Snowboarding
See Eero Ettala’s night of Helsinki Transitions
A daring plan: Show both Helsinki's monuments and snowboarding in a new light.
3 min
Helsinki Transitions
Eero Ettala shows both Helsinki and the traditional urban snowboarding video in a whole new light.
Eero Ettala takes us on a unique video journey through the centre of Helsinki by night. New film, Helsinki Transitions, leads you to the iconic spots of the snowboarding legend’s hometown and spotlights them in a way you've never seen before.
Watch the video above, or read on to find out more about the project.
While the rest of us snore away, Ettala is busy shovelling snow, planning his next trick. Night-time Helsinki offers him perfect conditions to transform the highlights of the Finnish capital into his very own playground, a snowboarder’s street paradise.
I wanted to present Helsinki in a new way and show people how various architectural monuments can be transformed into snowboarding spots. We snowboarders have a different perception of places than normal people
You might think that shooting a video in a big city wouldn’t be easy, especially when it’s a snowboarding video, but Helsinki is no ordinary capital.
"I could never imagine living anywhere else than Helsinki. I’ve got everything I need right here. The amazing architecture and the possibilities presented by it, as well as the tolerant attitude of the authorities towards snowboarding are a fantastic combination. That’s why riders from all over the world choose to come here to shoot", Ettala explains.
Having fun at the Helsinki ice stadium
© Pasi Salminen/Red Bull Content Pool
Working with Ettala is easy in general, because the guy is a total pro – but on the other hand that can also make it challenging. Jyri Paajamaa of Pablo Films explains, "Eero is super-pro in everything he does. What makes it challenging for us is the fact that we don’t get to test the different angles until Eero tries a trick for the first time – and he usually lands it on that first try.
"We then have to go and ask if he wouldn’t mind doing it again! On the Market Square for example, Eero jumped across the Cholera Basin on the very first go, and we did have to ask for a re-jump so that we could get all the camera angles right."
Rails at Kiasma, museum of contemporary art
© Pasi Salminen/Red Bull Content Pool
A lot's happened during Ettala’s 15-year career: many revolutionary and award-winning video parts, an X Games win and several injuries overcome. But there’s one thing that has never changed – no one else builds Eero’s kickers and landings.
"I’m always a stickler for the fact that the kickers are exactly the kind that I need, that the landing works and that my knees can handle the landings. So if anything happens, there’s only myself to blame.
"Building kickers isn't rocket science. Everyone has their own opinions about kickers, what they should be like. My kickers must have my kind of profile, that is just so."
Helsinki Cathedral
© Pasi Salminen/Red Bull Content Pool
The idea of a one-night snowboarding journey through Helsinki was born after the filming of the documentary movie, Ender. Ettala chose the spots in Helsinki himself, as he wanted to present both his hometown and the snowboarding movie in a new and interesting light.
Don't get wet!
© Pasi Salminen/Red Bull Content Pool
If you're not from Helsinki or familiar with it, we’ll sum up the urban spots featuring in the video:
The journey starts in front of the Helsinki Ice Hall (on Nordenskiöldinkatu), with a colossal bas-relief statue made of reinforced concrete – a perfect spot for a wallride.
From there, Eero continues to the museum of contemporary art, Kiasma and its rails.
The most famous landmark of the city, the Helsinki Cathedral, is shown in all its glory and also acts as a starting platform for the next spot.
On Helsinki Market Square, we get to see Ettala’s gigantic jump across the so-called Cholera Basin, and Helsinki Transitions is wrapped in Kaivopuisto Park.
At Kaivopuisto park in Helsinki
© Pasi Salminen/Red Bull Content Pool
Helsinki Transitions is a joint project, produced alongside Helsinki Marketing. "When one of the best snowboarders in the world suggested something like this, of course we got onboard," says says Tia Hallanoro of Helsinki Marketing. "Helsinki is a city that belongs to the people living there. Eero took charge of things in his own unique way."
