Wille Yli-Luoma
How old are you?
Twenty-three.
When's your birthday?
February 9.
How long have you been snowboarding?
Ten years.
Where did you first learn how to snowboard?
At a small resort in the north part of Finland.
What terrain were you riding at first?
Park jumps.
Who were you snowboarding with back then?
I can't remember--that was my first year, I was thirteen and we lived in that place for one year. After that, I moved to where I met all the other guys I snowboard with nowadays.
Who are they?
Joni Makinen, Jussi Oksanen, I don't know--a bunch of people.
Who were your first influences in snowboarding?
Probably Terje, Makinen and Ingmar--those were my first three, I think. Actually, Jamie Lynn--I forgot about him.
Who do you snowboard with now?
Jussi, Joni, David Benedeck, Louie, Travis, all the guys on Robot Food.
Who are your sponsors?
ThirtyTwo, etnies, K2, Volcom, Dragon, Active Ride Shop, Defcon--I think that's enough.
What have you been working on this last season (2001-02)?
This little mini-project, Robot Food--a bunch of guys who are fired up that are a part of it. It's kind of fun, because it's just a bunch of friends. So, that's what I've been doing all year.
What are your thoughts on filming?
It's fun when you do it to a certain point, but after a while, it starts to become a job. That's why I'm having a break now--so it doesn't become too much work.
What is good and bad about being a pro snowboarder?
Good: I don't have to buy my boards (laughs). I get to snowboard good spots and always get good jumps. I get to travel, meet many new people. Bad: I dig jumps and ride my sled to places and hike, so I actually don't get to ride as much as I'd like to. I travel a lot, so I never stay in one spot for too long. You can't get used to having a family. I guess those are the worst things--and major injuries, of course.
Do you have any injuries right now?
Right now, I'm pretty good. Well, I'm still trying to fix those teeth I messed up in Italy a year-and-a-half ago. But, no injuries.
So, you're feeling good and taking some time off?
Yeah, I'm stoked I didn't kill myself this season.
Do you enjoy contests?
Not really, but I like seeing my friends there.
How could contests be improved?
Let the riders judge each other--everything would be more fun if it was jam session.
What do you think of snowboarding videos?
I think they are more important and more fun, too.
How did you get on ThirtyTwo?
I don't remember, I think Blaise Rosenthal got me on.
What do you like about ThirtyTwo?
The boots.
What boots are you riding?
Team Ones.
What are your plans for the Summer and early season coming up this Fall (2002)?
I'm going to play some golf, go up to Hood for two weeks, snowboard for a few days, try and do design on next year's board graphics--that's about it. I guess I'll just skate a little bit and bicycle around.
What else do you like to do besides snowboarding?
I like to go fishing, traveling, taking photos--I guess that's it. Hang out with my daughter.
You're hanging out with your little girl? What's her name?
Yeah, Lilou--she is twenty-one months old right now.
How is it having a little girl?
It's good, it's fun. It makes me look at things in a totally different way. You realize that things that are so simple can be fun, too. Everything is so new to kids, so it's always fun to hang out with her.
What's your advice to kids who are struggling to be pro snowboarders?
Don't worry--it will happen if it was meant to happen.
Who are your favorite snowboarders of all time?
Jamie, Nate Cole, Terje, Ingemar, Peter.
What have been the highlights of your snowboarding career?
Discovering powder.
What are your future goals and plans for the next couple of years?
Just snowboard, have fun, go to parties, make enough money so I can sit on my ass somewhere for the rest of my life and not do anything. No, I just want to snowboard, I think. I want to snowboard still, for sure. I'm not ready to quit.