How Finland's Snowboarding Mentor Relaxes by Crafting With Yarn

If Antti Koskinen's coaching career with elite snowboarders ever falters, he has a promising backup plan as a professional knitter.

At the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, during slopestyle qualification rounds, Koskinen was seen at the top of the course, holding yarn and knitting needles, even removing his gloves in the freezing temperatures to get a firmer grip.

While social media users were quick to share their amusement over the coach's quirky hobby, it’s not the first time Koskinen has used knitting to calm his Olympic jitters. At the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, he worked on a scarf, sharing that it helped ease the tension for his nervous athletes before competitions. Some athletes even joined in, hoping to pass their creations on to their peers for the 2016 Summer Games.

This year, Koskinen’s knitting not only made a comeback but now has a deeper meaning, serving a purpose beyond just soothing athletes on the slopes.

While Koskinen and Team Finland haven’t quite turned wool into gold yet, they’ve certainly earned a few bronze medals. But that’s alright—they remain a truly tight-knit group.