Geir Ludvig Ã…sen had to turn 32 years old before he was found good enough for the Norwegian national team. But now he is on it. Deserved , he feels.
![](http://images.fasterskier.com/oldsitearchive/upload/061016image111.jpg width=270 height=330 border=1><BR><font size=1 face=verdana></font></center><BR></p>
<p>– It was a wonderful message to get, says Geir Ludvig Ã…sen about when chief of cross country Ã…ge Skinstad, called and said that he had been named to the men’s elite team. </p>
<p>Ã…sen has been a part of Sirdal ski training group for many years.</p>
<p>– It has been a very good for me, but I been waiting for the opportunity with the national team, says the thirty-two-year old nationalteam rookie. </p>
<p>He feels it’s an advantage by being on the national team regardless.</p>
<p>– To be able to train with the best is invaluable. It’s so much knowledge on this team that I’m learning something new every day.</p>
<p> – But he feels that he hasn’t been able to completely adjust to the situation and do as well in the season preparation as he would have liked to.</p>
<p>– I’m struggling to be tough enough.</p>
<p>But his teammates describe Ã…sen as a raw ironman. </p>
<p>– Ã…sen is very, very tough, says assistant coach Vidar Lfshus.</p>
<p>Ã…sen says that it’s the motivation that has carried him up to this point, and that he has gotten a new dosage of motivation now after making the national team. </p>
<p>– It’s the motivation that steers the most.</p>
<p>And he could make lots of progress.</p>
<p>– You haven’t seen the best from Geir Ludvig Ã…sen yet, he ensures. </p>
<p>– I believe in (future) progress, because I can continue to increase both volume and intensity for many more years, says Asen. </p>
<p>Ã…sen made the top-ten in World Cup races several times last season. He wants to become more stable, and he is of course looking forward to Worlds in February/March. </p>
<p>– I would really like to race the 50-k. I’m still not quite good enough, but I believe it’s coming, says Ã…sen.</p>
<p> Source: Langrenn.com</p>
</div></div><!-- /btArticleContentInnerInner --><section class=)
![](https://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2020/09/FasterSkier-logo-sq-320x320.png)
Geir Ludvig Ã…sen had to turn 32 years old before he was found good enough for the Norwegian national team. But now he is on it. Deserved , he feels.