February 18, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – Ski bases will be critical for the women’s 15km

mass start Pursuit on Friday that starts at 1pm PST, beginning with a 7.5km classic race, followed by a 7.5km skate. Temperatures are predicted to be +9C along with cloudless skies making for deep, soft tracks. With a mass start it may result in a cat and mouse game or someone may decide to get away and make their own tracks. If they salt the course the race could take on a whole new the complexion. According to one of the Canadian men they’re using NH4Cl fertilizer so there are no environmental concerns.

Not surprisingly, Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk is seeded first with the rest of the top twenty-two seeded skiers all coming from Europe (if you include Russia and Kazakhstan in Europe). Even if she doesn’t like the facilities, she is favoured to win the gold. She leads in distance and overall points, but skiers, particularly in the classic leg, will be very dependent on good technicians. Will Poland, which is hardly a Nordic nation, be able to provide this, or will her sponsors do that job?

Norway’s Marit Bjoergen, fresh from her gold medal win in the sprints will be a factor, especially given the fleet of wax and ski technicians that team brought. Teammates Kristin Stoermer Steira, who is seeded fourth and Vibeke Skofterud, seeded 10th cannot be ruled out either if one believes the Norwegians are now on a role.

They will be battled by the Swedes, led by Charlotte Kalla, who took gold in the initial 10km skate race at the beginning of the week, and 11th seeded Anna Haag. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen of Finland is seeded second while teammates Ritta-Liisa Roponen is 8th seed and Rikka Sarasoja sits in 20th. Only Finland, Italy and Russia have three athletes seeded in the top 22.

Sara Renner leads the North Americans in this event, seeded 28th. She is followed by Americans Elizabeth Stephen and Morgan Arritola in 42nd and 44th respectively, Canadian Daria Gaiazova in 50th, Team USA’s Holly Brooks in 51st, Canada’s Madeleine Williams in 54th, USA’s Caitlin Compton in 59th, and Canada’s Perianne Jones in 64th.