March 19, 2006 (Sapporo, Japan) – Canada’s Beckie Scott finished the 2005-06 World Cup season the way she began it last November in Canada – stepping onto the podium in a pursuit race. Only this time it was the golden spot in Sapporo, Japan on Sunday.

Canada’s most decorated cross-country skier capped off a stellar campaign with her fourth gold medal of the season after crossing the line in the women’s pursuit race with a time of 45 minutes 35.0 seconds.

”I’m ready for some sushi and then a party,” Scott said. ”This is the way I wanted to finish the season. It was important for me to finish on top.”

The mass start pursuit race combines 7.5 kilometres of classic skiing with an additional 7.5 kilometres of skate skiing. Athletes enter a transition zone in between the two legs to exchange skis.

Joining Scott on the podium was Norway’s Kristin Steira Stoermer in second spot at 45:36.8, while Germany’s Evi Sachenbacher Stehle was third at 46:04.9. The victory marks not only the fourth World Cup gold medal of the season for the Vermilion, Alta. native, but also in her 11-year career. It is also the 10th time the Olympic gold and silver medallist stepped onto the World Cup podium this season.

Scott also barely missed out on winning the overall World Cup title in the final event of the season. Norway’s Marit Bjoergen finished fourth to hold on to the title. Only 66 points separated Scott and Bjoergen heading into Sunday’s race and Scott needed to win the pursuit and for Bjoergen to finish no higher than eighth. Defending champion Bjoergen finished the season with 1,036 points. Scott was second with 1,020 points.

”I’m very happy with the victory, but I was hoping to win it all,” Scott said. ”I would have liked the World title, but I did all I could today and during the season. It was a dream year.”

Scott overtook Bjoergen midway through the first half of the 15-kilometre race then held off a determined Steira Stoermer over the last three kilometres. Steira Stoermer passed Scott on the last lap, but Scott made up ground on the final downhill and came into the stadium neck and neck with the Norwegian.

”I knew if I stayed close to Kristin that I would have a good chance,” Scott said. ”We went into the stadium very close and fortunately I had enough left for a final sprint.”

Meanwhile, the Canadian men, who proved they are ready to contend against the world’s best each time they hit the start line, were also in action on Sunday in the men’s 2 x 15 kilometre pursuit race. Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., and George Grey, of Rossland, B.C., finished 36th (1:22.08.5) and 39th (1:22:38.7) respectively.

Sweden’s Matthias Fredriksson set the pace in the men’s race after crossing the line first with a time of 1:16:45.4. Norway’s Petter Northug won a dash to the line for the silver medal (1:16:49.2) over Sweden’s Anders Soedergren who settled for the bronze medal (1:16:49.5).

Recognized by many around the world as a strong short-distance skier, Beckie Scott’s remarkable season proved she is a force to reckon with in all World Cup distances. To go along with her four gold medals, the Canadian also racked up five silvers and one bronze in nearly every discipline on the World Cup circuit this year, which brought her to races in Canada, Europe, Scandinavia and Asia. While Scott also claimed numerous top-10 finishes, one of her season highlights came last month when she joined forces with longtime World Cup comrade, Sara Renner, to claim a silver medal in the team sprint at the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

The success of the Canadian cross-country ski team did not end with its leader. The senior squad combined to win a total of 15 World Cup and two Olympic medals between December and March, marking the most successful season in the history of the national program. Other highlights of the historic year include:

– Devon Kershaw winning a World Cup bronze medal in the men’s sprint marking the first medal in nearly two decades for a Canadian male;
– Chandra Crawford winning Olympic gold and World Cup bronze medals in women’s sprint events;
– Sara Renner claiming the first four World Cup medals of her career (two silver, two bronze in 10 kilometre classic, sprint, team sprint);
– Numerous personal bests and top-20 finishes for young men’s and women’s team.

Renner, Crawford and Kershaw will return to Canada on Monday, March 20. The trio will arrive at the Calgary International Airport around 2 p.m. on Air Canada flight 210 from Vancouver.

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.

Complete Results: www.fis-ski.com

Top-5 Women and Canadian Results:
1.Beckie Scott, Vermilion, Alta., CAN, 45:35.0
2. Kristin Steira Stoermer, NOR, 45:36.8
3. Evi Sachenbacher Stehle, GER, 46:04.9
4. Marit Bjoergen, NOR, 46:17.3
5. Katerina Neumannova, CZE, 46:21.2

Other Canadian Results
14. Sara Renner, Canmore, Alta., 47:24.7
41. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta., 54:21.2.

Top-5 Men and Canadian Results:
1. Matthias Fredriksson, SWE, 1:16:45.4
2. Petter Northug, NOR, 1:16:49.2
3. Anders Soedergren, SWE, 1:16:49.5
4. Andrus Veerpalu, EST, 1:16:57.2
5. Frode Estil, NOR, 1:17:30.0.

Canadian Results
36. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont., 1:22:08.5
39. George Grey, Rossland, B.C., 1:22:38.7