Why Women’s Double Chase Needs to Change Boards

The purpose of changing boards in the pursuit game is to test the athletes' ability to convert techniques and their ability to master two techniques proficiently.

During the competition, all athletes start at the same time and need to combine two cross-country skiing techniques in one competition. When stopping at the halfway point to change traditional equipment to freestyle equipment and change boards, the timer will not stop.

Chasing tests an athlete's skill conversion ability and ability to master two technologies proficiently.

The first gold medal produced at the Beijing Winter Olympics came from the women's 7.5-kilometer double pursuit event in cross-country skiing.

For people who are not familiar with ice and snow sports, the most common thing to misunderstand about the board changing process in the pursuit competition is the word "double", thinking that it will be a "double" event between two people, but it is not.

Cross-country skiing "double pursuit" is a competition event completed by a single person.

Students should note that "double" refers to the two skiing movements that need to be completed in the competition-traditional techniques and free techniques.

To put it simply, the cross-country skiing double pursuit event means that everyone sets out as a group. After starting, they first ski 7.5 kilometers using traditional techniques, then enter the board changing area, put on the freestyle skis placed here in advance, and then enter the venue to ski 7.5 kilometers using free techniques.