Last weekend was interesting especially for the Finnish disc golf fans, since the Finnish National Championships were played at the Mukkula DiscGolfPark in Lahti, Finland.
Team Discmania's Niklas Anttila went to compete at the championships and succeeded in defending his title, winning the Finnish Championships back-to-back! This triumphant performance led to Niklas' third Finnish Champion title.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Niklas after this incredible achievement and ask him about the Finnish Championships, disc golf in Finland and the nearly-overwhelming support he receives from the Finnish fans.
Interview with the newly crowned 3x Finnish Champion
Finnish Championships
It feels awesome to be the Finnish Champion once again. It's a prestigious title in Finland and it feels extra good to win it back-to-back!
Since the pandemic, we have gotten more and more young people involved in the sport. We start to see how they get better every year.
We have so many promising young players from Finland and I hope I get to play with a bunch of new players. That's the best thing that can happen to our sport.
The Finnish Nationals keep getting bigger and more competitive each year. It's now huge deal in Finland and Europe.
Disc golfing in Finland
Disc golf is special in Finland. So many people play it as their hobby, profession and just for fun. And you can see so many young people, it's crazy!
Playing disc golf in Finland feels normal since it's my home (surprise :D). But I have gotten used to playing all around the world, so it doesn't feel that different anymore when I play abroad.
My home course is Puijo DiscGolf in Kuopio, Finland. It has a combination of wooded and open holes. It also has a nice elevation change.
Feeling the support from Finnish fans
The support, especially from Finland, means the world to me. I try to find the best ways to give something back to my fans.
There are multiple Finns that wish me good luck in every single competition, no matter where it's played. It's truly awesome.
I feel like I always represent Finland while playing disc golf. And I am proud of it! I want to make Finnish people proud about the sport of disc golf in Finland.
Finally, a huge thank you to everybody! Your support means a lot and it keeps me on the road. I can't wait to be back in the US competing. KIITOS / THANK YOU!
Celebrate Niklas' triumphant performance
