March 18, 2015 (Surnadal, Norway) – Canadian and Russian athletes enjoyed the best of the action on the first day of the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup finals in Surnadal, Norway, each winning two cross-country freestyle long distance races apiece on March 17.

In the men’s visually impaired race over 20km, Paralympic and world champions Brian McKeever and guide Erik Carleton (48:38.5) continued their unbeaten streak this year topping the podium well ahead of Russia’s Stanislav Chokhlaev and guide Evgenii Fatkhullin (53:21.3) in second.  Third place went to Ukraine’s Anatolii Kovalevskyi, guided by Oleksandr Mukshyn (55:00.5).

A winner of 13 medals, including 10 gold, in four trips to the Paralympics, McKeever and his Calgary-based childhood friend, Carleton, have been nearly perfect since teaming up with each other for the World Championships four years ago. The dynamite duo also teamed up to win two golds at the 2014 Paralympics. McKeever won his third gold with Graham Nishikawa.

Chris , a gold medallist over 10km at Sochi 2014, secured Canada’s second win in the men’s sitting over 15km; a race that proved to be the day’s closest contest.

The 43-year-old (40:24.0) edged out Russian world champion Aleksandr Davidovich (40:25.3) by just 1.3 seconds in a thrilling finish.  Another Russian, Alexey Bychenok (41:21.8) finished third.

“I am definitely a fan of spring racing with the longer, warmer days,” said Klebl. “The racing this week is during the timeframe of the Paralympic Games so it is also good to see that our training plan has me skiing fast now. I have one race left to see how the overall standings for the year shake out and I’m looking forward to it.”

The U.S. men were led by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Dan Cnossen (Topeka, Kansas) in fourth place and Andy Soule (Pearland, Texas) in seventh place in the 15-km sit-ski cross-country event. Cnossen finished fourth just seven seconds behind bronze medalist Bychenok with the top three finishers coming in within a minute of each other.

On good day for athletes from the Americas, the USA’s Oksana Masters, the overall world cup leader, maintained her recent run of good form in the women’s sitting over 12km.  Masters (36:44.90) was in convincing form and beat home favourite Mariann Marthinsen (37:37.7) into second and Russia’s Natalia Kocherova (39:14.6) into third.

“My goal in today’s race was to focus on my pacing and technique,” Masters said. “This season, the 12-kilometer races have been a struggle with pacing and keeping technique once I get tired. Today was a team effort success. My skis were flying thanks to [ski technician] Dave [Mark] and my coaches were alongside the course reminding me about pacing and technique. It’s always a team effort and today was a great way to end the last long distance cross-country race of the season.

The women’s standing over 15km was won by Ukraine’s world champion in this event Oleksandra Kononova (44:04.7). Second was Canada’s Brittany Hurdak (44:35.8), whilst Kononova’s teammate Liudmyla Liashenko (44:49.8) was third.

“It is a mixture of shock and happiness today,” said Hudak, 21, from Prince Albert, Sask. “It was great to beat the Ukraine girl who was third for the first time so I was thrilled with that. I had been feeling tired heading into the race so I was focused on my technique and skiing as efficiently as possible. Once I started the race, it became clear that my skis were really fast so I pushed hard and enjoyed the experience.”

Russia’s two wins came through world champions Iuliia Budaleeva and Rushan Minnegulov. Budaleeva and guide Tatiana Maltseva (43:14.9) were victorious in the women’s visually impaired race over 15km and were joined on the podium by teammates Elena Remizova and guide Maksim Pirogov (44:27.5) in third.  Second was Ukraine’s Oksana Shyshkova and guide Lada Nesterenko (43:57.1).

Minnegulov (49:28.0) claimed the win in the men’s standing over 20km beating Ukraine’s Ihor Reptyukh (50.41.5) and Norway’s Hakon Olsrud (52:07.8) into second and third respectively.

Competition continues through to 22 March with middle distance classic cross-country, as well as short, pursuit and long distance biathlon.

Results here.