Skinstad is holding the Olympic door open for Alsgaard

Train Wreck · January 18, 2010

The Norwegian sports manager will count no one out.

(Original Source: langrenn.com, 1-18-2010, Translated by: Patrick Stinson)

After it was discovered that Thomas Alsgaard had registered for Thursday’s 15Km at Norwegian Nationals in Stokke, his name has also been heard in the Olympic context.

Sports Manager Åge Skinstad knows what the former top skier is good for, after seeing him at the National Team’s fall training camps, so he certainly won’t exclude the 38-year-old.

“Thomas is going to do well at Nationals and I will not rule out any of the skiers before the last straw is pulled. Thomas has trained well through the whole season, but hasn’t raced many regular races. It will be exciting to follow him at Nationals, so we’ll see what will happen after that,” says Skinstad til VG Nett.

VG Nett also managed to get a comment straight from the horse’s mouth, but he is not necessarily being very talkative about it.

“I don’t have the time to answer any questions before March,” says Alsgaard to the web site, before he hung up the telephone.

Alsgaard will therefore speak through his performances, and Thursday will be his first opportunity.

Biathlete Lars Berger has also performed well in the cross country track on the World Cup. Today Skinstad takes another big step in inviting him into the Vancouver squad through VG Nett.

“Ask me about lars Berger,” urges Skinstad.

“Will Lars Berger be included in the squad for the Vancouver Olympics?”

“Berger is absolutely appropriate for the relay team. We are dependent on taking a strong team to the Olympics, and he has shown many times that he is a force to be reckoned with in the relays. He will be rated highly,” says Skinstad to the web site.