February 29, 2008 (Nes, Norway) – Brian McKeever took another stride forward in his goal of becoming the first winter-sport athlete to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The 28-year-old McKeever and his brother Robin, both of Canmore, Alta., captured their third gold medal of the IPC World Cup season, this time in a five-kilometre classic race in Nes, Norway on Thursday.

“I am happy with the race today especially because I have not been feeling well and battling jet lag since arriving on Monday,” said McKeever, who won the opening event of the week by 45 seconds over his next closest competitor. “It has been a while since we’ve done an intensity race so it was good to win. We’ve come here to race and will look forward to the rest of the weekend.”

Traditionally the McKeever Brothers have dominated the field at the ParaNordic level, but a small dust-up made the race in Norway a little closer.

“It was the first time I crashed while guiding Brian,” said guide Robin, who got caught up in the sugary snow on one of the downhills. “It is hard to say how much time it cost us but after that we had a good race.”

Legally blind as a result of Stargardt’s disease, which is a form of macular degeneration that affects central vision, McKeever has won nearly everything on the table in the Para-Nordic ski world, and is now focused on competing with the world’s elite. Last year Brian made history after skiing in his first-ever able-bodied World Championships where he finished 24th in a 15-kilometre skate-skiing race.

“I’m driven by competing in both World Cup circuits, but I also know the importance of racing ParaNordic World Cups as well,” said McKeever. “The guys out here work extremely hard and deserve recognition for that but also because they love the sport.”

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

Other Canadian results included: Robbi Weldon, of Thunder Bay, Ont., finished sixth in the women’s visually impaired category with guide Brian Berry. In the standing amputation and limb disability category, Mary Benson, of White Rock, B.C., crossed the line ninth in the women’s race, while Mark Arendz, of Charlottetown, P.E.I., was 18th and Tyler Mosher, of Whistler, B.C., was 21st. Colette Bourgonje, of Saskatoon, was fourth in the women’s sit-ski division, while Lou Gibson, of Langley, B.C., was 20th in men’s racing.

Meanwhile, Canada’s rising able-bodied skiers continued to make strides at the Under-23 World Championships in Italy on Thursday. Chris Butler, of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Amanda Ammar, of Onoway, Alta., led the way in the men’s and women’s 30- and 15-kilometre skate-ski races. Butler finished 21st (1:09:46.0), while Ammar was 28th (39:17.1).

Four other Canadians also suited up on Thursday. Kate Brennan, of Thunder Bay, Ont., joined Ammar in the women’s race and finished 40th (41:17.5). Three other Canadian men also hit the start line. Calgary’s Brent McMurtry was 26th (1:0:08.7), while Jesse Winter, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 50th (1:14:26.8), and Pate Neumann, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 58th (1:16:43.5).

Complete Para-Nordic results at www.nes-ski.no – U23 results ast www.fis-ski.com