1999
In 1999 the competition was arranged in circumstances that have later been described as monsoon-like. Despite the heavy torrent, the event gathered an audience of 1,500 people. Already more than half of the eleven competitors came from outside Finland: there were a few Brits, an American and a Frenchman. What made the competition historical, though, was its winner: Johanna Ala-Siurua was the first woman who won the World Championship title. The judges of the competition were Juha Torvinen and folk dance choreographer Petri Kauppinen.
Results
1. Johanna Ala-Siurua (FIN)
2. Petteri Tikkanen (FIN)
3. Arnaud Stephan (FRA)
