Jan. 5, 2006 (Base Val Cartier, QUE) – Fresh from the holiday break, Canadian cross-country skiers Dave Nighbor and Graham Nishikawa went head to head in today’s opening Haywood NorAm race of 2006, with the training partners trading leads over the 3 X 5-km course north of Quebec City.

In a back-and-forth duel, Nighbor paced himself over the first half of the race and came home with a negative split to overcome his Team 2010 training partner over the last three kilometers. The North Bay, Ont. native ended up posting a winning time of 44:47.6, a full 24 seconds ahead of Nishikawa.

“It’s my first win on the NorAm Canada Cup circuit since becoming a senior two years ago,” said Nighbor. “Graham and I work together in training and today it just seemed we went back and forth during the race, pushing each other a little harder as the race progressed.”

Nishikawa noted the two skiers reviewed tactics employed during the race once both had crossed the finished line. “It was just good to get back at it,” said the native of Whitehorse.

The podium finishes vaulted both skiers upwards in the overall Haywood NorAm Canada Cup standings, with Nishikawa holding a slim two-point lead over Nighbor for fourth and fifth place respectively.

On the women’s side, Montreal’s Dasha Gaiazova cruised to a 30-second victory over Shayla Swanson, of Canmore, Alta., in the 10-km classic event.

“It is good to get back home to Quebec and race in front of family and friends,” said Gaiazova. “I’m really looking forward to the weekend when (two-time Olympian) Milaine Theriault is going to race. She’s getting ready for the 2006 Winter Olympics and I’m trying to qualify for the under-23 World Championships, so I expect a good challenge.”

The win allowed the home province favourite to take over the overall Haywood NorAm Canada Cup points lead, meaning she will wear the red leader’s bib in Saturday’s 1.1-km sprint competition.

In junior competition, Kate Brennan of the Kanata Racers and Alex Harvey of Club de Ski Mont Ste Anne staked out their spots on the World Junior Team with exciting victories. Brennan bested Natasha Kullus of the Porcupine Ski Runners, finishing 1.4 seconds ahead of her provincial teammate in 36.30.8. Collingwood, Ont. native Brittnay Webster of the Highlands Trailblazers rounded out the Ontario sweep of the junior women’s podium.

Harvey, skiing in front of a hometown crowd, was strong out of the starting gate in posting a 44-second victory over National Team 2014 member, Brent McMurtry of Calgary, during a race marked by steady snowfall. Chris Butler, of Thunder Bay, Ont., rounded out the podium finishers in junior men’s action.

The Haywood NorAm resumes this Saturday, January 7, with sprint competitions, followed by 10 and 20-km pursuit competitions the next day. For complete results, visit www.zone4.ca. Photos of today’s action are available online at <http://coupenoramquebec2006.skibec.ca/>