January 14, 2007 (Vuokatti, Finland) – Canada’s ParaNordic Ski Team enjoyed a successful first week at the IPC World Cup, winning two more bronze medals in the cross-country skiing distance events on Sunday in Vuokatti, Finland.

Shauna Maria Whyte, of Hinton, Alta., took home her third medal of the week, and second bronze, in the women’s sit-ski category after crossing the line with a time of 34 minutes 17 seconds, while visually impaired skier, Robbi Weldon and her guide Brian Barry, teamed up to post a time of 53:00 for the second trip to the podium on the day for the Canadians.

“It was a great day and we are all very happy with our performance,” said Whyte, who won three of Canada’s four medals during the opening week. “We got off to a bit of a rough start this week, but that happens at the beginning of the season, and I think it was a successful week and lots of fun. We are already looking forward to the next event.”

The IPC World Cup is divided into three categories for the various disabilities including: visually impaired, sit-skiing, and standing amputation and limb disability.

Russia’s Tatiana Ilyochenko and her guide, Valery Koshkin took home the gold in Weldon’s visually impaired category with a time of 44:21, while Liudmila Valchok, of Belarus, won the gold in Whyte’s women’s sit-ski division (31:07).

Four Canadian men also suited up on Sunday. In the men’s sit-ski category, Jimmy Pelletier finished in eighth (53.28), while Lou Gibson was ninth (56:34). In the standing men’s amputation and limb disability category, Canada’s Mark Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I., was 14th (1:02.21), while Tyler Mosher, of Whistler, B.C., was 15th (1:07.38).

The Canadian ParaNordic Team will now travel to Tannheim, Germany for races January 20-28, 2007.

B1-B3 Cross Country Ladies

1. Ilyuchenko Tatiana – Koshkin Valery RUS
2. Vasileva Liubov – Goldinov Vyatcheslav RUS
3. Weldon Robbi – Barry Brian CAN
4. Kameneva Polina – Krivankov Sergey RUS

LW 10-12 Cross Country Ladies

1. Valchok Liudmila BLR
2. Polyakova Irina RUS
3. Whyte Shauna CAN
4. Iovleva Maria RUS
5. Bascio Monica USA

LW 10-12 Cross Country Men

1. Zaripov Irek RUS
2. Klebl Chris USA
3. Davidovich Aliaksandr BLR
4. Masiello Enzo ITA
5. Anthofer Oliver AUT
8. Pelletier Jimmy CAN
9. Gibson Lou CAN

LW 2-9 Cross Country Men

1. Haugen Kjartan NOR
2. Lilleberg Svein NOR
3. Tuomisto Ilkka FIN
4. Cook Steve USA
5. Mikhaylov Kirill RUS
14. Arendz Mark CAN
15. Mosher Tyler CAN