Date of birth: 16.02.1983

Place of birth: Järvenpää, Finland

Riding since: 1993

Home mountain: Talma (55 metres)

Favourite mountain: Talma

Favourite summer riding: Les Deux Alps

Stance: regular, +12 front, –6 back, width 60 to 62cm

Weapon of choice: Prodigy 156, Artec 2.2 154.5

Sponsors: Elan Snowboards

Matti… what can I say about this kid? I first met him on the Elan Team shoot last spring, and at first glance he looked like the typical Finn to me: shy, barely talking and friendly. On the 9-hour bus ride from Munich airport to Les Crosets, Matti was mostly hiding under his big, blue and yellow beanie, snoozing in the back of the van.

The following days on the shoot allowed me to get to know this kid a little better, but I guess nobody could describe Matti better than his team mates Nate (Sheehan), Anssi (Manninen) and Aleksi (Vanninen). So here is what the bros have to say about Matti – Andi Spies:

Aleksi Vanninen:
“When ever I go to Finland’s ‘snowboard pro-factory’, Talma, Matti is always there shredding with his buddies. One does not get any more ‘local’ than him, he must have spent more than half of his life riding up and down that silly 55 metre-high hill. The kid has got a super sick, clean, laid-back style that always pops out from a crowd of shreds. He can pretty much do every trick in the book on command. And you can clearly tell that he’s always having fun when snowboarding, lovin’ every little bit of it till the last drop. I don’t know, it’s just pure pleasure to watch Matti ride, he does it with such smoothness and ease that all you are left with is enjoying the show.”

Nate Sheehan:
“I got the chance to hang out with Matti this past winter in Switzerland, and let me tell you, the kid snores louder than anyone I’ve ever heard. He sounds like a bear giving birth. But I guess he’s the type of person that does everything 100% because his riding is just as powerful as his snoring. I was wicked impressed by his style and consistency and, even after stomping a 40ft gap to lipslide on a handrail none of us even wanted to step to, he just kept a modest grin on his face like he was loving every minute of it. Matti’s coming up so keep an eye out, and if you’re going to be his roommate, just make sure he doesn’t drink any red wine before he goes to bed!”

Anssi Manninen:
“Matti’s riding is technical, but smooth with nice tweaks. No wonder he’s so good, ’cause he rides 24/7. When I go to Talma, Matti is always there. I heard that he had only a four-day break of riding when he didn’t go to Talma two seasons ago, because he was sick. I think that tells already pretty much what you can expect from this talented energiser bunny in the future!”