Despite signing a historic cooperation agreement, Niklas Anttila’s lifestyle remains unchanged. He hasn’t started lavish spending nor does he plan to move away from his home in Kuopio.
From Kuopio, 22-year-old Niklas Anttila now finds himself in a position that many aspire to. He gets to turn his passion into a career, thanks to a lucrative four-year contract estimated to reach seven figures.
Anttila is a professional frisbee golf player. He is set to embark on a journey to Florida to participate in the Disc Golf Pro Tour, the biggest professional tour in disc golf. He plans to compete more in the USA this year, a possibility enabled by the recent agreement.
Anttila penned this lucrative contract with well-known equipment manufacturer Discmania. The exact value of the contract is not disclosed, but the annual base earnings are estimated to be around 150,000–200,000.
Discmania’s Brand Director Jussi Meresmaa hinted that the contract could possibly be the most valuable in Europe and could earn Anttila up to one million euros during its tenure.
This agreement provides financial security to Anttila, reducing his reliance on unpredictable prize money. “Without such an agreement, it would not be possible for me to make this sport my profession”, says Anttila.
Anttila’s journey to frisbee golf started when he was 13-14 years old, encouraged by a friend. Back then, there was no hint of such financial rewards. His success coincided with the sport’s rise in popularity during the pandemic, culminating in his win at the European championship and second place at the US Open championship tournament in 2021.
Anttila acknowledges that he was at the right place at the right time, and that his visibility and wins played a significant role in securing the agreement.
Anttila could live off the prize money alone, given his recent successes. However, he admits that without a stable income, competing could be risky, with one bad day potentially leading to a significant loss of income.
Despite his new contract with Discmania, Anttila’s life remains unchanged. He recently bought a new BMW as a birthday present for himself, but insists that he remains thrifty. He has no plans to move away from Kuopio.
Anttila emphasises the sense of community in frisbee golf, stating that everyone is friends, regardless of their skill level or profession. He has competed with well-known individuals such as NHL player Casey DeSmith and has interacted with NBA superstar Lauri Markkanen, known for his love of frisbee golf.
