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This is the second ever interview on our blog. For the first one see this (Interview of big mountain rider Jarkko Henttonen)

Coincidentally, this interview is also about a snowboarder, a female one this time. Let us introduce you to Anniina Karvinen, Finland’s most famous and successful female freerider.

Introducing Anniina Karvinen

Anniina Karvinen

I first met Anni in Verbier in 1999, during the epic February storm cycle we old farts still remember warmly. Besides riding nice powder, I also realized that Anni was riding faster than 99% of the guys, whether on a pair of skis or a snowboard. Back then she probably didn’t have the finesse and control she has now  -  but that was substituted by a fearless, go-fast-or-go-home attitude. I remember riding with a friend thinking we are a pair of fast mofos…only to see Anni riding way ahead of us, basically pointing it totally straight, only slightly bouncing from some random moguls and making fast deceleration slides here and there. It was a pretty wild sight.

I guess Anni fell in love with the mountains and snow back then. After that season she found her way back to spend several seasons at Chamonix, eventually competing in world-class freeride events like the (in)famous Verbier Xtreme Competition.

But that’s it for the history. Back to the current day, let’s pass the mic to Anni herself…

Anniina’s life at the moment: studies, work and riding

Anni at work

1. What’s up? What have you been up to lately? You have worked hard in the off-season to get your studies done – tell us a liitle bit about that?

Hi! I am doing really good nowadays. I am studying in Estonia, doing my second Master’s Degree in Veterinary Science. I am in my second year now and the school takes 6 years, so I still have a bit to do!

I graduated from the University of Helsinki in 2005 with a Master’s degree in Animal Nutrition and Genetics. Then I concentrated on riding and spent couple of seasons in Chamonix. That was the best decision for me after graduation, because I knew that I wanted to continue studies and become a veterinarian, which I always wanted to be. It is crazy – how hard it is to get into Vet school in Finland. Only 5-10 percent of the applicants  are accepted every May, via the entrance examination system… and I should have been one of the 25 chosen from 500. I totally studied each spring for four years only for the entrance exam to Helsinki Vet school. And I also rode in Chamonix each winter. In the summer of 2007 I decided to send my application to Tartu, Estonian Veterinary school (instead of Helsinki again), and I got right in.

There are a lot of Finnish students in Estonia. Some of my friends said that  I was crazy to start school again at the age of 29, but I think that if you have strong dreams, on some level, it is just brave to follow your dreams and make them come true. I do not want to be bitter when I am 50 years old and look back on the past – angry at myself that I did not make these (right) decisions that I have done now – and did not work very hard –   to make this all happen. I feel very lucky to be studying toward my dream profession now – after so many years of trying. I feel I earned it, and after graduation I will still have over 30 years of working life left.

As far as riding and studying are concerned, I have tried to be very honest to myself and my dreams, even when that requires very strict self-discipline.  Sometimes the lack of time makes you crazy, and it is the thing you have to learn: to balance your time between hobbies and responsibilities. And you have to work to make the money for your trips. I also work while studying, all the time. My job last summer at the Vet Clinic in Tampere (Finland) really comfirmed my feelings  – I became absolutely sure that I am studying for my dream profession. In the end, riding will never be a real profession to me, but it will always be the one thing to do in my free time.

Sometimes you even have to give up some good things to make all these dreams happen, – if you very clearly know, what you want out of life. The veterinary profession has always been the only possible choice for me, the one thing that I really want to do after my riding career. And in the EU, you can work throughout the whole European continent with this degree. You can do your specializing studies in Switzerland, for example. I want to specialize in small animals and surgery. There are brilliant Veterinary schools in Zurich and Bern and the Alps are very very close there… I could imagine working in the Alps as a vet. Or alternatively stay in Scandinavia too. You never know, where life will lead you… But I am happy to know that my profession will allow great flexibility and  the chance to live anywhere that feels good.

