February 15, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – The 2010 Olympic cross-country ski events begin this

morning at Whistler Olympic Park with the women’s 10km individual start freestyle, followed by the men’s 15km individual start freestyle events.

The weather forecast is for partly cloudy, no snowfall, and temperatures reaching +4degC. After the debacle yesterday, where precipitation fell only when the top-seed skiers were on course in the biathlon men’s 10km Sprint, and because of the soft snow conditions, coaches have decided to put their strongest athletes starting at bib #11.

North American competitors in the women’s 10km event include a full quota of four from the US – Morgan Arritola, Holly Brooks, Caitlin Compton and Liz Stephen; and from Canada, only Madeleine Williams. Sara Renner will not race, focusing instead on the sprints. Look to the girls like Stephen and Arritola, whose light and quick technique will shine on this unrelenting course.  In the spotlight will be Charlotte Kalla (SWE), Marit Bjoergen (NOR) and Justyna Kowalczyk (POL). Bjoergen and Kowalczyk’s power may or may not be enough to get them around quickly.

In the men’s 15km event it is almost anyone’s call who will podium. The soft conditions do not favour Petter Northug’s 82kg frame, but the course has been treated with urea, to harden it up. Northug is also better at the more tactical, mass start races. So Lukas Bauer (CZE) and Dario Cologna (ITA) may have the advantage today.

Skiing for Canada, look for Stefan Kuhn, Alex Harvey, Ivan Babikov and George Grey. And the US will be fielding Kris Freeman, James Southam, both of whom have been training on these courses in these conditions for over three years. They’ll be joined on the start line  by Garrett Kuzzy and Simi Hamilton ready to stretch their legs as well in Whistler for the USA

Women’s Start List here.

Men’s Start List here.