Weekend wrap: Double gold for Brittany Hudak at Para Nordic World Cup

Photo IPC

CANMORE, Alta. – Brittany Hudak of Saskatoon won two gold medals on the weekend in the biathlon events to conclude a very successful season opening World Cup for the Canadian Para nordic team on their home trails.

The Canadians racked up 17 medals in six days of racing at the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park.

After missing four shots which ultimately cost her a medal earlier in the week, Hudak missed only one of 10 shots in her six-kilometre win on Saturday and one of 20 in the 10-kilometre race on Sunday.

“It was race number six (this week), so my body was feeling tired especially after a solid effort on Saturday,” said the 28-year-old two-time Paralympian about Sunday’s win. “My legs were feeling heavy, and I was a bit sluggish, but I knew if I could keep it together in the range, I’d have a good day.”

Emily Young of North Vancouver was second to Hudak in the 10-kilometre event. Hudak won that race in 32 minutes and 49.4 seconds, followed by Young, 19 of 20 in the shooting range, in 33:20.1.

“Biathlon is such a challenge. It is so easy to lose with the shooting,” said Young, 30, diagnosed with nerve damage in her right arm as the result of a wrestling training accident in 2009. “It was really nice to have my teammates Britt and Nat (Wilkie who placed fifth) so close to me. They are both skiing so well so they were a bit of a rabbit in front of me. We feed off that camaraderie on the course.’’

Triple Paralympic Games medallist Collin Cameron of Sudbury, Ont., added a silver in the men’s sit skiing 10-kilometre biathlon, firing a perfect four rounds for a time of 34:13.3. Danila Britik of Russia was the winner in 33:54.2.

“I just really wanted to focus on the range, slow it down a bit and work on my sight picture,” said Cameron, 33, born with arthrogryposis. “This is my second clean (shooting) race ever. The result is what it is. I was just happy I was able to tidy things up.’’

Overall Hudak, born missing part of her left arm, led the Canadian medal charge at the World Cup which started December 4 with the cross-country races with four gold medals and a silver.

Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C. added two gold and two silver, Cameron produced a gold, silver and bronze, Young a silver and bronze while visually impaired racer Brian McKeever and his guide Graham Nishikawa were double champions in the cross- country events.

Mark Arendz of Hartsville, B.C. also earned a bronze in the 7.5 kilometre cross country.

Full results can be found HERE.

With files from Nordiq Canada

Alison Levine wins gold, qualifies for worlds at World Boccia Americas Regional Championships

World number one Alison Levine of Montreal highlighted a three-medal performance for Canada with a gold medal in the women’s BC4 competition while Éric Bussière of Verchères, Que., and Marco Dispaltro of St. Jerôme, Que., each added a bronze in their events.

Levine, a two-time Paralympian, defeated Leidy Chica of China in the final 8-2. The 31-year-old Canadian, undefeated throughout the tournament, qualifies for the 2022 World Boccia Championships with the victory.

“I’m feeling very proud of myself for my performance here in Brazil,’’ Levine said. ‘’Securing a spot for world championships next year is a weight off my shoulders. All I can say is that today I proved why I’m number one in the world. I sent a strong message to everyone. I’m a force to be reckoned with.” 

Dispaltro defeated compatriot Iulian Ciobanu of Montreal for the bronze in the men’s BC4. Bussière won the bronze medal match over Cristobal Aranda of Chile in the BC3 category.

Next up at this competition is the BC1/BC2 team, BC3 pairs, and BC4 pairs play.

The schedule can be found HERE. The webcast is available on court 6 HERE.

With files from Boccia Canada

Massie and DeJong on the podium for Canada at Para snowboard World Cup

In Pyha, Finland, Alex Massie of Barrie, Ont. won the silver medal on Saturday in the men’s LL2 (lowerlimb2) snowboard cross race at the second stop on the Para snowboard World Cup circuit of the season. Lisa DeJong of Biggar, Sask. added two bronze in the women’s events.

In the four-man final, Massie, a 2018 Paralympian, was second to Ben Tudhope of Australia. On Sunday he was eighth in the second snowboard cross race.

It was the same top-three finish in both women’s LL1-2 races. DeJong, in her rookie season on the circuit, was third, with Cecile Hernandez of France in first and Lisa Bunschoten of the Netherlands second.

Paralympian Sandrine Hamel of St-Sauveur, Que., a double medallist at the season opening event last month, won the small final for fifth in the first race and did not start in the second.

Tyler Turner of Calgary won the small final in the first men’s LL1 snowboard cross event for fifth overall. He reached the final in the second race and took fourth spot.

Full results can be found HERE.