Susan Auch - Diary

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1st entry

This is my second entry for my new web site diary. I'll be updating it every couple of weeks and archiving past entries. Thanks for your support!

Susan with two Norwegian skaters -Edel-Therese Hoiseth and Linda Olsen outside of the Olympic Oval in Salt Lake.

It’s been a whirlwind for the past month with two World Cups and two sets of Olympic trials, Christmas and now New Years Eve.

The World Cups for me were a chance to see what I could do in a race situation. I have a difficult time getting ‘up’ for low-key competitions but because this one was in the Olympic oval, it was a chance for me to see how I felt on that particular ice surface.

The ice is very similar to Calgary’s, very fast with the potential to break World records at the Games. I prefer very fast, hard ice and was satisfied with my times coming out of the World Cup. I felt that I was close enough to the podium that anything would be possible when I return in February.

With the final Olympic trials wrapping up I have secured myself a spot in both the 500m and the 1000m. Although I felt confident about qualifying for the Games it’s always nice when the trials are done and my name is on the official entry. It’s hard to believe I’ll be going to my fifth Olympics-I would never have believed anyone who would have predicted this. What makes thes e Olympics extra special is that they are so close to home-Canadians will be able to watch this Olympics without having to wake up in the middle of the night.

Calgary Sun newspaper article after Olympic trials

First things first though-this week I am off to Holland for a World Cup before heading to the World Sprint Championships at one of my favourite places to skate-Hamar, Norway. Hamar was the site of the 1994 Olympics so I have very good memories from there.

Well that’s it for now-I’ll be updating you with my skating as I finish the various competitions. My goal for the moment is to get myself skating consistently fast and come February, you never know…..