Anni photographed by Tero Repo

Anniina is competing on The Freeride World Tour in the Season 2008-2009

Yes, we rode last year on the Freeride World Qualification Tour (Mammoth-USA, Schruns-Austria and Röldal-Norway) and two of the best were invited to this season’s Freeride World Tour 08/09. Only four girls were invited overall.  The two other girls will be the best ones from last year’s World Tour. in the guys class there will naturally be more riders because you always have more boys riding and competing than girls. I wish there were more girls on the Freeride World Tour too, because I think it is a bit sad; how few girls they invite and how many good freerider girls you have out there. (Editor’s note: You are absolutely right, Anni!)

But the competition locations and money are limited and there are still four categories to arrange in the comps (ski and snowboard, men and women).  My last years riding was not on the very top level – because of hard studying. But I was happy to qualify for this year’s world tour. I rode only two days in Talma (Finland) before my first qualification run in the Mammoth Mountain in the USA! It feels great to start this season – when I already know that there will be lots of good riding in very cool and exotic spots, thatI have not visited yet.

Yep. The Freeride World Tour was conducted for the very first time last year and riders were invited based on the “virtual ranking”, which was based on the two previous year’s results in international freeride competitions. So, last spring Verbier Xtreme was the final for the whole world tour.

I was invited to Verbier Xtreme every year from  2001 to 2005 and finished 3rd at the podium every time (smiling). I think, this new Freeride World Tour system and ranking points is more pure and fair system to get new riders on the freeride scene and it gives more possibilities for many aspiring riders to get invited to the international top freeride events. Because the thing is, in reality, some seasons you are good, but the next year your riding can suck – or you can get injured and so on. This still does not mean that you are not invited back but you have to ride through these qualification system events to get back on the World Tour again. Last year some of the top girls were injured, and they can not ride the World Tour this year. (and I naturally feel sorry for them).

I think this Freeride World Tour is a very good thing for the whole freeriding world and competitions, a fresh flash that it deeply needed, because now we have a clear system and common competitions with skiers and snowboarders. I feel proud to be a Finn and represent my home country on the Freeride World Tour. Even when you have not grown up in the mountains, you can progress as a rider, especially if you are a Scandie -  This means seasons spent in the Alps or spending some time in Lapland. I did both.

Anni's portrait by Tero Repo

Anniina Karvinen loves to teach kids to snowboard!

I love teaching snowboarding, especially to little kids. They are so pure and honest when it comes to learning and sports. The best student I ever had, was this little boy called “Olli” – 6 years old. He told me that he does not care about the turns or how to stop the snowboard. He  only wanted to learn to ride the pipe and freeride in the trees. And it was the very first snowboard lecture for him ever. After 50 minutes he was riding with good turns down the slopes at Ruka (Northern Finland). But to answer your question: I guess I do not have too much time to teach in the upcoming season, maybe only a few weeks during Christmas holidays.

I like riding the pipe, kickers and jumps just for fun and learning new tricks, but I am still really bad on jumps. I can’t land very high airs on icy, hard park landings. And that is what I am really afraid of too. I prefer jumps off rocks and cliffs in powder conditions (editor’s note: who wouldn’t?) when you know, that there will be at least a meter snowpack, waiting for you on a nice pillow line. I still want to get better in park/freestyle riding though. It was extremely rewarding when I learned to ride some small rails in Mammoth last year. Challenging too – and that’s what I love in general.

I broke my arm at Ruka -in 96 jumping the kicker and my leg in -03 speeding with guys on the way down to Verbier village. I hit a tree stump under the snow and I had an open fracture. Tibia came out 2 cm through the skin. It hurt – but I still remember a few funny things about this accident. I had a very bad French speaking doctor and I wanted to know how badly my leg was broken. Then he answered “You crazy young (yes, I was young then, haha) girl, do you REALLY want to know how badly your leg is broken… You leg is like ZigZag, it is fu..ed up. I can see the bones sticking through the skin”. And I did not let them cut my brand new Roxy  warmpants at the hospital, so they had to remove them from over the broken leg before the operation. (Editor’s note: oh those girls…) I am still wearing them! And I was walking 8 weeks after the operation – thanks to the good doctors at the Martigny hospital, close to Verbier.

