Onni Ruusunen throws a frisbee golf bag into the car’s tailgate and jumps in.
The everyday life of the European champion is somewhat hectic. I don’t have a driver’s license yet, but I should still be able to go to school, the Frisbee golf course and the games.
– You won’t be able to go anywhere without discs, says Ruusunen.
Carrying the pucks along is also justified in the sense that the network of frisbee golf facilities in Finland is the second most comprehensive in the world in relation to the number of inhabitants. Almost every municipality has a track.
The throw of the great promise from Harjavalta has been honed on the track of the Hiittenharju sports center, where he has promised to present his throw.
The Yankee professional’s clinic ignited
The puck flies in a beautiful arc and far. Onni Ruususen’s first throw hits the narrow fairway precisely, with an ideal score of four. Based on the European champion’s opening throw, not so many are needed.
After the first skirmish, Ruusunen moves his memories back a few years in his rather short frisbee golf history.
– It was actually in this very place in the summer of 2019, when (professional frisbee golfer) Nate Perkins came to hold a clinic in Hiittenharju.
The example of Perkins, who arrived from Texas, instilled in Ruusus a strong desire to develop. Since then, he’s been throwing whenever he can.
The sport has become one of the most popular
Frisbeegolf grew steadily in Finland for a long time at the rate of a few hundred throwers per year, until during the corona period the number of enthusiasts increased drastically, like many other outdoor activities.
While there were 6,518 throwers registered with the Finnish Frisbeegolfliitto SFL in 2020, the following year the number had risen to over ten thousand.
The licensed players of the association’s member clubs are only a small part of the sport’s actual number of enthusiasts. Natural Resources Center follow-up study according to one fifth of Finns play frisbee golf. Relative to the population, Finland plays the most rounds in the world.
Chairman of the SFL Laura Heikkilä according to, at least suitable conditions and accessibility explain the popularity of the sport.
– We have space to build tracks and they can be found in almost every municipality. Almost everyone can get to the track on foot or by car.
Heikkilä also has a view based on Finnish national character.
– It suits the Finnish mentality to go out into nature and throw things. Throwing is a very Finnish thing and when you can still do it in the forest, it appeals to us.
Girls are needed for frisbee golf
Walking from the throwing area to the puck, Onni Ruususe has time to think about what attracts her in the sport.
– The desire to develop is the biggest thing. I just want to throw further and better all the time. It’s great to watch the puck fly.
What about the nationally romantic analysis of the chairman of the sports association about Finns’ attachment to being in nature and throwing things?
– In my case, I can sign this. After all, it’s great to come and play in the bosom of nature.
Frisbeegolf is emphatically a sport for boys. Of the registered enthusiasts of the Finnish Frisbee Golf Association’s member clubs, there are 9,407 boys or men and only 572 women and girls.
– I can’t find an explanation for that. For some reason, boys just like this more, Ruusunen spins.
SFL president Laura Heikkilä says that the union is working to attract girls to the sport.
– This is also an international trend. Girls can be seen comfortably on the tracks, but girls are not as enthusiastic about competitions as boys.
Professionalism a realistic dream
With his second shot, Onni Ruusunen throws hard and accurately a few meters away from the basket.
A new generation is growing up in the young sport, which is not necessarily trained in other forms of exercise. It may lead to injuries when pucks are jerked with inadequate technique.
– If the technique is well under control, you can throw hard quite comfortably. I also do additional exercises in the weight room, which help prevent injuries, says Ruusunen.
Harjavaltalainen names his best qualities as his putting and head endurance in pressure situations. The puck irresistibly sinks into the basket from about six meters. The man clears the fairway with three throws, i.e. one less than the ideal result.
– You can’t just throw it from that distance in the European Championship, if you want to make it.
Ruusunen is only at the beginning of his career and high school must also be cleared with honor. Frisbeegolf professionalism is, however, something that keeps the future on the waiting horizon.
– Yes, it is quite possible in this situation. It would be great if you could make a career out of this.
You can discuss the topic with Tunnus. The discussion ends on 31.8. at 11 p.m.