Jätkänkynttilä Snow Surfboards Made in Rovaniemi Are Now Available for Purchase and Loan
As a new addition to the Rovaniemi product line, the City of Rovaniemi presents the ILAHU Jätkänkynttilä snow surfboard – handcrafted locally and designed for Arctic powder snow. A total of ten boards have been made, one of which is available for loan from the Rovaniemi Main Library.
Showcasing Arctic Expertise
Snow surfboards made by Treeform, a company based in Rovaniemi, represent Arctic design where functionality meets elegant form. The Jätkänkynttilä board, crafted from Finnish birch, features shapes and patterns inspired by the City of Rovaniemi’s brand identity. Each board is individually numbered and signed by its maker, master carpenter Jan Leutola.
“It’s great that the city is highlighting local design and craftsmanship. The Jätkänkynttilä board was born out of a love for the sport, the Arctic nature, and Rovaniemi,” says Leutola.
Leutola’s company Treeform has been producing snow surfboards under the ILAHU brand since 2014. The boards have also gained international recognition. Treeform was awarded Arctic Design Company of the Year at the Arctic Design Week in 2016.
“Rovaniemi is home to an extraordinary amount of unique creativity. A snow surfboard developed, designed, and handcrafted here is a true example of world-class design expertise. A board that carries the rider into the silence of nature, created for northern conditions, reflects Rovaniemi and its spirit on many levels,” says Heini-Tuuli Onnela, Director of Communications and Marketing for the City of Rovaniemi.
Snow Surfboard Available for Day Loan at the Library
One of the handcrafted Jätkänkynttilä snow surfboards has found a home at the Rovaniemi Main Library’s Aalto Hall, where it can be borrowed with a library card. This makes it easy for anyone to try out snow surfing with a low barrier to entry. At the same time, the board showcases northern craftsmanship to library visitors.
“To our knowledge, we are the only library in the world where you can borrow a snow surfboard. The library’s services have expanded far beyond books to support leisure, study, and work in many ways. We are happy to welcome anyone interested in snow surfing to the library,” says Library Director Nina Sipola.
The snow surfboard can be borrowed with a Lapland Library card for one day at a time. It cannot be reserved in advance, but availability can be checked at the library. The minimum age for borrowing is 16.
Jätkänkynttilä Boards Expand the Range of Rovaniemi Products
The Jätkänkynttilä snow surfboard is a new addition to the range of Rovaniemi-themed products, which already includes items such as T-shirts, mugs, neck gaiters, and wooden cutting boards also crafted by Treeform. The selection will continue to grow with locally made collaborative products.
A numbered series of snow surfboards is available for purchase through the City of Rovaniemi’s online store at rovaniemi.fi/kauppa and at the Korundi Shop in the Korundi House of Culture.
*This article has been translated with artificial intelligence