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.
7 comments
Lars
January 18, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Biathletes and retirees i guess that something about the current stat of Norwegian skiing. =_=
Cloxxki
January 19, 2010 at 3:08 am
Is that a good thing or a bad thing for them?
Biathon, while it some mental attention to shooting practice every day, does exclude classic-specific training as bare necessity. Some muscles that won’t need developing, or develop bulk to drag up hills. Also, skate training can be more focussed on technique.
Apart from Berger, there is his fellow countryman Hafsas, who has committed to XC (he won a 15km XC skate this winter) rather than biathlonl, because he’s basically a lousy shot.
Norway doesn’t have the monopoly in fast XC skiers though, Austria is coming back strongly. Landertinger is hard to beat. With the women, it’s Sweden and Germany. No XC starts there as far as I’m aware of, which to me is a shame. Neuner can’t hit a moose when it’s asleep (sorry ,my princess), but she sure skis like a goddess.
BRB Skiing
January 19, 2010 at 7:42 am
Does it really though?
Norwegian biathletes have proven to be world class XC-skiers in the past. Hafsaas grabbed a WC win this season, Bjorndalen has done the same in the past. Lars Berger? He’s a three time XC world champion for crying out loud!!! (Two relays, one individual gold. Also one individual gold from the Norwegian nationals.) Frode Andresen has made the top ten i the XC world cup as well.
There’s no way Alsgaard will compete in the Olympics. He did however beat Verpalu and Mae among others getting a second place in a long distance race just recently. He would compete for most nations on the 50k, but Norway will pick others.
Lars
January 19, 2010 at 8:45 am
Ow i know the biathletes are excellent xc skiers and they only have to focus on one style. So skkingvise they have less to focus on then the regular skiers.
So really my comment was kinda unfair, i`m just not happy with the dept of the ski team atm as in the mens relay team is not looking very good atm. Behind Northug there hasn`t been many good results lately.
BRB Skiing
January 19, 2010 at 9:04 am
I agree on the relay team, Norway will still be favs with the bookies though. It’ll be hard to drop them, and if Northug’s in it, he’ll win it …most likely anyway.
Lars
January 19, 2010 at 9:09 am
Personally i think Russia Germany and Sweden looks to have the strongest teams.
Cloxxki
January 19, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Would any nation, before the end of Northug’s career, decide to go HARD on the first 3 legs of a relay, or the first 30k of the 50k? Put the best men in front, open up a gap. Then a non-sprinter time trialist as closing skier. Take a chance, rather than settle for a shot at silver!
I most other countries, a talent of the likes of Northug would never even get involved in skiing. Norway has the culture to nurture such kids.
Funny that USA will bring any skier they are allowed to, yet Norway takes only whom they need, in part due to some omni-talents taking part in all discplines and distances, where 4 per country are allowed. A bit sour for the runner-ups, but this will probably bring them more medals.