Jani Kurtti in his snowmobile helmet, a snowy forest trail reflected in the goggles

Rider's point of view riding a sunny forest trail in deep snow

8.10.2026, Kuusamo

Hi – may I introduce myself?

I'm Jani Kurtti – a northern boy and an athlete. My mission is simple: live the dream and inspire others to do what they dream about in life. Anything is possible when you let the fire lead the way.

Welcome to my world!

Above Horizon – Jani Kurtti, mountain snowmobiler and content creator

No sterile content here. I live real mountain sledding and share it straight from the deepest powder.

No shortcuts. Just deep snow and my own line.

“It all started when my dad put me on a sled when I was 6 or 7 years old.”

66°N 29°E · The lake back home

Where it all began —

I remember that moment well: I was riding behind my dad on a frozen lake and suddenly realised he'd jumped off – I was driving a big adult sled all by myself. My godfather had a sled too, and I got to ride solo in the fields at seven. Pretty wild rally for those days.

Little by little, sledding grew into a passion and a way of life that has carried me to this day. In 2015 I bought my first brand-new mountain sled, and freeriding took me to untouched powder. Sponsorships starting in 2018 took everything to a bigger scale.

6–7Years old, first solo ride
2015First brand-new mountain sled
2018First sponsorship deals

From the northern fells to Canada's legendary mountains.

2017 · British Columbia, Canada

It started as a holiday.

In 2017 I went to British Columbia on holiday and fell for the place. I promised myself I'd come back to ride. But how? A week here costs a fortune, and the snow might not even show up.

In 2022 I found a forestry company and got in touch. The visa dragged on and on – so in January 2024 I just booked three weeks and went riding.

$10,000 CAD · sent to someone I'd never met

January 2024 · 50°N 118°W · British Columbia

Okay – here's the crazy part:

I pulled quite a stunt: a month before, I sent 10,000 Canadian dollars to a Finn living there – someone I'd never met – so he could buy me a Yamaha Sidewinder in advance. When I got there, the same guy gave me a place to sleep and rented me a car. It was the adventure of my life.

I rode solo all around British Columbia, meeting dozens of people. Back then I barely spoke any English, but I'd just walk up at a gas station or a parking lot and ask if I could join the crew. There was always good company to ride with!

I even got to stay the night with a Canadian whose videos I'd watched on YouTube – that's where it all took off. The next winter I got a Working Holiday visa and a job at Freya Logging. I spent seven months there from December 2024, riding alongside some of the best in the world, like Brett Turcotte, Caleb Kesterke, Matt Doetch and Trevor Odiorne.

“Day one in Canada: 6 a.m., big pickups, gas station. And the surprise – with all that open snow, riding was easier than in the Nordic bush.”

Winter 2024–25 · 7 months in BC

Something I never saw coming:

In Canada I found out how far my videos had travelled. I drove 400 kilometres from where I was staying to ride in Blue River – and there were fans there who'd come about a thousand kilometres, and they recognised me right away. I hadn't even realised how many people were watching on YouTube and Instagram, where my follower count jumped by over six thousand.

1,000 kmFans travelled to Blue River
+6,000New followers on Instagram
7 moIn BC since December 2024

The Sidewinder Guy

One of a kind in the powder.

Jani's red and white Yamaha Sidewinder parked in front of a snowy mountain — The only rider making videos on a four-stroke mountain sled.

Jani riding through deep powder between snowy trees — Tech lines, trees and tricks – 60 kg heavier than the two-strokes.

The Sidewinder parked in deep snow in a burnt forest — Six Sidewinders since 2018.

4T, 250+Four-stroke engine, horsepower
+60 kgHeavier than the two-strokes
6Sidewinders owned
2018Yamaha sponsorship begins

Field notes · Insta360 · phone · DSLR

Riding vs. filming

So how do I balance riding and making content? That's the hardest part. Usually we're so stoked riding that nobody bothers digging the cameras out of the backpack. Luckily the new Insta360 cameras get great POV angles, and we shoot a lot on our phones. Sometimes a €3,000 system camera comes along – and often stays forgotten in the backpack all day – but when it does come out, the quality is on another level. Sledding is really hard to film from the side: the places I get to are tough for most people to reach, and the speed and the trees make shooting a challenge of its own.

Shall we ride the same line?

To: my partners

Thank you.

I do this out of pure love for the sport – and that's exactly why I only ride with gear I believe in. When I show a product, it's because it's good and helps other riders get the most out of their days too.

The best partnerships are built on trust: the sponsor trusts what I do and lets me do it my way, without a script. That's when the content is never forced – it comes straight from the sport and the products. I've been lucky to work with partners like that, and I'm truly grateful.

Huge thanks to Yamaha for 2018–2023 and for one legendary sled trip.

To: you – and your brand

Looking for authentic visibility and real attitude for your brand? My channels reach sledders, outdoor people and extreme-sports fans in Finland and around the world. If you want to come along for the ride, drop me a message.

See you above the horizon,

jani.kurtti@hotmail.com