STORY:
Pucker up and blow as hard as you can. That's the advice for this year's hopefuls at Finland's glass-blowing championships.

Alma Jantunen is one of just two women taking part this year.

[Alma Jantunen, Glass Blower]:
"People have to blow very hard and they need to have big lungs and I don't have so big than other people here, like seven litres, it's too much."

Participants are required to blow a plate, a cylinder and a ball. The rules are simple - make it as big as you can in under 6 minutes.

Record numbers of glass blowing enthusiasts turned out in support. New to the competition this year are Norway and Hungary.

A seasoned professional is Finland's Keijo Kopra.

[Keijo Kopra, Glass Blowing World Champion]:
"I have been training for this competition this year during the weekends in the evening after I have finished my work shift. I made a few of the items. Generally I have practised about four hours regularly over the last two weekends."

And it looks like the hours of training paid off. It's the third year Kopra has won but a first in all three categories. He reckons the secret is a combination of juggling and blowing at the same time.