Hello Family and Friends,

As Jenn stated in her last email to everyone, We have big news that we would like to share with everyone. This week has been an adjustment for myself and Jenn, as well as the speedskating community we work with each day up here in Calgary not only because of the horrendous jet lag we all have, but because of the news we needed to share with everyone up here. Read on.

As we anticipate the arrival of spring, I reflect back on winter and my past skating season. As you know, I set goals prior to the season....top ten overall in the world, some top 5 results, and maybe even a medal if things went really well.

Looking back on the season, I can say things went according to plan. While I had my share of bad races, I had my share of good ones too. I won the US Championships in Milwaukee; finished sixth overall at the World Sprint Championships in Japan; tenth overall in World Cup ranking for the 500m; fifth in the 500m at the World Single Distance Championships in Korea; and stepped onto the podium once with a bronze medal at the World Cup in Germany....results that put me right on track for Turino in 2006. On top of positive skating, Jen and I spent another great year in Calgary enjoying life with our friends!

And yet it's time for a change. Time to take another risk. We are moving to Salt Lake City in May! Sounds crazy, I know. Let me explain.

The four years we've spent in Calgary have been among the best in our lives. We have it made up here. We share a laid back lifestyle with amazing people that are not only the best skaters and teammates in the World, they're the best friends a couple could ask for. Why they took us in back in the summer of '99 I'll never fully grasp. An American, down on his skating luck (or skill), looking to train in a proven program, with great coaches and the fastest skaters in the world. What I didn't know about the Canadians was whether we'd be compatible or not. Boy, did I get lucky.

And yet we're heading south to train with the other Americans. With two years until the next Games, we needed to make a change now or never. The US Program is vastly improved from where it was when we moved to Calgary; and they have a great team of men sprinters as a result. I honestly believe that both programs could bring me success in '06. And success in '06 is Jen and my top priority. But because both programs are incredible, we looked to other areas when making our decision; the challenges of being outside the US program vs. in, the challenges of being outside the country vs. in, the other areas of importance in our lives, etc.

We are very excited because Jen will have the ability to work and pursue her dreams in education while we're in Salt Lake City! It looks like she will be working with our friend Kate Pelchat and the Sylvan Learning Centers in Utah. They are working on a position for her in their centers as a Center Director! This is a great opportunity for her, as she will be able to grow within the company, put her education to good use and make a difference in the lives of many kids.

I know leaving Calgary is a contradiciton to my position in the past (and might seem to make even less sense after the successful season I just concluded), but Jenn and I have spent the past 2 months weighing the pros and cons, and feel confident the risk is worth taking! Anything can happen at the Olympics, and I firmly believe that I will enter Turino a medal contender in the 500m and 1000m. I'm a pretty conservative guy...not real big on change. But the risks I've taken in the past have paid off consistantly; whether thru good risk management, the Grace of God, or (most likely) a little of both :-) While leaving a place that's been so good to us on and off the ice is not a "fun" decision to make, I need to do everything in my power to tilt the odds in my favor. I'm leaving a program that brought me a Gold medal. It's a big risk, but has an even bigger potential reward.

Because you have all been such great supporters of Jenn and I over the years, we want you all to hear about our future plans from the horses' mouths.....or at least from the horses' email!

Thank you for your continuous love and support!

Casey, Jenn and Kea