Rene
Rinnekangas

Finnish ripper Rene Rinnekangas earned a surprise silver in Slopestyle at X Games Aspen 2019, then won gold (and the Fan Favorite vote) in his first X Games Real Snow appearance in 2020. Then he added Slopestyle bronze at Aspen in 2021 and Big Air bronze 2022. He’s a strong all-around rider, one of a very small handful who compete in slopestyle, big air, street style, and even occasional halfpipe events. The energetic Finn has an irrepressible personality and has quickly become a favorite among fans and peers alike. Landing the backside 1980 in Slopestyle at XG Aspen 2022 made him the first snowboarder to land a 1980 in competition. He’s also a master of the snowboard video part art form. The most recent must-see: “Heaven” (December 2024) was directed by his longtime filming partner Anton Kiiski.