Alma Hakala
Back in the early days of snowboarding the pioneers of the sport could only blame themselves for chucking their carcasses around snowy slopes with a piece of wood. Sure sometimes the blame (if blame was needed) could even be thrown at society or just parents for not accepting the more rebellious members of the human pack.
But if Alma Hakala needs to point her finger in an accusing direction for her snowboarding, it would definitely be pointed at dad.
Alma represents the generation of snowboarders who do not know of a world without it. Also safe to say the strongest influence for her sideways choice came from her father.
Grown and raised within a safe distance from all big cities, about 250km away from all coastal lines Alma has her roots in a whole lot more pragmatic way of life than your average city kid. She is as comfortable sitting in the woods with a hunting rifle as she is taking her frontside spins off the toes ( a signature move for her) like it still would be -95.
Snowboarding is something a lot more for her than just something brought on by dear ol’ dad or to try convincing the world on social media your’e actually doing something cool in your life.
It’s a need. It’s an escape, it’s an aim with goals and it’s about expression. Adding to the last; Jumalauta was a choice of values for Alma.
Likewise not knowing of a world without snowboarding she is also of that generation who has had ringside seats to the “How the previous generations turned our world and winters to shit with their need for, fast, cheap and effective commodities” -show. This younger generation is fed up 4 real with a lot of things, and for Alma to be able to showcase her snowboarding with a board that is actually grown, designed and handmade in Finland was right up her alley.
Compared to the rest of the Jumalauta gang, Alma does have everything still in front of her. What comes to a career in snowboarding, she starts modestly off by tickling the needle in 2025 with women’s Finnish nationals gold medals in big air & slopestyle with silver in half-pipe just for good measures.
There’s also many words to describe devotion to something with, but if you have (like Alma) over 2200 check-ins at the liftgate on your Ruka season pass in season -24-25 alone, you do not need words to describe your passion and commitment, your actions speak for themselves.
This said, there’s not much more to add than we are jumalauta stoked about having this young lady on our team!
The bar is not yet set for her by far in what we can expect to see from her in the coming seasons.