Somppi named to national team

Thunder Bay’s Michael Somppi has been named to the senior national men’s ski team.

Somppi, who earlier this year represented Canada at the World Under 23 Nordic championships, said he’s proud and honoured to make the jump to the next level of competition.

“This is another step in the right direction towards qualifying to represent Canada at the 2013 World Ski Championships and the 2014 Winter Olympics.  However, being a member of the National Ski Team is not only good for me, it's good for the National Development Centre in Thunder Bay, it's good for local competitive skiing in Thunder Bay, and it's good for competitive skiing in Ontario,” Somppi said. 

The 23-year-old credited his NDC teammates past and present for his inspiration.

"A few years ago I saw skiers like Chris Butler, Sean Crooks and Becky Puiras on the National Team and thought, they trained in Thunder Bay and they made it, why can't I do the same?” he said.

“ Now that I have made the step from Development Centre athlete to National Team athlete, others will hopefully look to me and think similar thoughts.  It's much easier to believe in something when someone you can easily relate to has already been successful at it."