Joonas Luotonen, 32, was recently able to reveal the summer lies to his loved ones. Acquaintances were embarrassed by the truth, because Joonas, who describes himself as an introverted person, joined The Summit Suomi program.
Joonas Luotonen, who competes in The Summit Suomi program, says that he is “the cheerleader type”. He has previously indulged himself fully in new hobbies, such as tattoos or pickles. MTV
The Summit Finland program, 14 Finns who don’t know each other form an expedition and go to the mountains of Norway.
The expedition has 15 days to hike 133 kilometers and finally reach the top of Mount Kolåstinden. The reality series, seen for the second time in Finland, promises to offer extreme, even tougher conditions and wilder tasks.
One of the participants in the expedition is from Kaarina Joonas Luotonen32, who describes himself as an “introvert”. Why did a classroom teacher who enjoys indoors and has never stayed in a tent want to join the dawn?
– I’ve actually never particularly enjoyed being in nature, and it’s been a bit exciting, Luotonen explains.
– Then I saw the ads on TV that The Summit Finland we are looking for participants for the new season. I told my wife that what if I applied there and it would be my baptism of fire to nature and camping, she continues to think.
One day, the ad for the program came on again on TV and he decided to take it easy.
– I was alone at home for a while and from that moment I forwarded the application and the videos.
The father of two small children says that he watched the first season of the show.
– I never thought at that point that I could really be there.
– My first child is now 5 years old and he really likes being in nature. I would like to offer him and both of my children nature experiences and camping, so I also wanted to go for that, if I could get something to spark it.
Luotonen received a call from the production during the summer holiday trip. The family was driving in central Finland.
– It was an incredible feeling, somehow such an inspiration and rush of adrenaline came when I heard that I would now go on a trip and have an adventure.
– We even stopped for a bit in the parking lot with the family to celebrate it.
He didn’t have time to make any major preparations before the race. The hobby of jogging continued and Luotonen slightly repeated the previous season of the series.
– I thought a little beforehand about what kind of strategy I should go for. The plan was that I would play hard and since moving in nature is not my strong point, I thought that playing and planning would be.
Joonas thought about his game tactics in advance and familiarized himself with the previous season of the program. MTV
In the announcement of the program, it was told how, despite his easy-going nature and friendly nature, Luotonen is ready to do everything he can to win. His tactic was to be nice to everyone, but at the same time plan game moves far ahead.
Before the dawn itself, Luoto was nervous. However, he says that his wife occasionally laughs at his sometimes excessive self-confidence – even for things that Luotonen does for the first time.
– Yes, I was nervous. Maybe also when there are suddenly completely new people around and then you have to get to know each other, survive and do tasks at the same time. Everything new comes at once.
– It made me think in advance, but I left with such self-confidence that I could handle this, he says.
The secret was revealed
Luotonen’s weekdays are spent working as a class teacher and spending time with his own children.
He tells how the students have been excited after the announcement of the participants. “Are you that Summit-Joonas? How did it go? Did you win?”, are the questions now. Of course, Luotonen can only answer the first question for now.
– The students are indeed the most grateful “fan horde”. They are so excited and it’s kind of sweet.
The Summit Suomi program is hosted by Jasper Pääkkönen. MTV
As the departure approached, Luotonen had to lie to some of his colleagues and acquaintances. Why on earth does a teacher who otherwise takes long summer vacations still need more vacation at the end of the summer?
– My wife works at the same school, so she had explained that I was with my brothers and father in Greece and that the others didn’t get vacation until the end of the summer.
– Many then asked if it was a good trip. It just had to say, of course, Luotonen recalls.
When the secret was revealed, the co-workers realized that the man had not been anywhere in Greece.
– Those who know that I’m not a hiker have been wondering why you went there or if it makes sense now, he laughs.
Even before the first episode came out, Luotonen can say that the experience changed his relationship with nature. Now moving in nature feels easier and the intense experience changes the attitude towards nature rather than towards oneself.
The Summit Finland starts on the MTV3 channel and MTV Katsomo on March 1. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.
