Samuli Peurala
WHO
Samuli Peurala, 39 years. Living in Helsinki, working in the finance sector as a process/report data-analyst. Been skateboarding for the last 30 years. One of the people behind Tikari Skateboards. A musician who is and has been involved in many groups. Details can be found in the Discogs profile.
MEMORY LANE
How and when did you get involved with skateboarding?
Got my first board around August 1990 and bomb dropped it into two pieces during that autumn.
First trick you learned or struggled with the most?
Ollie up a curb was a struggle and still remember the feeling of great achievement when finally one night was able do that. Only problem was that the next morning it was gone. Got it soon though. Kickflip is definitely another one. Back when the decks evolved we slapped the new school shapes into old wider trucks. Kickflip came instantly after the trucks were manually narrowed down.
Best/worst memory in your skateboarding history?
Building wooden skateparks in Etelä-Pohjanmaa. Quest for epic spots has also been there for me almost from the get go. Getting shop flow-sponsored during a casual small talk at Posti curbs in 2002. Thanks Juhani and Lamina! Getting on the Tikari team in 2003, big up Toni, it has obviously meant a world to me. Pretty much all the Tikari video premieres have some kind of high points. Seeing through the viewfinder of a video camera, how people stretch their limits of skateboarding abilities and sometimes encouraging them in the process. Connecting with new and old friends through a shared skate session. Inspiring and getting inspired.
Ever been in a skate gang? What is/was it called?
Tikari Venom Posse I guess.
PHILOSOPHY
How has skateboarding changed the way you perceive the world?
Skaters eye for spots aka. how you look at the cities. Of course the whole culture aspect, graphics, music, personalities.
Has skateboarding affected the way you make music or other things?
Skateboarding has taught me patience, but other than that it’s hard to say.
How do you see skateboarding as a culture now or compared to when you started skating?
Maybe one of the biggest changes is that there is no one leading skate culture anymore, at least in a sense that So-Cal industry would be determining what’s hot and what’s not. Different media outlets shed light to different scenes within skateboarding. Styles we see nowadays way more varied than it was. On a personal level my actual act of skateboarding does not have any cultural impact anymore (I tend to think that it had at some point) so I’m trying to impact our local culture through Tikari, judging competitions, writing articles and occasionally participating in Helride Collectives activities.
ART
What music have you discovered through skateboarding?
Maybe some punk and hardcore, all the usuals but now when reflecting my music taste in general I’d say skate videos subtly trained my ears for “indie rock”. As a young skater everything fast or aggressive felt inviting, but somehow I also got used to more mellow sounds. One example could be 411 video magazine #3 and the song Savory from Jawbox. I remember it being quite annoying at first, but then after looping that video countless times, it became one of the best songs in the video. One funny thing is that after seeing Birdhouses Ravers million times, I really liked Getting Closer by Nitzer Ebb without ever checking who the artist was. It also might have been that I did not have the credits of that video for checking all the music. Bought the 12” some 25 years later.
Some of my all time favorites like Hum, Kill Holiday, Texas is the Reason, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse are all from watching skate videos. And one can't really help but become a bit nostalgic when hearing Serenade by Steve Miller Band.
Favorite skateboard graphics of all time?
Some classics first: Ray Barbee Tarot cards, Jeremy Klein Veggies, Mike V Snake and the burning city, Natas Boom.
Favorite skate video or part of all time?
Spirit Quest, 917 video, Polar - I Think We Blew It At Some Point, Evisen video. Utu, Hard Water, Control - Teens, DOG - Jeesus Kristus Nasaret. Gonz - anything, Simon Woodstock - One Louder, Daniel Kim & John Francomacaro - Stop Fakin’ 3.
Favorite song to skate to?
I usually don’t.
Who are the skaters/musicians you look up to?
In skateboarding I’m a huge fan of all the Tikari team riders. Also could add a large bunch of Finnish skateboarders in general, there’s so many personal styles out there. But let’s play around and pick 3 younger talents: @freeherkko, @ku5ti and @sant.ur. And one more, a true embodiment of skateboardings free spirit, Antti Heikkinen.
Best current pro skaters: Gonz, Max Palmer and Nick Boserio.
As a musician I’m first and foremost a bass player so top-3 would be: Tuomas “Jamppa” Järvinen, Joel Sipilä and Nate Newton.
STYLE
How would you describe your skating?
