November 13, 2016 (Gällivare, SWE) – Canada’s Devon Kershaw, a veteran national xc ski team member, took his first win of the season at the 15km classic Gällivarepremiärens in Gällivare, SWE on Sunday. SportEvent Gällivare Lapland hosts training camps along with several early season races as part of a traditional lead up to the FIS World Cup that gets underway in about two weeks.

Showing good early form in the small field, Kershaw had a 20-second margin after the first of four laps on the 3.75km course to finish with a solid 1-min lead over the Czech Republic’s Petr Knots in second with Michal Novak in third. Local star Simon Stenberg (Swe) Kalix SK won the Junior men’s race.

“Gällivare is great for final preparation for the World Cup. It felt really good today… there are always some butterflies in your stomach before the season’s first race,” said Kershaw who has been spending more time training in Norway since his marriage last summer to Norwegian star Kristin Störmer Steira.

“It’s been very inspiring to work with Martin Johnsrud Sundby and the Swedish national team’s Martin Johansson, who also lives in Norway. It’s fun to start racing again in amazing good conditions today, the body responded as it should and the skis were really good as well,” added Kershaw.

Results here.
SportEvent Gällivare Lapland info here.