She has entered the 21km race option.
Mrs Paal will spend four days at the Snow Farm inspecting the course, monitoring preparations for the race and generally assessing the Merino Muster's suitability to be sanctioned as an associated Worldloppet member.
Worldloppet is an international sports federation of cross-country skiing marathons, founded in 1978 in Uppsala, Sweden.
Only the best race from each country can become a member of Worldloppet. Mrs Paal told the Otago Daily Times yesterday she was impressed by the Snow Farm, which she was visiting for the first time.
Its high alpine setting made for spectacular views and it was not based on pine forests as many of the European Worldloppet races were.
''I think it's interesting - different from the other race courses I have seen around the world. That is the main reason for many international skiers to come here.''
She was also assessing infrastructure external to the race, such as information available about it, transportation, and nearby amenities, such as accommodation and restaurants.
''It's good to see here people are very motivated to do a good race,'' she said.
Many of the 80,000 to 135,000 participants in the Worldloppet races each year had been to all 16 Worldloppet-sanctioned events and were looking for fresh pastures, Mrs Paal said.
''Their goal for the trip is the ski race and they stay for sight-seeing.''
Merino Muster chairman John Burridge said becoming an associated Worldloppet member was ''hugely important''.
''It is something that Mary [Lee, the former owner of the Snow Farm] and I have dreamt of since we started the Merino Muster.''
Worldloppet would change the Merino Muster from a local race, which a few international competitors attended, to a race exposed to a global community of cross-country skiers, he said.
The Merino Muster begins today at 10am with the 42km distance athletes, including 2010 Winter Olympic gold medallist Justyna Kowalczyk, of Poland, and New Zealand biathlete Sarah Murphy.
Five minutes after they leave, the 21km racers head out, followed five minutes later again by the 7km competitors.