I spent more days on skis in the season 2006 than with the snowboard. I think that skiing is actually more fun than riding a board nowadays. It is very easy to ride fat skis after so many years on board. I skied for seven years before starting to snowboard, and after 15 years on a snowboard I went back to my roots -  and fell in love with skiing again. It felt good to realize how fast you can develop your skills on skis and I could already ride some classic off-piste lines in Chamonix on skis. In glacier travel and hiking, skis are a lot better than a board. I hate all this taking your bindings on and off all the time and riding flat parts with poles when snowboarding. It really sucks. I have a dream to do the Haute-Route one day with skis and spend more time with Randonnee skiing and mountaineering. I have been skiing on a pair of Salomon 155cm Pocket Rockets and I simply love them. I will try K2 Seth Pistols next winter. The skiing world is becoming more and more familiar to me after so many years of snowboarding. But on powder days I will always be on my faithful Burton Victoria’s Sensation 152. It is my true one and only!

Future plans – What does the upcoming season look like for Anniina Karvinen?

7. Cool. I didn’t actually know you have skied that much.There is definitely time and place for both sports, in my opinion. And I think it is just cool that people change back and forth from skis to board – and vice versa. But back to the interview again…what is your next season going to look like? Trips, competitions, plans…?

My next season looks pretty good. We will ride the Freeride World Tour in 2,5 months and the schedule is quite busy. The contests will be held in Sochi-Russia, Squaw Valley-USA California, Les Tignes-France and if you qualify Verbier Xtreme-Swizerland.  In April-May I hope to make some fresh spring turns in Finnish Lapland – I think after traveling the first 3 months of the season, it is so relaxing to have a good time with friends at your home resorts and enjoy the long daylight in warm sun. I just love riding in Finnish spring slush parks! I will try to take part In Scandinavian freeriding championships in Riksgränsen in May. This is all for one season, and I have to pass all the exams at the veterinary school too. It means flying and traveling between school and riding trips, but it is only fun. I live for traveling and meeting new friends from all around the world. It is like a good “elixir”,  for surviving those dark autumn days and all the daily responsibilities. Traveling balances the everyday life at home.

Verbier Xtreme Venue

8. What’s your take on “ski bumming”? Wouldn’t it be easier to just settle in one resort and take it easy (sounds pretty easy on paper, at least). But do you plan to spend seasons in some ski resorts in the future again – probably combining your work (a veterinarian) and fun, as you said earlier?

The word “ski-bumming” has never represented anything special to me, quite the opposite rather. I have never been “bumming” in the Alps. We have worked quite a lot before our season in Chamonix, to stay in comfortable houses and enjoy quality time with friends during 4 months with no work or studying. All the hard work is paid back then  – when you wake up in the mountains and you see the Mt. Blanc in purple colors, when the daylight’s first rays are gently reaching its snowy top, touching the shadows of couloirs and deep blue icy tops of the Aiguilles. Looking at the Choucas (Corvus Monedula, Alpine Jackdaw) playing in the sky – in the rising sun after a three day dump of fresh snow.  You make a good cup of coffee and sit on the balcony, knowing your friends are suffering in their offices/cubicles back home and you are privileged to go up to Aiguilles du Midi soon and hopefully draw some good lines down with your friends in knee high fresh powder snow. This feeling is what I miss the most nowadays, when I can’t continuously spend so much time on the snow anymore.

I went to Chamonix for the first time in 1998 on a bus trip with no ski friends at all and came back with about twenty friends. That was enough for  a 19-year old girl; she was hooked, deeply. Since 2000 I have stayed 2-4 months each year in Chamonix. My best season was 2005 when we stayed in a big house on the main street and rode from New Year till May.  During the years I got to know more and more people and we visited Verbier, La Grave with Finnish dudes and other friends from abroad. I have learned the most important things of life and friendships during those years with ski friends and nature.

