December 13, 2018 (Vuokatti, Finland) – Canada’s Brian McKeever and Mark Arendz, skied to gold and silver at the IPC Nordic World Cup opener in Vuokatti, Finland on Dec 12. Arendz, 28, was the first champion crowned in the new season in the men’s 10km standing division, while McKeever settled for the silver medal in the men’s 10km visually impaired category.

“This was a fantastic way to kick off the new season. I’ve had some historical moments here in Vuokatti. I competed in my first World Cup race here, had my first World Cup biathlon victory here and now my first cross-country ski victory,” said Arend, who set a record for skiing onto the podium in each of the six races he entered at the 2018 Games.

Japan’s Taiki Kawayoke was the next best finisher in second place with a time of 27:14.4. Ukraine’s Grygorii Vovchynskyi clocked-in at 27:47.8 to secure the bronze medal.

Racing without his guide Graham Nishikawa who was sidelined with an injury, the 39-year-old McKeever, Canada’s most decorated Paralympian, was bumped off the top step of the podium by Sweden’s Sebastian Modin.

“I just didn’t have anything today,” said McKeever, who has been battling jet leg with his Canadian teammates. “But even if I was fast today, I wouldn’t have beaten him. Sebastian was impressive today.” McKeever punched the clock at 27:35.1 to claim the silver medal, while Modin set the time to beat at 26:05.7. Ukraine’s Iaroslav Reshetynskyi skied to a bronze medal pace throughout each of the four laps, finishing with a time of 29:08.2.

Other Canadian top-10 finishers included Natalie Wilkie who placed fifth in the women’s 7.5-kilometre standing race. Vancouver’s Emily Young was eighth, while Brittany Hudak was 10th. Sudbury’s Colin Cameron was the top finisher in the men’s 7.5-kilometre sit-ski race in seventh with teammate, Derek Zaplotinsky in eighth.

The IPC World Cup continues on Thursday in Finland with the short-distance cross-country ski race – full results here.