Canadian Brian McKeever won silver on Sunday in the men's 20-kilometre cross-country International Paralympic Committee World Cup skate-ski race in Obberied, Germany.

McKeever and his guide Graham Nishikawa finished the race in 42 minutes 36.3 seconds for second place in the visually impaired classification.

"We skied OK, but we are just not firing on all cylinders," said the 38-year-old McKeever. "Graham set a pace we felt we could be consistent with, but in the end, if there was a chance to pick it up neither of us could. Graham pulled off to let me go on my own at the end, but I had nothing. We were both maxed out."

Arriving one day before the opening weekend of races in Germany, the Canadian duo battled jet lag in their first two races while taking on a strong international field.

"We are pretty cooked right now, but there is no need to hit the panic button," McKeever said. "It is a long way to go until we get to Korea so this is a good set of training races for us, and a chance to see where everyone else is at. I think we are in very good shape and in a good place."

Russia's Stanislav Chokhlaev won the race with a time of 42:18.4.

In the men's standing classification, Mark Arendz backed up his career-best cross-country ski classic race with a fifth-place finish. Arendz, of Hartsville, P.E.I., completed the five-lap course in a time of 45:15.5.

Benjamin Daviet of France won the division with a time of 42:41.4.

Emily Young of Kelowna, B.C., also finished fifth in the women's standing division. A winner of five bronze medals this year, Young skied steady throughout the 15-kilometre skate-ski race to finish with a time of 47:37.0.

Brittany Hudak, of Prince Albert, Sask., was seventh at 49:55.4.