as a culture now or compared to when you started skating?

It has grown a lot! I mean back when I started there wasn't that much variation as there is today. I really like the ”weird” side of skateboarding. I mean no rules is the way I like. The more käppä the better. Skateboarding is in it's bloom once again. Let's see where it takes us. Keep it weird keep it fun!

GRIP

Bs wallride. Photo by Aleks Talve.

ART

What music have you discovered through skateboarding?

Shitloads! From Gang Starr to Murder City Devils and from Wovenhand to Turbonegro.

Favorite song to skate to?

Whatever sounds my trucks, wheels and board make! The sound of grinding some coping is just niiiice. And when wheels howl against concrete.

Who are the skaters/musicians you look up to?

Mike Vallely was a big influence for me in the beginning. I really dig his approach to skateboarding. Naturally Arto Saari is the king of Finland for me, because he's from the same area where I'm from. And just friends back here in Turku and other cities when get to skate together. It's a good vicious cycle that we push each other to skate harder.

Mike Scheidt, David Eugene Edwards, Jason Roeder, John Theodore, Dylan Carson and Emil Amos to mention at least!

Favorite skateboard graphics of all time?

I've been a Creature fan for some years and the way they have some featuring artists is something I really like. I have a Creature / High On Fire deck on my wall and artwork is by Skinner and that's awesome!

Favorite skate video or part of all time? 

Tikari's Lost Boys, because it blew my mind back in the days!

GRIP

Fs 5-0. Photo by Aleks Talve.

HEALTH

Have you had any bad injuries?

Actually no! Knocking on wood...

Beverage of choice when skating?

Water. Or during warm summer days Peroni Libera! Tastes good and doesn't get you drunk!

How do you take care of your body before and after skating if you do that at all?

I try to strech before and during skating, but I'm too lazy usually afterwards. Should pay attention to it more in the future!

Final words of wisdom or motivation for the young ones?

If you pick up this wooden thing with trucks, wheels and bearings on it and learn to skate with it it'll be fun, but hard and sometimes painful for a couple of years. But after that it's up to you what to do with it. I've had fun with it for almost 20 years now. And hopefully that will continue. This wooden thing is very important for you mental health also and it will be ginger slice of sushi for your head! Enjoy!

↑