How it started

The VHS That Sparked a Movement: How Bouldering Began on Åland

In the quiet corners of the Baltic Sea lies Åland, a remote archipelago known for its serene landscapes, red granite cliffs, and maritime charm. But for the global climbing community, Åland has become something more — a hidden gem for bouldering. And it all started in the late 1990s with a few curious climbers and a VHS tape that would change everything.

Roots in the Late 90s

Bouldering on Åland began as a grassroots movement. In the late 1990s, a handful of local and visiting climbers began exploring the forested islands in search of clean, climbable granite. Among these early pioneers was Jan Kankkonen, one of Åland’s first boulderers. With a passion for adventure and exploration, Jan started brushing problems and sharing knowledge with visiting climbers from mainland Finland and Sweden.

The Turning Point – A VHS Tape from 2004

The real breakthrough came in 2004, when Finnish climber and filmmaker Torsti Laine released a VHS film simply titled "Å - Baltic Sea Bouldering."This 40-minute documentary was filmed entirely on the Finnish island of Åland and featured some of the most well-known names in the climbing world:

• Ben Moon – the British legend and a pioneer of modern bouldering

• Eric Massih – a strong figure in the Nordic climbing scene

• Tomi Nytorp – one of Finland’s top climbers

• and local climber Jan Kankkonen, proudly representing Åland on screen

The film showed Åland’s raw potential: beautiful, compact granite blocks hidden among pine forests, with landings flat enough to inspire confidence and problems technical enough to challenge even the pros.

From Obscurity to Destination

The VHS film became a quiet classic in climbing circles. Passed from hand to hand and eventually digitized and shared online, it marked Åland’s arrival on the international bouldering map. What followed was a steady stream of climbers coming to experience what they had only seen on screen — and they weren’t disappointed.

The “Å” film was more than just documentation; it was an invitation. It helped establish an identity for Åland as a climbing destination: authentic, beautiful, and just remote enough to feel like a personal discovery.

Today: A Thriving Scene

Fast forward to today, Åland boasts over 2,000 documented problems, modern topo maps on 27crags, climbing festivals, gear rentals, and even dedicated accommodations for climbers. But it all started with a few granite blocks, a VHS camera, and the vision of those early climbers who believed in the island’s potential.

So next time you chalk up for a send on Åland’s pink granite, remember — you’re part of a story that began over two decades ago, with a VHS tape and a dream.