January 23, 2011
VUOKATTI, Fin.—Canada’s Mark Arendz captured his first IPC World Cup victory after winning the gold medal in a biathlon individual race on Sunday in Vuokatti, Finland on Sunday.

Arendz shot clean to post a winning time of 39 minutes, 35.9 seconds in a tight sprint to the wire with Norway’s Nils-Erik Ulset and Russia’s Oleg Balukhto who he has been fighting for the medals with all week in the men’s standing division – one of the deepest on the IPC World Cup.

“That was amazing,” said Arendz. “My first World Cup victory and to shoot clean – nothing feels better.”

Ulset settled for the silver medal at 40:52.1, while Balukhto was third (41:56.1).

It was the third medal of the week for the 20-year-old Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I. The 2010 Paralympian won a silver and a bronze in the biathlon sprint and pursuit races respectively.

“I think the two podium finishes this week definitely gave me the confidence to know I deserve to be here with these guys,” said Arendz. “I woke up this morning and felt ready to go and said this is my day. I couldn’t be happier.”

Jody Barber, of Smithers, B.C., was the only other Canadian to suit up on Sunday and finished sixth at 1:01:43.2 in the women’s standing category.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Daria Gaiazova also enjoyed a stellar day. Gaiazova continued her breakout season with a career-best individual result when she was eighth in a World Cup classic cross-country ski sprint race in Otepaa, Estonia on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Gaiazova, who captured her first World Cup medal earlier this season in a sprint relay with Chandra Crawford, continued to threaten for the podium after crossing the line eighth in Estonia to mark her best classic-sprint race of the season.

“I am really happy because that was a personal best individual result,” said Gaiazova, of Banff, Alta. “I have been working really hard on my double poling over the last three years and to see it pay off today was nice to see.”

Gaiazova was a double-poling machine on Sunday. In her quarter-final heat, the 2010 Olympian was losing time on the field charging up the hills, but regained it on the flats. Heading into the final 200-metre finishing stretch in sixth spot, Gaiazova double-poled her way into the semifinals by finishing second.

Attempting a similar strategy in the semis, Gaiazova’s quest for the podium fell short after crossing the line in fourth.

“I thought I would be able to do it again in the semis but it was a faster heat. I am really happy and skiing very well,” said Gaiazova. “I am definitely in a good place right now, and enjoy stepping up to the start line over here.”

Olympic gold medallist, Chandra Crawford of Canmore, Alta., was the only other Canadian to qualify for the heats with the top-30 athletes. Despite posting her fastest qualifying time in relation to the leaders in a classic-ski sprint, Crawford’s bid for the podium came to halt in the opening round, placing 27th.

Slovenia’s Petra Majdic won the women’s race. Sweden’s Hanna Brodin captured the silver, while Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla locked up the bronze.

Norway grabbed the top-two spots on the men’s podium with Erik Bransdal taking the top prize and Ola Vigen Hattestad finishing second. Russia’s Nikita Kriukov claimed the bronze.

Toronto’s Len Valjas was the top Canadian male and narrowly missed advancing to the heats after qualifying 31st.

Cross Country Canada is using the Estonia World Cup as a tune-up for many of Canada’s Under-23 and Junior World Championship athletes. Other results included: Alysson Marshall, of Salmon Arm, B.C. was 33rd; Heidi Widmer, of Banff, Alta., was 50th in women’s racing. Calgary’s Jesse Cockney was 61st; Michael Somppi, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 66th; and Graeme Killick, of Fort McMurray, Alta., was 69th.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada, which is the nation’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadiansparticipating annually. Its 51,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities, including those on Canada’s National Ski Teams and Para-Nordic Ski Teams. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Haywood Securities Inc., AltaGas, Teck Resources Ltd. and Statoil – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and Own the Podium, Cross Country Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic and world champions. For more information on Cross Country Canada, please visit us at www.cccski.com.

Complete IPC World Cup Results: http://www.ipcvuokatti2009.net/index_eng.asp?pid=113

Complete World Cup Results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?cal_suchsector=CC&event_id=28386

Top-5 Women and Canadian Results:

1. Petra Majdic, SLO; 2. Hanna Brodin, SWE; 3. Maiken Caspersen Falla, NOR; 4. Justyna Kowalczyk, POL; 5. Lina Andersson, SWE

Canadian Results:

8. Daria Gaiazova, Banff, Alta.; 27. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta.; 33. Alysson Marshall, Salmon Arm, B.C.; 50. Heidi Widmer, Banff, Alta.

Top-5 Men and Canadian Results:

1.Erik Bransdal, NOR; 2. Ola Vigen Hattestad, NOR; 3. Nikita Kriukov, RUS; 4. Emil Joensson, SWE; 5. Daniel Rickardsson, SWE.

Canadian Results:

31. Len Valjas, Toronto; 61. Jesse Cockney, Calgary; 66. Michael Somppi, Thunder Bay, Ont.; 69. Graeme Killick, Fort McMurray, Alta.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Media and Public Relations
Cross Country Canada
T: 281-703-4394