Jartsi Heikkinen: The Feline Fury of Nightwood.

Picture this: it’s 2015, the icy grip of winter has Kuopio in its clutches, and my wife and I just dropped our duffel bag, wondering what the hell we’d gotten ourselves into. Cut off from the digital noise, the only skateboarding footage I could scrape together was some elusive clips of a tiny DIY park in Savilahti. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t exactly pumped about rolling my wheels there.

Jartsi Heikkinen, garage gap, snow skate near my former Kuopio home.

But hold onto your helmets, folks! The moment I stepped into the local indoor park, it was like stepping into a sauna of skate culture. The community was alive, buzzing in defiance of that dark, cold day. And guess who was the first legend I ran into? You guessed it—Jartsi! We plunged headfirst into a session, and man, did we hit it off. This guy is all about old-school boards and old time trickery like it’s his lifeblood. Walking away with his number? Pure gold. He hooked me up with his crew, the VSP Cowboys, and before I knew it, I was on the invite list for the next Räsälä session.

Jartsi Heikkinen, wallride at Kuopio indoor park.

Now, let’s talk about the gnarliest spot I’ve ever shredded: a concrete pool that took nearly a decade to build, nestled on an island near Kuopio. Even today, it’s the stuff of nightmares! It’s so unforgiving that mistakes are not just punished—they’re brutalized (trust me, my shoulder can attest to that).

Jartsi Heikkinen, lien to tail at Räsälä pool.

In no time, we were tight-knit bros, and Jartsi became one of my best skate pals. He’s the perfect session partner, always flashing that big grin—until things get real. When the moment arrives, this dude morphs into a wild beast, eyes locked on the prize, ready to unleash the gnarliest tricks and most terrifying moves you can imagine. Thanks to him, I’ve tasted the fear to bail in a middle of dropping into vert transitions. Let me tell you, it’s a terrifying, addictive thrill!

Jartsi Heikkinen, boneless at Keljonkangas pool.

Born in ’87, Jartsi fell head over wheels for the wooden toy a decade later, right in the thick of it, as the legendary Kuopio veterans were terrorizing the streets of the Savon’s lovely town. Antti Lampinen and Jarno “Vexi” Väisänen were leading the charge, and you bet your last board Jartsi would tell you Vexi still rules!

Jartsi Heikkinen, crail slide over the cake, at Precious Pool, Sweden.

But this guy is more than just a skate rat—he’s a creative whirlwind, an artist when he’s not shredding. We vibe on art and music, making it a no-brainer to bring him into the Nightwood family from day one. He’s not the kind to flaunt his wild side on social media, but here’s your golden opportunity to get to know him.

Jartsi Heikkinen, layback grind at Metsakooli.

A true friend and an authentic skateboarder, Jartsi is the man you want in your corner. And Man he’d be the one you want to see his moves his wall ride, his favorite. His Texas plant, Kuopio’s style, my favorite. Boneless in a back yard pool , hell yes here he goes!

Jartsi Heikkinen, Texas plant in Kuopio.