Bart's move isn't especially significant, and I don't even consider it
a problem, althogh I haven't asked Chad specifically.

US Speedskating has a new President, Vice President, and Treasurer.
The Executive Director has resigned, no replacement has been
announced. They are discussing moving headquarters to Salt Lake,
Milwaukee, or Colorado Springs. Other people are on the way out.

All this is natural and good. We're starting a new 4 year cycle. The
past people have done well, one of the most successful sports programs
in the world. It's intense work, some of them want to get a life.

But not everything has been perfect. Some people are concerned that
Chad and others weren't training with the team, so there's a goal of a
coach for him that can cooperate with the team. Surely the image of
speedskating projected during the Olympics media coverage wasn't
ideal. The men's long track team is great, but the other 3 (women's
and short track) teams didn't seem to perform as well. Many skaters
will be replaced, as older ones move on.

If Chad wants to train in Germany, he can. He'll not be the first USA
Olympian to train in Europe. Virtually everyone on the team travels
somewhere to train. And Chad's sponsor is European, next door to
Germany.

No great urgency to rush to a solution. There's no ice at Salt Lake
until July 19 or so, the same in Milwaukee. Yes, Chad is training, but
it's dryland and inline. And he does know something about skating, has
conducted training sessions which people paid to attend. And he works
with other skaters who will tell him of defects he doesn't notice.

There'll be much exciting happening in skating during the next few
months, even if there's no ice. We've got a great future.

Jim White


--- In chadhedrick@yahoogroups.com, "Steph" <suprgrltx@...> wrote:
>
> I haven't seen this posted, yet, so I'll share.
>
> As of today, Chad doesn't have a coach. Utah Athletic Foundation
let
> Bart Schouten go, and he announced today that he'll be the German
Mens
> Allround Coach.
>
> Let's hope this problem gets solved ASAP, because other skaters have
> already started training, or will soon.
>