Henna Ikola is the most seriously unserious person I’ve ever met. One minute deep in thought about her life’s direction, the next, cackling from behind the door of another toilet she has clogged. Her laugh is unmistakable and contagious, not to mention immediately identifiable in the background of any recording she’s within 100 feet of. And although she can insert humor into any situation, there is a deep well of skill and consideration beneath the surface.
The way she looks at spots and her approach in the streets is unlike any other girl I’ve ever seen. She has insane board control, especially on transitions and surfaces nobody should be going sideways on. Most of her spots require a ladder to get to—and not just because she’s 4’10”. She wants to do big shit, and cannot rest until she has. Actually she cannot rest much at all because she’ll stay up all night looking at memes, recording a new rap song, or sending the longest existential crisis text messages known to man. And by the time you wake up and read them, she’s like “never mind, all good, hahah!”
She’s an over-thinker, and it shows up in the details she puts into her riding. But it also shows up off the snow; in her friendships, the way she supports people, cheering them on, celebrating their small wins and stepping in with one of her dumb jokes when things go sideways. Henna is capable of things on her snowboard that only she can imagine, and she makes everyone around her feel like they might be too.
– Jess Kimura
Jess Kimura - Capita Snowboards' Defenders of Awesome 2 (2014)
Jess has definitely always been ahead of her time. This part is full of heaters and to this day an absolute banger. The amount of work and heart she puts into everything (on and off hill) is so inspiring. She’s the absolute GOAT and the ender in this part is one of the best clips anyone has ever filmed in my opinion.
Jill Perkins - Dustbox's dreamcastle (2021)
Jill's Part: 26:28
Everything she does is so G. The spot choices, the trick choices, style - pure perfection. Big fan and she’s been one of my biggest inspirations in street snowboarding for sure. When I started watching her stuff, it was an instant “I wanna do that shit too.” This part gives me goosebumps every time. The ender is crazyyyy.
Sami Luhtanen - Full Part (2016)
Hard to find words that do justice. He’s just built different. His board control is amazing and everything he does is so gnarly. I’ve watched this part so many times and it’s just as good every time. The riding, the filming, the song, the lifestyle shots. Everything about it. I think this part has influenced so many Finnish riders and riders worldwide too. It really made roofs and wallrides hot again.
Toni Kerkela - Transworld Snowboarding's Insight (2016)
If there’s a part I’ve watched more than any other, it would be this one. Full of bangers and TK is an absolute legend. I’ve been a huge fan since I was a little girl and nowadays he’s been mentoring me and inspiring on so many levels. Great guy and a great snowboarder. The ender in this part is so dope, cause you can really feel the clip high through the screen [laughs].
Everyone - Burton Snowboards' Hot Coco (2023)
Can't pick just one rider, and since it’s a mixtape, I don't think I have to haha. It's an absolute masterpiece from start to finish. This is easily one of the best snowboard videos ever made, and the "Video of the Year" award really says it all. What's so exciting is that even though it's an all female video, it was one of the first to be treated with the same respect as a men's video. It's packed with incredible riding and has been incredibly progressive for women's snowboarding. I'm a huge fan of all the riders and Dave absolutely killed it with the filming and editing.
