The 28-year-old from Heming, Norway, has been given four months to prove that he has something to add to the Pro Team.

Last spring, he took the first victory of his career, and in August, he was on the podium in Alliansloppet. Now he’s aiming for a permanent place in the Aukland brothers’ Pro Team, Team Ragde Charge.

“I’m grabbing this opportunity with both hands. Training with the best and being part of Team Ragde Charge at rallies and races will give me every opportunity to do my best,” says Mathias Aas Rolid to Langrenn.com.

Jørgen Aukland, leader of Team Ragde Charge, is excited about what the 28-year-old can bring to the team.

“Mathias is an exciting skier that we want to see more of. He’s good in flat terrain and in large fields, and his third place at Alliansloppet last year shows that he has great potential in long-distance races,” says Aukland.

Four months to go

The next few months will therefore be extremely important for Aas Rolid. He has until August to prove to Aukland that he has something to add to Team Ragde Charge.

“It’s important for us to have hungry and fearless athletes, and Mathias coming will be a plus for the group,” says Aukland, and continues:

“Mathias will be taking part in all the gatherings and training sessions going forward, and what we’re looking for is attitude, effort, talent, high level and development. Then we’ll put our foot down at the end of August, and hopefully by then he’ll have settled into the team.”

Also Read: Team Ragde Charge cuts six of nine skiers

After a solid base season, the Heming skier had to undergo surgery on his nose and sinuses, ruining his entire racing season. But now Aas Rolid is back in training and following a detailed training plan, going all in for a permanent place in the Ragde Charge squad.

“I feel I have a lot more in me than I’ve shown so far,” he says. 

Star-studded and super-experienced skiers

If Aas Rolid succeeds in securing a permanent place in the team for the coming season, he will be part of a very solid Team Ragde Charge. Six of the nine skiers who raced for Team Ragde Charge this winter are now out of the team.

Only the three who finished on the overall podium in Ski Classics this year are left from last year’s team: Johan Hoel, Kasper Stadaas and Andreas Nygaard.

On the women’s side, all of last winter’s skiers are out, while Swedish superstar Stina Nilsson has signed a two-year contract with Aukland’s team.

Read More: Stina Nilsson joins the Ski Classics circuit

Mathias Aas Rolid raced for Team Coop Madshus last winter. Before that, he was part of Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso.