‘She couldn’t believe her ears and asked if I was joking.’
Lena Salmi
July 2025
Can you tell me something about Finland that no one knows?
Our awful winters have made us strong. I hate winters in Helsinki, the capital of Finland but you live here, and you have to stand with it.
If you do not mind me saying this but you just turned 70 and you are still skating. Where does the passion and love come from?
All sport is my passion since childhood. When we had that awful covid-time without sports my life would have been terrible. Sported alone outside even in winter made body exercises standing in slush and snow. And why not skate at my age? Last summer skate school youngsters saw me in my home park, and they shouted when coming there “Lena, you are our idol”. Isn’t that a good reason? (laughing)
You are part of the Facebook group called ‘Very Old Skateboarders’. Who is the oldest one in the group still kicking it?
I’m not sure, perhaps Londoner Elizabeth Stuart is two years older than me. We met at Women’s long board camp in Alsace, France and became immediately soul mates. Have even skated with her in London.
Do you sometimes wish you started earlier?
No. Am happy to find all rolling sports even in my starting age. And by the way my newest hobby is scooter. That is even more cool to begin this children’s sports at the age of 70. When I bought my second scooter one little girl in that shop asked me if I am going to buy it for my grandchild (laughing). She couldn’t believe her ears and asked if I was joking.
What are you doing if not skateboarding?
I learned that you also do graffiti. Graffiti is a big passion, do also draw and comics. Through skateboarding I really noticed graffiti. In 2014 I really got into it. But my newest hobby is gym rings. Swimming is also big passion. As child and teenager I won some medals in Finnish swim championships.
‘I am lousy singer so I’ll rap my song and have also choreography to it.’
Please don’t tell me you also rap as otherwise I have to adopt you.
Actually, will soon rap first time. We have in our small swimming Club Elite Uinti summer party and this time we also do karaoke. Theme should be something common with swimming. I am lousy singer so I’ll rap my song and have also choreography to it.
Has your doctor said anything about giving up skateboarding and do Nordic walking instead?
Not yet. One the contrary. One lovely ear doctor said once that even if you’re so old I recommend to me a special type hearing aid because you are so cheery. It was summer so I longboarded to the doctor’s reception and had my sketchbook with me. I don’t hear very well.
We ride till we die. Right?
For sure!
Last question. If you could interview one person, who would it be?
My gym ring teacher. He, Jan, is the best. So adorable. He studied at the Uni but decided not to work behind a desk. Educated to become a personal trainer and he is so happy now. My question is connected to his choice not to work in a job with a good salary. That’s nowadays quite rare when people just want to run after money and futile things. The other day I asked recently him what other jobs he would do. Jan answered immediately “logger”. Quite a big change from academic world to forests.