Michael Somppi loves it when a plan comes together.
The Thunder Bay skier on Saturday cruised to victory in the marquee men’s 50-kilometre event at the 2015 Haywood Ski Nationals at Lappe Nordic Centre, easily beating Olympian Ivan Babikov to the delight of the cheering hometown crowd who greeted him, cowbells clanging, as he crossed the finish line.
In the end, it wasn’t even close.
“It feels amazing to win that race with a bit of a gap so I could celebrate at the line and everyone cheering. It’s an amazing feeling to win a big 50 at home,” Somppi said, after finishing in 2:05:18, 28 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.
It was a slow start, so he decided about five kilometres in to pick up the pace, as the lead skiers began to break apart from the pack.
With an Olympian in the field, Somppi said it was just a matter of keeping close until an opening could be found.
Babikov and Alberta’s Graeme Killick, who finished fourth, made an early break, and Somppi followed suit, closing the gap quickly.
“I was able to pass Graeme and get back on Ivan and from there it was just the two of us,” Somppi said.
“That was probably with 15-K to go, or maybe a little more than that that we broke away.”
Babikov is the big dog in any national race, a regular on the World Cup circuit with a target on his back every time he competes.
“It’s awesome to be able to beat him on my home trails. Fifty-kilometre skating is probably his best event. He’s a super-strong skate skier and really good at the long stuff. So to beat him at his best event is maybe even better.”
It was the third win of the week for Somppi, who came into the week hoping for the trifecta.
“You always have to believe in yourself. I came home wanting to do well at nationals. I wanted to win the team sprint with Andy (Shields), the 10K and the 50, because I’m a better skate skier, and stay consistent through the classics to get the aggregate,” Somppi said.
“It worked out exactly how I wanted it to and it’s amazing how all the hard work pays off. It’s amazing that it all lined up exactly how I’d hoped.”
Alberta’s Kevin Sandau finished third, while Lakehead’s Scott Hill wound up fifth, in 2:07.53.
For Hill, a member of the national champion Thunderwolves squad, it was a great debut in the distance.
“I’m happy with it. It was my first 50K race and so I just went out there trying to stay with the lead guys, and it worked out today,” Hill said.
Somppi said he plans to ski a few events locally before taking time off and hopes to ski the World Cup circuit full time next season.
Midland, Ont.'s Joey Foster took the junior men's 30-kilometre mass start event, winning in a 1:16.33, less than two seconds faster than Quebec's Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier.
