February 02, 2016 (Pyeongchang, Korea) – North American para-nordic athletes blasted into the 2016 IPC season with medal performances at the Paralympic venue at the IPC Asian Cup, Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Pyeongchang, Korea.

Mark Arendz (Can) wind GOLD © IPC

Day 1
The USA’s Oksana Masters earned gold in the women’s 1.1km sitting sprint, while 22-year-old Canadian Brittany Hudak won the race for the silver medal in the 1.4km women’s standing classic-sprint race on Thursday in Korea.

Meanwhile Canada’s Mark Arendz, got his season off to a rock solid start. The 25-year-old biathlon specialist matched stride-for-stride with the world’s best cross-country skiers where he finished second in the 1.4km standing sprint final. The USA’s Andrew Soule grabbed bronze in the men’s 1.1km sitting sprint.

“It is great to be able to get a test of the next Paralympic Games venue. The courses will change slightly from what we are racing this week, but they are very good,” said Arendz. “There will be some challenging ascents, and courses that require you to push continuously.”

Read the CCC release here.

Day 2
The USA’s Masters added another gold to her tally on Day 2 in the 2.5km women’s middle distance sitting race, while Canada’s para-nordic skiers collected a silver and bronze medal in Pyeongchang, Korea on Friday. Emily Weekes (CAN) won her first career international bronze medal, while Paralympic champion, Chris Klebl (CAN), won the silver.

Winning a bronze medal on Friday in just her second international race – and on the 2018 Paralympic course nonetheless, the 24-year-old Weekes clocked a bronze medal time of 19:59.9 in the women’s 7.5-kilometre skate-ski race at the IPC Asian Cup. Teammate Hudak finished close behind in fourth.

Klebl, captured his silver medal in the men’s 5km sit-skiing division, followed by the USA’s Soule with the bronze.

Read the CCC release here.

Day 3
Canada’s Arendz is serving notice he will be a force to reckon with on the international para-nordic circuit this year, winning the silver medal in the men’s standing 7.5km biathlon sprint race on Sunday.

The USA’s Masters continued her medal roll as she sped to bronze in the women’s 6km sitting biathlon race on Day 3, while teammate Soule also stayed on stride, taking second place in the men’s 7.5km sitting biathlon sprint event.

Read the CCC release here.

Day 4
Arendz put a golden stamp on a stellar opening weekend of para-nordic racing in 2016 by winning the men’s individual 12.5km standing biathlon race on Monday in Pyeongchang.

Building on two silver medal finishes earlier in the week, the 25-year-old two-time Paralympic medallist, stormed to his first gold medal in over two years in the toughest biathlon discipline. Arendz, of Hartsville, P.E.I. clocked a winning time of 32:56.

The US’s Soule wrapped up the event with another strong silver in the men’s 12.5km seated biathlon, while Masters grabbed her fourth medal in as many races – a bronze – in the women’s 10km sitting event. Canadian women Weekes and Hudak were outside the medals in fifth and sixth, respectively, in the women’s 10km standing biathlon competition.

Read the CCC release here.

Results

Day 1
Women 1.1/1.4km Sprint CL here
Men 1.1/1.4km Sprint CL here
Women 6/6km Biathlon Sprint here
Men 7.5/7.5km Biathlon Sprint here

Day 2
Women 2.5/7.5km Short/Middle FR here
Men 5/10km Short/Middle FR here
Women Middle 10/10km Biathlon here
Men Middle 12.5/12.5km Biathlon here