March 22, 2012 (Vuokatt, Finland) – Canada’s Brian McKeever and his guide, Erik Carleton, teamed up to capture the first title of the 2012 IPC World Cup finals in Vuokatti, Finland on Thursday.

The childhood ski friends growing up in Calgary, who won three silver medals and a gold earlier this year, climbed onto the top step of the podium in the visually impaired category after blazing their way around the 1.2-kilometre classic-skiing sprint course.

“I was a little jet lagged, but we had a good day today,” said the 32-year-old Mckeever, who arrived in Finland yesterday after taking part in the opening day of the Haywood Ski Nationals in Quebec.

“I came here with a good game plan that we executed really well today. Erik skied very tactical. We decided to double-pole the final which paid off because it started dumping snow.”

McKeever and the 34-year-old Carleton, who joined forces for the IPC World Championships last year, qualified second for the head-to-head heats and never looked back, winning both their semifinal and quarter-final rounds.

Two Russian teams joined the Canucks on the podium. Nikolay Polukhin and Ilya Cherepanov were second, while Stanislav Chokhlaev and Maksim Pirogov grabbed the bronze.

Canada’s Mark Arendz of Springton, P.E.I., who focuses on the biathlon races, had a solid day, finishing sixth in the men’s standing division. Norway’s Vegard Dahle won the category.

Chris Klebl, of Canmore, Alta., qualified in fifth spot in the men’s sit-skiing sprint races, but his day came to an end after finishing third in his heat as only the top-two athletes move on. While Klebl placed 10h, Russia’s Roman Petushkov skied to the top of the podium. Quebec’s Sebastien Fortier did not qualify for the heats and finished 17th.

Saskatoon’s Colette Bourgonje was the only Canadian woman to suit up on Thursday. The legendary Paralympian finished fifth in asmall, yet difficult, women’s sit-ski category that was won by Norway’s Mariann Marthinsen.

Full results