Enni Rukajarvi

2025 Research and Development: Pushing Female Snowboarding to New Heights

Research and Development (RnD), presented by Arc'teryx and YETI, took over the sidecountry of Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson, BC, for one of the most progressive backcountry events of the 2025 season. Eighteen fearless female snowboarders took freestyle big mountain riding to the next level—showcasing creativity, raw power, and serious style. Massive sends, technical lines, stomped landings, and double backies made this an unforgettable showdown.

Helmed by backcountry pioneer Robin Van Gyn, RnD is revolutionizing female snowboarding with an immersive experience that accelerates riders’ growth, opens doors to new opportunities, and connects them with top-tier photographers and filmmakers. Combining mentorship, competition, and a two-day filming segment, the event elevates riders’ skills, merging freestyle with backcountry riding.

Who laid down the heaviest tricks, the gnarliest lines, and the cleanest runs? And who delivered the best two-day film segment? Watch to find out why first-place finisher Šárka Pančochová earned a spot at the final stop of the 2025 Natural Selection Tour. Witness these girls come together in the mountains to push their limits, forge new friendships, and throw down on film in just two days.

Event Dates: Feb 22, 2025 – March 2, 2025
Location: Whitewater Ski Resort, Nelson, BC, Canada
Riders: Amalia Pelchat, Amaya Potts, Cali Loeb, Celia Petrig, Egan Wint, Ellie Weiler, Ellery Manning, Emilé Zynobia, Enni Rukajärvi, Estelle Pensiero, Eva Van Vugt, Gill Andrewshenko, Isabella Gomez, Katie Kennedy, Marissa Krawczak, Mia Jones, Šárka Pančochová, Zoë Vernon

Follow the Riders: @billy_pelchat, @amaya.potts, @bigmountainmarissa, @caliloeb, @celia.petrig, @curlsinthewild, @ellery_manning_, @ellie.weiler, @ennirukajarvi, @estellepensiero, @evavanvugt, @gillianandrewshenko, @isabella_gomezz, @katie_kenzz, @mia_jones_, @princess.menace, @sarkasnow, @zoefloweee

Final Results:
1st Place: Šárka Pančochová – $5,000 + 2025 Natural Selection Tour Final Stop Entry
2nd Place: Estelle Pensiero – $3,000
3rd Place: Mia Jones – $2,000
Special Awards:
Air Chair Award: Enni Rukajärvi
Seal Team 69 Sender Award: Eva Van Vugt
Mountain Goat Award: Marissa Krawczak
Style Award: Ellie Weiler
Very Proper Award: Billy Pelchat

Sponsors: Arc'teryx, YETI, The Natural Selection Tour, Burton, Jones Snowboards, Nelson & Kootenay Lake Tourism, The Adventure Hotel, Tribute, Whitewater Ski Resort
Cinematographers: Greg Weaver, Mark Morrison, Travis Lewis, Clay Mitchell, Akailah Yocom, Ty Theroret, Jamie Tanner, Mia Lampson, Tim Manning
Edited by: Thomas Doyle
Follow RnD for BTS & Updates:
Instagram: @rndsearch

2023 DUELS | Elena Height VS. Enni Rukajarvi

Location and terrain selected by: Elena Hight

2022 Tour Champion, Elena, and Natural Selection newcomer, Enni, made names for themselves in halfpipe and slopestyle, respectively. They’ve further ascended by applying their deep bags of tricks to powder landings.


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2023 Tour:
Stage_01: DUELS
Stage_02: Revelstoke, BC
Stage_03: Alaska

Volcom Spot to Spot 2022 in Avoriaz

What a way to kick off the season!

Volcom Spot to Spot 3rd edition was the first version to run over 2 days in the French resort of Avoriaz. And what a smart move that was, cause on day one we were graced with fog thicker than Arctic winter darkness. Yet, in spite of a total whiteout, the riders threw down an incredible level of riding during the Rail Jam.

Come evening, it was time for the long awaited Creedlecosm premiere, followed by dinner, where France smashing England in the World Cup was part of the side show. Eventually, everyone made it to the “The Place” where Double Cheese put on a mind-bending gig, leading to surprisingly many stripping their shirts and joining the raging mosh pit. By 5am, most made it home but not everyone….

Day 2 greeted us with the bluest of blue skies and temperature’s dropping to – 20°C (– 4°F) on top of the mountain. Nevertheless, riders soldiered through and put on an impressive show during the Side Hits Challenge and Speed check.
Lunch was served in form of outstanding burritos and beer at prize giving, before we moved on the final challenge of Spot to Spot 2022: the Pro Feature – a 3D Volcom Stone placed on top of a pyramid of snow, enabling riders to approach it from every angles.

Thanks to everyone who joined the party and to our partners Avoriaz, Capita Snowboards, Electric Eyewear, Union Bindings, Act Magazine, Method Mag, Hideout hostels, Rock On Snow, Woodbrass, and Ocean52.

Video: Will Graham & Lionel Simon
Music: "Bite It" - Double Cheese

The Logbook | #LAAXOPEN 2022

Perfect set-up, top organization, amazing performances in pipe & park and enthusiastic riders wowing the crowd: That’s LAAX OPEN 2022 – the last FIS Snowboard World Cup before Olympia 2022!

Tune into the logbook created by the LAAX OPEN film crew.

Spring Battle 22 - Best 540 Snowboard Women

Here we go - our TOP 3 Snowboard Women #springbattle22best540

1st Anna Gasser
2nd Tess Coady
3rd Enni Rukajarvi

#springbattle22

Does the Queen of Slopestyle strike again? 🏂

Best of: Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Highlights Video | Dew Tour Copper 2021

The women’s snowboard slopestyle competition had a stacked field of athletes descend down Copper Mountain at Dew Tour this winter. Although conditions proved to be a problematic factor for speed, the women put on a fierce competition. The highlights video features Hailey Langland, Laurie Blouin, Julia Marino, Annika Morgan, Tess Coady, Jamie Anderson, Ellie Weiler, Reira Iwabuchi, Courtney Rummel, Kokomo Murase, Enni Rukajarvi, and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott.

Winning Runs: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott Wins in Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final | Dew Tour Copper 2021

With a field size of 15 women snowboards in the slopestyle final after all, three runs complete, it was New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott to finish in first place. Coming in second was Finland’s own Enni Rukajarvi, and Kokomo Murase of Japan in third place.

SPRING BATTLE | BEST 540 - Snowboard Women

BEST 540 - Snowboard Women
1st: Anna Gasser
2nd: Isabel Derungs
3rd: Sina Candrian
4th: Enni Rukajarvi
5th: Thalie Larochaix

This year in its 19th edition and due to the current Covid-19 situation, we adapted to the restrictions and held the Spring Battle 2021 as BEST TRICK INSTAGRAM ONLINE CONTEST with a total prize money purse of 74.000 US$.

#springbattle2021​ #absolutpark​ #springbattle21best540

Enni Rukajarvi | Women's Slopestyle | Aspen | 3rd place | FIS Snowboard