December 1, 2007 (Vernon, B.C.) – Dasha Gaiazova and Ivan Babikov won the season-opening Haywood NorAm cross-country skiing race series at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club near Vernon, B.C. on Saturday afternoon.

The 23-year-old Gaiazova, who was a rookie on the World Cup circuit last year, overcame cold and windy conditions to complete the women’s 10-kilometre skate-ski race in a time of 31 minutes 16.7 seconds.

“I appreciate these races so much more and having an opportunity to compete for podium now that I’ve had a taste of the World Cup last year,” said Gaiazova, who hails from Montreal. “It was tough out there today with the cold weather. It is really hard on your lungs, and when the weather is cold the snow is much slower to ski on so it is tougher.”

Gaiazova was joined on the women’s podium by Edmonton’s Madeleine Williams, who finished 26 seconds off the pace in second (31:40.5). Tasha Betcherman, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was third at 31:42.4.

Ivan Babikov, who relocated to Canada from Russia, grabbed the first gold medal of the season on the nation’s premiere development ski circuit. Babikov powered his way up the steep hills and around the 15-kilometre Sovereign Lake track with a time of 38:18.6.

David Nighbor, of North Bay, Ont., finished in second spot at 39:23.1, while Chris Butler, of Thunder Bay, Ont. rounded out the podium in third with a time of 39:39.6.

World Cup Update

Meanwhile, a quartet of Canadian men and women failed to qualify for the head-to-head heats with the top-30 in a World Cup classic sprint race in Kuusamo, Finland on Saturday. Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., led the way for the Canadians finishing 38th. Sean Crooks, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 48th, while Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., finished 61st. Olympic gold medallist, Chandra Crawford, of Canmore, Alta., was the lone Canadian woman entered and finished 40th.

“We seem to have a few pre-race jitters still and just need to get that monkey off our back and it will come,” said Dave Wood, head coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team. “Our training is going well, we just need to keep plugging away and it will come.”

The Haywood NorAm Series continues on Sunday with the Teck Cominco sprints in Vernon, B.C., while the World Cup distance races will also take place in Finland.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian ParaNordic Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

NorAm Results

Women – 10km (brief)

1. Dasha Gaiazova, Montreal, 31:16.7
2. Madeleine Williams, Edmonton, 31:40.5
3. Tasha Betcherman, Thunder Bay, Ont., 31:42.4
4. Morgan Arritola, USA, 31:56.1
5. Brooke Gosling, Calgary, 32:18.9.

Men – 15km (brief)

1. Ivan Babikov, Canmore, Alta., 38:18.6
2. David Nighbor, North Bay, Ont., 39:23.1
3. Chris Butler, Thunder Bay, Ont., 39:39.6
4. Gord Jewett, Toronto, 39:40.6
5. Dan Roycroft, Port Sydney, Ont., 39:44.0.

For complete NorAm results click here.

World Cup Results

Women

1. Petra Majdic, SLO
2. Astrid Jacobsen, NOR
3. Alena Prochazkova, SVK
4. Natalia Matveeva, RUS
5. Madoka Natsumi, JPN.

40. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta.

Men

1.Johan Kjoelstad, NOR
2. Emil Joensson, SWE
3. Mats Larsson, SWE
4. Andrew Newell, USA
5. Nikita Kriukov, RUS

38. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont.
48. Sean Crooks, Thunder Bay, Ont.
61. Drew Goldsack, Red Deer, Alta.

For complete World Cup results click here.