Iikka Backstrom has one of the smoothest styles in the bidness. We found out what made this crazy Finn first want to get down on the shred stick and what inspired him to become one of the best all-around rippers on the planet.

When did you first strap-in to your shred stick?
I think the first year that I strapped in was 1996 or 1997.

Which was the first snowboard VHS/DVD you ever watched?
There was a Finnish snowboard film that I kept watching called “Darkside of the Earth”, I remember just watching those guys and getting inspired by everyone in it. But the first real snowboard movie I watched that had a massive impact on me was Mack Dawg's Decade. That was when I really lost my shit, I couldn’t believe it. Seeing Joni Malmi and Wille Yli-Louma in that movie blew my mind.


Whose film sections did you first froth over and inspired you to shred?
Watching Daniel Franck’s parts in any movie that he was involved in always inspired me and again, especially Joni’s parts in Decade and Technical Difficulties were amazing. I also remember watching Gigi’s Brainstorm parts, they really made me wanna shred on a different level.

Which was the most memorable part YOU filmed and why?
I think my Promo Copy part with Defective Films, because that was my first real part and I worked super hard all year for it. Everything about that year was awesome. We were such lil’ shits. We filmed rails in Finland all pre-season and spent the rest of the year living in Squamish and filming in Whistler. So many things about that year were so classic. Joni Malmi took us young Finns under his wing for that year and just our whole film crew was awesome. Good times.

Which film and whose part are you most looking forward to this year?
It would definitely have to be the Travis Rice movie.