Two of Yukon’s finest cross-country skiers proved their skills once again in Austria last weekend.

Emily Nishikawa and Dahria Beatty finished one-two in a five-kilometre Austria Cup race last Sunday in Villach, Austria.

The duo, who along with Knute Johnsgaard are in Europe as part of a B Tour group, led a field of 30 women in the race, which served as a tune-up for races occurring this weekend.

Nishikawa, 26, took victory in 15:09.6, while Beatty, 21, finished 18 seconds later.

“We were training in Austria last week, and are now in Planica, Slovenia, for OPA Cup races,” Nishikawa explained in an email to the Star. “The five-km classic race last weekend was a good race for me.

“Five kms is a very hard distance because it is so short, you have to be going fast the whole time. It was a fun race, pretty low-key, but always nice to win a race.”

“It was a fun, short track,” Beatty added in a statement to Cross Country Canada. “I wanted to get a hard race effort in after travelling earlier in the week.

“I also was hoping to regain some positive classic feelings since my only race before Christmas was a tough one. Happy with the day, and as always it was great (to) be racing with Emily again.”

The Yukoners will race three times this weekend, beginning with skate sprints today.

The OPA races are part of the European Continental Cup, with close to 20 countries represented.

Nishikawa again turned in the top Canuck performance, despite the fact she still hasn’t shown her best performances in any discipline.

After qualifying in 18th place – behind Beatty – Nishikawa took third in her quarter-final and went on to finish fourth in the semis in a very close photo finish. She went on to claim fourth in the final.

Beatty finished 18th, while Johnsgaard, 23, was the top Canadian in qualifying, finishing 16th in the men’s sprints.

He went on to finish 27th overall, however, behind teammate Lenny Valjas.

Tomorrow’s races are classic distance events.