Welcome Matti Hautamäki official websites (blog 1.9.11, answers 30.1.12)

Matti made his first ski-jumping attempts at the age of seven near his home town of Oulu. When his older brother Jussi and his friend Lauri Hakola moved to Kuopio, Matti followed them. At first it was quite difficult to be independent at the age of 16, but he got much help and support from his brother, with whom he was living at the time. The help of his new coach Pekka Niemelä, whom he met at the sports school in Kuopio, also quickly helped him advance. In the same year Matti had his first real successes and won medals at 1997 and 1999 Junior World Cups.