HAMK’s Sponsored Athlete Joona Kangas: Freestyle Skiing as a Lifestyle

Joona Kangas is a professional freestyle skier and one of the sport’s international elite. He is studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in HAMK’s International Business degree programme.

If he had to choose one thing that is the coolest and best feeling in the whole world, for Joona Kangas, it’s hitting a jump at high speed, “getting huge air high up, and then landing so softly it feels like you weren’t even in the air at all.”

This is what Kangas, one of the top international freestyle skiers, says from his home in Levi. He has just returned home from a long tour that first took him to the French Alps and then to major events in the USA: Jib League in Colorado and SuperUnknown in California.

In California, Kangas was awarded as the best male skier. He skied for the Finnish national team from 2012-2019, winning the Junior World Championship in ski slopestyle in 2014. In 2018, Kangas represented Finland at the Olympics. Since then, Kangas has been “skiing on his own terms” and has become known as a video maker and skier in the Keesh ski collective, formed by Finnish skiers. Keesh is known for its gritty, DIY-style ski films and its unique style combining street skiing and backcountry skiing.

HAMK’s Sponsored Athlete recognition and sponsorship came completely out of the blue, and I am truly grateful for it.

“Skiing has largely become my lifestyle and profession. In freestyle, artistic expression has always been a central part of the sport, and in videos, for example, you get to express a lot of creativity. On the other hand, skiing and succeeding at an international level in the sport require systematic training. I ski a lot, for which I am also grateful,” says Kangas.

Kangas got the spark for skiing from home and has been on skis since he was three years old. His father skied mogul skiing at a national championship level, and following his father’s work, the family moved from Himos in Jämsä to Rovaniemi, and when Kangas was eight, they found a home in Levi. Skiing is truly second nature to Joona, and performing seemingly daring jumps and tricks doesn’t particularly scare him.

“There are many different approaches to freestyle. Some are daredevils. I’m more systematic. I do things that I’m likely to succeed at. Alongside skiing, I train diversely in climbing, skateboarding, yoga, jogging, and I go to the gym.”

Entrepreneur Studies Business

Kangas has founded his own company, through which he earns his living. Turnover primarily comes from prize money from competitions and sponsorship agreements, which Kangas has with several international brands.

“I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to be ‘when I grow up,’ so to speak. Continuing in freestyle circles is one possibility, as networking with influential people and sponsors in the sport is easier from within than from outside. The network of contacts I’ve built as a skier could also be valuable for my work in the future.”

But so that all his eggs weren’t in one basket, Kangas decided to also get a degree and chose business studies. A suitable degree programme was found at HAMK.

“I have to confess, I Googled my way to HAMK,” Kangas chuckles.

“I searched online for an International Business degree programme that suited me and that I could complete entirely through online learning, and HAMK’s International Business impressed me.”

The first-year student has been satisfied with his choice, and the 100% online study enables Kangas to combine his demanding profession and studies without compromise.

“This HAMK’s Sponsored Athlete recognition and sponsorship came completely out of the blue, and I am truly grateful for it. I am happy to carry HAMK’s logo with me around the world.”