December 5, 2003 (Dobbiaco, Italy) – Canada's one-two cross-country skiing punch of Beckie Scott and Sara Renner may have traveled half way around the world to compete in their first World Cup event of the season in Dobbiaco, Italy, but they certainly felt like they were caught in an ol'fashioned Western Stampede.

The two Canadian women were one of 48 of the world's strongest cross-country ski athletes that began a 15-kilometre mass start event, the first World Cup competition for both Canucks on the 2003-04 campaign. A mass start pits the entire field of athletes at the start line together similar to a marathon road race.

While both Canadian athletes specialize in sprint races, and individual starts over the longer distances, Saturday was a strong start to a long season of racing ahead. Scott of Vermilion, Alta. grabbed a 12th-place finish with a time of 38:20.9, nearly one minute off the leading mark.

“I had a few difficulties throughout the race getting tangled up in the mass start, but I felt this was an okay start to the season,” said the 29-year-old Scott, whose goal is to podium each time she steps on the snow. “Experience has taught me I have what it takes to get on the podium and I need to keep working hard to achieve my goals.”

Sara Renner of Canmore, Alta., who has been making significant moves up the world ranks over the past year as a result of strong training and a dedication to achieving excellence, got off to a tough start in Italy, finishing 32nd with a time of 39:04.9 in hard-packed conditions suitable for fast skiing.

“I was a little disappointed with today's result. It was like a stampede out there and it's easy to get congested in a pack,” said Renner, whose goals are to achieve consistent top-10 results and a podium finish this season. “I just got stuck with a pack of 20 other girls and couldn't get out of it. I need to work on my mass starts and not be afraid to step on someone's skis and get ahead and out of a group.”

When the dust finally settled, it was Estonia's Kristina Smigun crossing the line first and taking home the gold with a time of 37:11.7. Valentina Shevchenko of Ukraine won the battle for second posting a time of 37:27.1, while Germany's Claudia Kuenzel jumped ahead of Italy's Gabriella Paruzzi to lock up third with a time of 37:31.7. Paruzzi finished at 37:34.1 on home snow.

Snow conditions on the course in Dobbiaco, Italy were among the best in Europe, which is experiencing a dry winter. The Dobbiaco track is one of the only courses with natural snow at this time of year.

Scott and Renner will head to Davos, Switzerland with head coach Dave Wood this week for the next stop on the World Cup circuit, December 13-14, while Canada's young development cross-country ski team will be in Calgary to compete in the second Haywood NorAm Canada Cup event at Canada Olympic Park.

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 two million Canadians participating annually.

TOP-10 RESULTS: (15-Kilometre Mass Start)

Rank    Name                            Country Time 1. Kristina Smigun                 Estonia 37:11.7 2. Valentina Shevchenko    Ukraine 37:27.1 3. Claudia Kuenzel         Germany 37:31.7 4. Gabriella Paruzzi               Italy           37:34.1 5. Hilde G. Pedersen               Norway  37:35.2 6. Evi Sachenbacher                Germany 37:36.5 7. Sabina Valbusa          Italy           37:34.0 8. Olga Savialova          Russia          37:56.9 9. Vivpi Kuitunen                  Finland 38:18.3 10. Alena Sidko                     Russia          38:18.6

Canadian Results 12. Beckie Scott                    Canada  38:20.9 3. Sara Renner                     Canada  39:04.9