A dusting of fresh snow overnight and clear blue skies welcomed athletes to Snow Farm yesterday with fast paced action for the first of three days of cross country ski racing at the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.

The strong Canadian team dominated the podium in all categories taking first, second and third in the men's 15km classic race. Currently ranked number one in his country Devon Kershaw (CAN) crossed the line in a time of 37 minutes 51 seconds just six seconds ahead of close rival and team mate Ivan Babikov (CAN). Alex Harvey (CAN) crossed the line in third place in a time of 38minutes 23 seconds.

Kershaw was delighted with his victory and believes the win was down to the final 1km dash, "My aim was to stay hot on the heels of Harvey and really attack the last 1km, it all came together which was fantastic, the course is in great shape here at Snow Farm and the competitive field made for a good race," he said.

The women's 10km race was also topped by Canadians with three-time Olympian Sara Renna (CAN) winning in a time of 28mins 11seconds. Brittany Webster (CAN) finished second in a time of 29minutess 49seconds, third place went to Chisa Obayashi (JPN). Renna said today's race really tested athlete's fitness and technical ability. "The fresh snow last night made the conditions challenging to predict for our wax technicians, I only received my skis 30 seconds before race start!" she said.

New Zealand cross country skier Ben Koons moved closer to qualifying for the Winter Olympic team today finishing eighteenth amongst a highly competitive international field. The result awards him sufficient FIS points to continue his campaign for the Olympic team. Koons, who recently graduated from Dartmouth University, was the first New Zealand male to race in a World Cup event in 2005.

Andrew Pohl and Nat Anglem from New Zealand finished 26th and 31st respectively. Samantha Bondarenko was the highest placed (tenth) New Zealand female. Kate Calder did not race.

There were also strong performances in the adaptive competition, racing on the same course as the able-bodied athletes. Japan's top disabled cross country athlete Kozo Kubo (JPN) finished first in the sit ski category and Canada's highest ranked Colette Bourgonje (CAN) won the women's sit ski category (10km). In the standing section Japan's Nitta Yoshihiro takes the men's standing (15km) title and Ota Shoko the women's title (10km).

Monday, August 24th, 2009
WinterGamesNZ.com