Olli AROLA
Joen Liitokiekko
Bunch of good guys enjoying
the beauty of disc golf
TEAM OBSIDIAN
Team Obsidian is a bunch of good guys who have volunteered to help promote our brand. These goodwill ambassadors understand the roots of OD and want to do their part in bringing this small brand to the disc golf players’ attention. If you need a playing community, tips for technique, info about courses or discs, or just a friendly chat, please do not hesitate to approach us when you see us on the course!
Division: MP50
Year of birth: 1966
Hometown: Joensuu
Career wins: 3
Handedness: Left (mixed)
Starting year: 2014
Max distance: 100 m
Favourite course: Lykynlampi
Favourite tournament: Tyyni
Career highlights: The day when my son, who started playing after me, beat me for the first time! Great moment of "Passing the torch"!
Goals: To be able to keep passing those hints and tips to newcomers, and sharing enthusiasm and positive vibes among the DG-community.
Motto: "Let every round played slow down the decline of skills and ability to play." (MP50-mantra)
Club: Joen Liitokiekko
Instagram: @olliarol
Toni JAATINEN
Joen Liitokiekko
Division: MPO
Year of birth: 1991
Hometown: Äänekoski
Career wins: 9
Handedness: RHFH + RHBH
Starting year: 2011
Max distance: Over 100 m, 100 m with Splinter
Favourite course: Äänekoski DGP
Favourite tournament: National Team Championships
Career highlights: National Team Champion 2021, PDGA rating of 1003
Goals: Teaching, winning and staying healthy!
Club: Joen Liitokiekko
Instagram & TikTok: @jaatitoni
Samu Kesonen
Joen Liitokiekko
Division: MPO
Year of birth: 2002
Hometown: Joensuu
Starting year: 2014
Max distance: 140 m
Favourite course: Top 5 at the moment: The Beast (Nokia), Lauste (Turku), Disc Golf Center (Tampere), Puijo (Kuopio) and Kippasuo (Heinola)
Favourite tournament: Finnish National
Career highlights:
- 3rd place (tied) Finnish National Amateurs in 2021
- 2rd place Finnish National Mixed Doubles in 2021
- 1st place Koli Open in 2022
- 991 rating (pb)
Goals: To be over 1000-rated player; to improve my game as much as possible; to challenge the top of Finland and play good rankings in every competition.
Club: Joen Liitokiekko
Instagram: @samukesonen
Jukka KÄLKÄJÄ
BSC Disc Golf Team
Division: M50
Year of birth: 1969
Hometown: Kempele
Career wins: 5
Handedness: Right
Starting year: 2012
Max distance: Enough
Favourite course: Kaatis
Favourite tournament: Kärkkäinen Open
Career highlights:
- 4th place Finnish National Master MP50 in 2019
- 3rd place Finnish National Mixed Doubles in 2014, 2016 & 2017
- 2nd place Finnish National Mixed Doubles in 2020
Goals: To enjoy the good moments in the sports.
Club: BSC Disc Golf Team
Ville NIVALAINEN
Joen Liitokiekko
Division: MP40
Year of birth: 1977
Hometown: Joensuu
Career wins: 3
Handedness: RHBH + RHFH
Starting year: 2009
Max distance: 120 m
Favourite course: Lykynlampi
Favourite tournament: Pohjois-Karjalan avoimet
Career highlights:
- National Champion, Finnish National Doubles 2020 MP40
- 4th place, Finnish National Mixed Doubles 2020 MP40
- 5th place in Finnish National Team Championships 2016 & 2014 open series
Goals: To meet many wonderful players and to enjoy the good moments in the sports.
Club: Joen Liitokiekko
Instagram: @vnivalainen
Markus NOWC
Disc Golf Club Hamburg
Division: MPO
Year of birth: 1980
Hometown: Hamburg
Starting year: 2008
Max distance: 100 m
Favourite course: Järvä
Favourite tournament: European Open
Career highlights: Club Champion
Goals: Playing the European Open
Motto: Have Fun
Club: Disc Golf Club Hamburg
Instagram: @markusnowc
Hugo Räty
Joen Liitokiekko
Division: MJ18
Year of birth: 2007
Hometown: Joensuu
Starting year: 2019
Max distance: 150-160 m
Favourite course: Kontioranta
Favourite tournament: North Karelia Open
Career highlights:
- Joining Team Obsidian
- 1st in Susiraja Open 2023 MA2 series
Goals: Succeed in disc golf, first in Finland and then constinue to the top of disc golf in Europe.
Club: Joen liitokiekko
Instagram: @dg_raty
Heikki SAUNANEN
Ähtärin Urheilijat
Division: MP40/MPO
Year of birth: 1981
Hometown: Ähtäri
Starting year: 2006
Max distance: 140 m
Favourite course: Franz Ferdinand & Tuomarniemi
Favourite tournament: European Open & NDGE
Career highlights:
- Finnish National Champion in 2021 MP40
- 2nd in Finnish National Team Championships four times in a row (2019-2022)
- 2nd in Finnish National Doubles 2021 MP40
Goals: To be over 1000 rated player and to be able to tease young guns in MPO as long as possible
Club: Ähtärin Urheilijat
Instagram: @mrbastu
Lukas SCHÄR
Walkabout Disc Golf Club Bern
Division: MPO
Year of birth: 1985
Hometown: Bern
Starting year: 2007
Max distance: 153 m
Favourite course: Maple Hill
Favourite tournament: Bern Open
Career highlights:
- 2 x Swiss Champion MPO (2017, 2018)
- 2 x Swisstour Winner (2021, 2022)
- Representing Switzerland at EDGC's in Oulu 2016, Sveti Martin 2018, Konopiste 2021 (Tallinn 2023 coming up!)
Goals: To constantly improve my game, having fun off and on the course, enjoy the game and nature with family and friends!
Club: Walkabout Disc Golf Club Bern
Instagram: @luschaer
Sinna TALVENSOLA
Jyväskylän Liitokiekkoilijat
Division: FPO
Year of birth: 2004
Hometown: Jyväskylä
Starting year: 2013
Max distance: 90+ m
Favourite course: Hiiska
Favourite tournament: North-Karelia Open
Career highlights: 5th place in Junior Worlds 2019
Goals: Improve my game, compete in solid tournaments and bring visibility to girls' and women's disc golf, while being a good role model to younger players.
Club: Jyväskylän Liitokiekkoilijat
Instagram: @tytotkin_fribaa
Kalle TASKINEN
Frisbeekotkat
Division: MJ15
Year of birth: 2007
Hometown: Hamina
Starting year: 2018
Max distance: 130-135m
Favourite course: Keinukallio
Favourite tournament: Linnoitus Open and Tyyni
Career highlights:
- Joining Team Obsidian
- 1st place in Multia AMA Series
- 2nd place in Linnoitus Open
Goals: Succeed as well as possible. Keep improving my game all the time.
Motto: Heittämällä paras päivä
Club: Frisbeekotkat
Instagram: @kapetappinen
Free word: Ask to play a round if you are in the South East part of Finland!