I might move to the Alps after graduation or else stay in Scandinavia. It would not be too bad to close your own vet clinic for a few hours on the lunch hour and go up to make some fresh pow turns in the middle of the day, would it…? (laughing) There is still a long way there and many exams to take but I am happy to know that my profession gives me great flexibility and possibilities to move and settle where it feels right.

9. Again, great answer. You were almost poetic! And I have always wondered why it is called “ski bumming” in the first place – cause most of the so called ski bums (I know) must work really hard, either before the season or even during it. Anyway, I remember you once saying that the tents and refuges are not for girls… Have you changed your mind on that – I mean, any big climbing or “expedition” type trips in sight? Alaska, Himalaya or similar?

I said it after staying five days in a tent in heavy spring rain at the Scandinavian Freeriding Championships, held in Riksgränsen in 2001. I had to put icy and wet snowboard boots in my feet every day before hikes and competition runs.  We could have stayed at the hotel, but Junnu (Laine) and Arska (Saarimäki) (editors note: Finnish skiers and great guys by the way!) preferred the tents, it was cheaper, the real Finnish “ski-bumming” way to do it. And Arska still does not have any clue about those Swedish Peak Performance superSKImodels, who dressed him at the bar – after he had taken all his clothes off (like he typically does after “a few” beers). There were five stunningly gorgeous Swedish ski girls dressing him and he just was too drunk to remember it! What a great guy (laughing).

Tents are for girls, definitely, I love hiking and trekking and sleeping in a tent. I can do easy randonnee and hiking trips in the Alps,  maximum 3000-4000 meter peaks. But these “Expedition”-type trips or High Alpine Mountaineering are not the thing for me. I feel the risks on these types of trips are too high and if you bring your hobbies/profession to a certain level (in that kind of stuff), the limit will be somewhere very very close there.  And I want to live long instead. Of course I could be very unlucky with avalanches and crevasses riding the glacier, but I am not too scared to do that. I believe I have skills at some level to ride steep faces and powder fields and that is also what I love the most. High mountains scare me, Chamonix-type of experiences are definitely enough for me. Freeriding is my way to express my feelings, not reaching any dangerous peaks.  I would love to make some easy lines in Alaska with heliskiing, but I would never aim for any 8000 meters peak in Himalaya.

10. Fair enough. I guess for most people your lines would be “very extreme stuff” anyway! In the end,  would you like to thank anyone…friends, family, your sponsor – the mic is yours!

Thanks to Mom and Pops that you are not too scared anymore (or at least you do not show it). Thanks to my sponsors from the last seasons for your support: SkullCandy, Suunto, SnowExtreme, Giro and Specially DaKine and Jari Laakso (for the past 8 years).

Thanks to Jarkko Henttonen again for helping me to my very first big freeriding competition in Verbier Xtreme year 2001. And special thanks to all of my riding friends – with you I have experienced the best days and moments of my life up in the mountains, and with you I have also experienced those several hundreds of good face shots and couloirs with no tracks. Special thanks to Skipe (Kimmo Oivo, The “Grand daddy” of Finnish Freeriding!) too, my Big Bro. And all those guys who took me up in the mountains and taught me to ride and hike, when I was only a 19-year old girl with no experience in these sports at all. Without you all I would not be standing here now and doing this all once again in the upcoming season: riding, friendships and mountains. All the best and safe riding for every individual rider in the s08/09 season! Go up and find the ultimate expression of Mother Nature’s love: powder snow.

PS. Thanks to professional photographer Tero Repo for portraits. Check out more of Tero’s great photos at: www.terorepo.com

PPS. We try to get some good riding photos of Anni soon too. Stay tuned – we probably publish those as a separate post!