Arguably one of the most pioneering flatlanders of the past decade and beyond, Kuoppa broke onto the scene in the late '90s, riding a Dyno Slammer and sporting an unusual sponsor that helped him with travel and contest entry fees -- Chiquita Bananas. After earning top spots in U.S. contests, including an X Games Bronze Medal in 1998 and an X Games Gold Medal in 2001, Kuoppa slowly moved away from the contest scene and began concentrating his efforts on video sections in Chad Johnston's "Intrikat" series and beyond. I would attempt to list off every video section Kuoppa produced alongside Johnston, but I'm positive that I would get it wrong. All I can say is that Kuoppa produced stellar sections in more than a few videos under the "Intrikat" name.

In 2003, after being put through the ringer by former bike sponsors, Kuoppa and friend Viki Gomez created KGB Bike Company. Their approach to flatland products revolutionized flatland technology, creating uniquely shaped flatland frames and forks which enabled the rider to have more room for tricks on the bike. KGB went on to also create a foot-clearing front brake system and a split-video with Gomez under the KGB name, but the brand ended in October of '09 because of the demands of running a BMX brand alongside the progression of their riding.

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Jungle RiderMartti Kuoppa from the Jungle Rider blog, announcing his retirement from flatland in December 2011.

Kuoppa didn't rest on his laurels for too long. The following year, he started up his own brand, dubbed Jungle Rider, and helped create the Ground Tactics online flatland content series. He also continued to ride at an exceptionally high level, developing new whiplash techniques (standing on the stem), impossible switches and more, documenting his progression almost daily on his YouTube channel. According to Kuoppa, who was now no longer earning money from sponsors, he was working a full-time job, riding full-time (four hours a day), and also working on Jungle Rider. "I was in a position that I could not relax at all because new tricks were haunting me moment after moment. I was just waiting the time to pass at work so I could go out and try the new trick -- for next four hours as long as my hands started to shake and I was about to pass out," said Kuoppa.

Ultimately, it seems as if Martti's quest was tearing him apart. "Flatland keeps hurting my heart every time I keep doing it, so I must separate from flatland now because otherwise it would eat me alive," Kuoppa added.

Kuoppa did hint that a return could be imminent in the future, cryptically signing off with "Martti Kuoppa has left the building with a one way bus ticket in the pocket. Hopefully that bus ticket will take me one day to a hobby called flatland freestyle."

Summing up Martti Kuoppa's flatland legacy in a few paragraphs is next to impossible, but I can safely say that Martti Kuoppa was one of the most pioneering, innovative and forward thinking riders to have ever ridden flatland, and his contributions will be missed.

No news was given about the future of Jungle Rider, but frames, forks and bars are still available from Flatland Fuel.