November 26, 2006 (Kuusamo, Finland) – Canada’s top nordic skiers got their feet wet while competing in the opening World Cup cross-country skiing sprint event of the season Saturday in Kuusamo, Finland.

With a goal of measuring where they stand against the world’s best at this time of year, the four Canadians who hit the start line for the sprint event struggled to find their top form under warm and slushy conditions against one of the deepest and most talented fields on the World Cup circuit.

For the second straight week, it was Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., who led the way for the young Canadians. Kershaw was the lone Canuck to qualify for the finals in the head-to-head heats after he moved into the round of 30 after posting a qualification time of two minutes 27.81 seconds, good enough for 27th spot. However, he was eliminated in the opening heat, which has six athletes racing head-to-head and settled for 29th. Last week Kershaw made history after posting the best finish by a Canadian male in a distance event in more than a decade when he was 15th.

“Devon continues to improve each week, but he just didn’t have any punch in the heats,” said Dave Wood, head coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team. “We are optimistic that we’ll continue to improve each day, and as a team, are very much looking forward to racing the distance events on Sunday.”

Three other Canadians suited up on Saturday. George Grey, of Rossland, B.C., finished 56th, while Olympic gold medallist, Chandra Crawford, of Canmore, Alta., finished 38th, and Montreal’s Dasha Gaiazova was 62nd.

It was the Norwegians who dominated the men’s event stealing the top-five places in the standings. Jens Arne Svartedal took home the gold medal, while teammates Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset grabbed the silver and Tor Arne Hetland completed the sweep of the podium for Norway in third. Trond Iversen and Johan Kjoelsted finished fourth and fifth respectively.

On the women’s side, Slovenia’s Petra Majdic finished in top spot. Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen delighted the hometown crowd winning the silver medal and the legendary Marit Bjoergen of Norway was third.

The World Cup will continue on Sunday for Canada’s cross-country skiers in Finland when they compete in the classic distance events. The women will compete in a 10 kilometre race, while the men will give it their all over a 15 kilometre track.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

Results (brief)

Men

1. Jens Arne Svartedal, NOR
2. Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset, NOR
3. Tor Arne Hetland, NOR
4. Trond Iversen, NOR
5. Johan Kjoelsted, NOR

29. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont.
56. George Grey, Rossland, B.C.

Women

1.Petra Majdic, SLO
2. Virpi Kuitunen, FIN
3. Marit Bjoergen, NOR
4. Astrid Jacobsen, NOR
5. Mona-Lisa Malvalehto, FIN

38. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta.
62. Dasha Gaiazova, Montreal