December 13, 2013 (Canmore, AB) – Canada’s Brian McKeever will head into the critical Olympic and Paralympic qualifying block of his season with back-to-back gold medals in his pocket from the first-ever IPC World Cup on his home track in Canmore, Alta.

Brian McKeever (CAN) © Pam Doyle

McKeever, 34, led the world’s best down the Nordic highways of the Canmore Nordic Centre where he clocked a golden time of 54:55.4 in the men’s 20-kilometre classic-ski race, which is serving as one of his final tune-up races for the Canadian Olympic trials in the new year.

“It was a good day. I think the key thing is that we develop a game plan and it is working,” said the 10-time Paralympic medallist. “My fitness is there and I am feeling great with where things are at right now.”

Competing without his guide Eric Carleton for the second straight race who was out with illness, McKeever took on many of the world’s best para-skiers on Thursday including the powerful Russian team.

Stanislav Chokhlaev and his guide Maksim Pirogov, of Russia, skied to the silver medal with a time of 55:22.8, while Russia’s Vladimir Udaltcov and Rusian Bogachev teamed up to win the bronze medal after punching the clock at 58:12.8.

Jacob Adicoff (USA) and Reid Pletcher (USA) © Pam Doyle

“It was a good tight race today to the finish,” said McKeever. “I was coming into the final corner and a guy fell on me which spun me around. That happens when you have a bunch of blind guys skiing. I’m happy I had opened it up a bit though.”

In his quest to qualify once again for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, McKeever will continue his trail to Sochi by competing in the Haywood NorAms in Rossland, B.C. this weekend as a final preparation race before Cross Country Canada holds its Olympic Trials at the Canmore Nordic Centre, January 8-12, 2014.

Norwegian Mariann Marthinsen secured her third cross country victory at the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup yesterday with a win in the women’s long distance sitting class (33:17.3).

Tatyana McFadden (USA) © Pam Doyle

Marthinsen, 29, graciously gave credit to her wax team for her final win, giving her a clean sweep across all distances on the technically challenging course in Canmore, Canada:

“I had really fast skis today, the wax team did a great job. I really did not expect to do so well this week.”

A cross country specialist, Marthinsen gets a well-deserved break as some of her other competitors move onto the biathlon races which begin on Saturday (14 December), as skiers look towards the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in March.

Italy’s Francesca Porcellato was equally as delighted with her silver in 33:39.6, her second of the competition.

“I am so happy. I had fast skis and we had nice perfect weather”.

Marta Zaynullina of Russia was fast enough at 33:52.7 for third.

Colette Bourgonje (CAN) © Pam Doyle

Canada’s Colette Bourgonje, who performs best at longer distances but settled for fifth today said: “My skis were awesome. I just did not have my usual snap. I felt a bit tired, but I gave it my all”.

In the women’s long distance classic visually impaired race it was once again a Russian top three with 27-year-old Elena Remizova and guide Natalia Yakamova winning in 57:58.9. Iuliia Budaleeva and Tatiana Maltseva came in second (59:45.6), and Elvira Kalabina and Irina Sitnikova in third (1:05:21.9).

The Russian men equaled their teammates’ dominance in the long distance sitting. 30-year-old Irek Zaripov won gold over the course in 38:06.3. He was followed by Roman Petushkov in 38:31.2 and Aliaksandr Davidovich at 38:40.8. Chis Klebl, of Canmore, Alta., finished seventh in the men’s 13.3 kilometre sit-ski.

Perez Augusto Jose (USA) © Pam Doyle

After a second and third place finish in day one and two, Russian 21-year-old Rushan Minnegulov finally stepped onto the top of the podium in the men’s 20km classic standing with a time of 53:52.2. Only 5.3 seconds behind at 53:56.9 was compatriot Vladislav Lekomtcev, winner from the sprint on Tuesday (10 December).

Finnish star Ilkka Tuomisto rounded out the podium in 56:19.2. Pablo Robledo, Argentina’s lone entry into the World Cup and his country’s first winter para-Nordic skier finished a respectable 11th.

Two Russian women completed the long distance classic standing race – Russia’s Alena Kaufman was first at 1:01:16.1 followed by Natalia Bratiuk in 1:03:53.2.

John Oman (USA) © Pam Doyle

Over 100 athletes from 12 countries have competed in the first IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup of the season in Canmore, Canada. The cross country events are followed by the biathlon World Cup races which start on Saturday, 14 December at the Canmore Nordic Centre.

Pictures of both competitions will be available on the International Paralympic Committee’s Flickr and video highlights will be available everyday at ParalympicSport.TV.

Updates will also be posted to IPC Nordic Skiing’s Twitter and Facebook.

Results here.