Back in my filming for parts prime, I’d say I did compensate for my lack of finesse by skating a bit more imaginative spots. Nowadays I try to get what I can and find it still fascinating that there are tricks I can come up, that could’ve been in any of my video parts. Though it’s pretty much safeboarding nowadays. Flatground, curbs and ledges or some chill mini ramp is what I’d call entertainment.
What kind of spots do you prefer?
Kyösti Kallio statue, though it’s been too long since the last visit. Would love to visit a good wooden park. It has been kinda annoying to find out that I really don’t care about smooth concrete that much.
What kind of a skateboard setup do you have?
At the moment two setups:
1) Tikari 8,75; Ace 55 with Independent bottom bushings; Spitfire F4 conical full 52mm/99a; Bones swiss. ⅛ risers, 1” allen head Lamina bolts, Mob grip.
2) Krooked Gonz Sweatpants 9.8; Ace 66 with Independent bottom bushings; Slime balls 53mm/ 97a; Bones swiss. ⅛ risers, 1” allen head Lamina bolts, Mob grip.
Spent the last 2 years riding pretty exclusively shaped decks. Also been supporting and getting support by purchase discounts from Napalm Custom who create awesome maple and carbon fiber hybrid decks. Gave them some valuable R&D data by putting those decks through a hard time in the streets with my size 13 feet and more than average skater body mass. I see a huge potential in decks that last longer and can be customised to different stiffness. It might remain a niche market, but bigger brands like Santa Cruz and Powell are also doing it right now. Also looking forward to some upcoming 9 and 8.75 Tikari shapes. And what about those 97a F4’s from Spitfire? 97a might be the best durometer for an average Finnish street.
Favorite trick?
Switch back tails have become somewhat a measure for me. “Can you still skate and keep some of your tricks?” Each spring it set the bar for me, if I still got it. Other than that nollies, nollie flips, nollie noseslides. Lately I’ve been enjoying occasional fakie ollie fs noseslides
HEALTH
Have you had any bad injuries?
Knees have been bugging me during the last 8 years every now and then, seems like nothing major there though.
Beverage of choice when skating?
Mostly water, sometimes with a green tea bag thrown in the bottle.
How do you take care of your body before and after skating if you do that at all?
Not an expert on that. Some clumsy stretching before jumping on board. Usually cycling to and from spots.
Final words of wisdom or motivation for the young ones?
Know your roots, but it’s up to you what to grow out of them.
↑
Samuli Peurala
WHO
Samuli Peurala, 39 years. Living in Helsinki, working in the finance sector as a process/report data-analyst. Been skateboarding for the last 30 years. One of the people behind Tikari Skateboards. A musician who is and has been involved in many groups. Details can be found in the Discogs profile.
MEMORY LANE
How and when did you get involved with skateboarding?
Got my first board around August 1990 and bomb dropped it into two pieces during that autumn.
First trick you learned or struggled with the most?
Ollie up a curb was a struggle and still remember the feeling of great achievement when finally one night was able do that. Only problem was that the next morning it was gone. Got it soon though. Kickflip is definitely another one. Back when the decks evolved we slapped the new school shapes into old wider trucks. Kickflip came instantly after the trucks were manually narrowed down.
Best/worst memory in your skateboarding history?
Building wooden skateparks in Etelä-Pohjanmaa. Quest for epic spots has also been there for me almost from the get go. Getting shop flow-sponsored during a casual small talk at Posti curbs in 2002. Thanks Juhani and Lamina! Getting on the Tikari team in 2003, big up Toni, it has obviously meant a world to me. Pretty much all the Tikari video premieres have some kind of high points. Seeing through the viewfinder of a video camera, how people stretch their limits of skateboarding abilities and sometimes encouraging them in the process. Connecting with new and old friends through a shared skate session. Inspiring and getting inspired.
Ever been in a skate gang? What is/was it called?
Tikari Venom Posse I guess.
STYLE
How would you describe your skating?
Back in my filming for parts prime, I’d say I did compensate for my lack of finesse by skating a bit more imaginative spots. Nowadays I try to get what I can and find it still fascinating that there are tricks I can come up, that could’ve been in any of my video parts. Though it’s pretty much safeboarding nowadays. Flatground, curbs and ledges or some chill mini ramp is what I’d call entertainment.
What kind of spots do you prefer?
Kyösti Kallio statue, though it’s been too long since the last visit. Would love to visit a good wooden park. It has been kinda annoying to find out that I really don’t care about smooth concrete that much.
What kind of a skateboard setup do you have?
At the moment two setups:
1) Tikari 8,75; Ace 55 with Independent bottom bushings; Spitfire F4 conical full 52mm/99a; Bones swiss. ⅛ risers, 1” allen head Lamina bolts, Mob grip.
