December 12, 2012 (Vuokatti, Finland) – Canada’s para-nordic athletes enjoyed a solid start to the IPC World Cup season with two sixth-place finishes in Vuokatti, Finland on Tuesday.

Mark Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I., enjoyed his best-ever 10-kilometre classic-ski race after clocking a time of 27:57.5. Abiathlon specialist, the 22-year-old Paralympian has twice finished second in the overall IPC World Cup standings in the men’s standing division.

“This was my best World Cup classic race so it is definitely a great start to the season,” said Arendz.

The rising star in the international para-nordiccircles finished just over one minute behind gold medallist, Rushan Minnegulov of Russia, who set the time to beat at 26:23.0 Russia’s Vladislav Lekomtcev was second at 26:33.2, while Finland’s IIkka Tuomisto rounded out the men’s podium in third with a time of 27:06.7.

The legendary Colette Bourgonje, of Saskatoon, also posted a sixth-place result for the Canucks in the season opener. The six-time Winter Paralympian stopped the clock at 17:54.9 in the women’s five-kilometre sit-ski race.

Germany’s Andrea Eskau won the women’s sit-ski class with a time of 16:29.6. Norway’s Mariann Marthinsen was second at 16:47.8, while Olena Iurkovska, of the Ukraine, grabbed the bronze (16:50.0).

With Brian McKeever and his guide Eric Carleton both back home competing against able-bodied athletes in the 2012 Alberta World Cup in Canmore, Alta., this week, Chris Klebl, of Canmore, Alta., is the only other Canadian in Finland. Klebl did not finish the men’s sit-ski race on Tuesday.

Complete IPC World Cup Biathlon Results here.