February 14, 2015 (Asahikawa, Japan) – North American ParaNordic skies flexed their muscle at the IPC World Cup in Japan as the US took home two golds courtesy of Oksana Masters and Andy Soule while Team Canada won gold via Brian McKeever, silver from Brittany Hudak and bronze with Mark Arendz doing the honours.

Masters, Soule win Gold at IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup

U.S. skiers Oksana Masters and Andy Soule skied to victory in the sitting short distance cross-country races, and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Dan Cnossen took third on the first day of competition at the International Paralympic Committee Nordic Skiing World Cup in Japan on Saturday.

In the men’s 5-kilometer race, Soule (Pearland, Texas) and Cnossen (Topeka, Kansas) were tied for third with one kilometer remaining and were able to move up on their competitors over the final stretch of the race. It was a close finish as Soule crossed the line in 15:33.2, followed by Alexey Bychenok of Russia in 15:34.9, and Cnossen was only three-tenths of a second back to take third in 15:35.2.

Soule’s win marks his first world cup victory in two years and extends his streak on the podium after winning five medals at the world championships in Cable, Wisconsin earlier this year.

“It is a great way to start this week,” Soule said. “Our plan was to come here well prepared, race well, recover well and have five good opportunities to ski fast. This has been a great event and organizers have done a fantastic job. I am looking forward to the rest of the week.”

In the women’s race, Masters (Louisville, Kentucky) skied to victory in dominant fashion as she finished the 2.5-kilometer course in 8:30.4, with Paralympic champion Mariann Marthinsen of Norway finishing 12 seconds back.

“I really like this short distance and hope we get to ski it more often,” Masters said. “It is such a short race, and there is no room for mistakes. I just had to ski fast.”

With their wins today, Soule and Masters are the current cross-country world cup leaders, earning them the first start position in Sunday’s sprint race. Competition in Asahikawa continues through Thursday, Feb. 19.

Canada’s Para-Nordic Skies Celebrate Medal Hat Trick at IPC World Cup in Japan

Canada’s Para-Nordic squad celebrated a medal-winning hat trick on Saturday in Asahikawa, Japan winning gold, silver in bronze. Para-Nordic king, Brian McKeever (Canmore, Alta.) won the gold in the men’s 10-kilometre classic-ski visually impaired event, Brittany Hudak (Prince Albert, Sask.) claimed the silver in the women’s five-kilometre standing race, while biathlon specialist – Mark Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I. stepped onto the bronze-medal position of the podium.

“We have only been here two days and are all quite sleepy with jet lag, but we are pretty happy with the results all-around today,” said Robin McKeever, head coach, Canadian Para-Nordic Ski Team. “The skis were really good, and I am happy with how everyone skied. They were all solid from start-to-finish.”

The younger McKeever, Brian who is fresh off his World Championship title, hammered the field by more than two minutes. Norway’s Erik Bye was the next best finisher, followed by Anthony Chalencon, of France, in the bronze medal position.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old rookie Brittany Hudak continued her solid season, claiming the silver in the women’s standing race with a tiem of 16:53.6.

Russia’s Ekaterina Rumyantseva was first at 16:28.9. Japan’s Yurika Abe skied to the bronze at 18:24.0.

Mark Arendz completed the medal collection for Canada by winning his first career medal in a distance cross-country ski race. The two-time Paralympic medallist captured the bronze medal in the men’s 10-kilometre standing race after clocking a time of 28:47.5. Running in fifth spot for most of the race, Arendz hammered the pace to climb onto the podium.

Chris Klebl, of Canmore, Alta., was the closest Canuck to the top spot on the podium outside of McKeever but finished in fourth spot in the men’s five-kilometre sit-ski race. Klebl, who won a gold medal on the final day of the 2014 Paralympics, clocked-in at 15:40.5. American, Andrew Soule, won the race with a time of 15:33.2.

The IPC Nordic World Cup continues on Sunday in Japan.

Complete results and more information are available here.