2) Krooked Gonz Sweatpants 9.8; Ace 66 with Independent bottom bushings; Slime balls 53mm/ 97a; Bones swiss. ⅛ risers, 1” allen head Lamina bolts, Mob grip.
Spent the last 2 years riding pretty exclusively shaped decks. Also been supporting and getting support by purchase discounts from Napalm Custom who create awesome maple and carbon fiber hybrid decks. Gave them some valuable R&D data by putting those decks through a hard time in the streets with my size 13 feet and more than average skater body mass. I see a huge potential in decks that last longer and can be customised to different stiffness. It might remain a niche market, but bigger brands like Santa Cruz and Powell are also doing it right now. Also looking forward to some upcoming 9 and 8.75 Tikari shapes. And what about those 97a F4’s from Spitfire? 97a might be the best durometer for an average finnish street.
Favorite trick?
Switch back tails have become somewhat a measure for me. “Can you still skate and keep some of your tricks?” Each spring it set the bar for me, if I still got it. Other than that nollies, nollie flips, nollie noseslides. Lately I’ve been enjoying occasional fakie ollie fs noseslides
PHILOSOPHY
How has skateboarding changed the way you perceive the world?
Skaters eye for spots aka. how you look at the cities. Of course the whole culture aspect, graphics, music, personalities.
Has skateboarding affected the way you make music or other things?
Skateboarding has taught me patience, but other than that it’s hard to say.
How do you see skateboarding as a culture now or compared to when you started skating?
Maybe one of the biggest changes is that there is no one leading skate culture anymore, at least in a sense that So-Cal industry would be determining what’s hot and what’s not. Different media outlets shed light to different scenes within skateboarding. Styles we see nowadays way more varied than it was. On a personal level my actual act of skateboarding does not have any cultural impact anymore (I tend to think that it had at some point) so I’m trying to impact our local culture through Tikari, judging competitions, writing articles and occasionally participating in Helride Collectives activities.
ART
What music have you discovered through skateboarding?
Maybe some punk and hardcore, all the usuals but now when reflecting my music taste in general I’d say skate videos subtly trained my ears for “indie rock”. As a young skater everything fast or aggressive felt inviting, but somehow I also got used to more mellow sounds. One example could be 411 video magazine #3 and the song Savory from Jawbox. I remember it being quite annoying at first, but then after looping that video countless times, it became one of the best songs in the video. One funny thing is that after seeing Birdhouses Ravers million times, I really liked Getting Closer by Nitzer Ebb without ever checking who the artist was. It also might have been that I did not have the credits of that video for checking all the music. Bought the 12” some 25 years later.
Some of my all time favorites like Hum, Kill Holiday, Texas is the Reason, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse are all from watching skate videos. And one can't really help but become a bit nostalgic when hearing Serenade by Steve Miller Band.
Favorite skateboard graphics of all time?
Some classics first: Ray Barbee Tarot cards, Jeremy Klein Veggies, Mike V Snake and the burning city, Natas Boom.
Favorite skate video or part of all time?
Spirit Quest, 917 video, Polar - I Think We Blew It At Some Point, Evisen video. Utu, Hard Water, Control - Teens, DOG - Jeesus Kristus Nasaret. Gonz - anything, Simon Woodstock - One Louder, Daniel Kim & John Francomacaro - Stop Fakin’ 3.
Favorite song to skate to?
I usually don’t.
Who are the skaters/musicians you look up to?
In skateboarding I’m a huge fan of all the Tikari team riders. Also could add a large bunch of Finnish skateboarders in general, there’s so many personal styles out there. But let’s play around and pick 3 younger talents: @freeherkko, @ku5ti and @sant.ur. And one more, a true embodiment of skateboardings free spirit, Antti Heikkinen.
Best current pro skaters: Gonz, Max Palmer and Nick Boserio.
As a musician I’m first and foremost a bass player so top-3 would be: Tuomas “Jamppa” Järvinen, Joel Sipilä and Nate Newton.
HEALTH
Have you had any bad injuries?
Knees have been bugging me during the last 8 years every now and then, seems like nothing major there though.
Beverage of choice when skating?
Mostly water, sometimes with a green tea bag thrown in the bottle.
How do you take care of your body before and after skating if you do that at all?
Not an expert on that. Some clumsy stretching before jumping on board. Usually cycling to and from spots.
Final words of wisdom or motivation for the young ones?
Know your roots, but it’s up to you what to grow out of them.
↑