Park City speed skater Casey Dawson is continuing to enjoy what’s been a slow offseason by his standards following the Milano Cortina Olympics.  Dawson won the team pursuit silver medal at those Games, his second Olympic medal following a bronze, also in team pursuit, at Beijing in 2022.  Dawson said he is working on transitioning from a team pursuit specialist to an individually focused skater this offseason. He is managing the change while the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns and many other speed skating rinks across the world are undergoing renovations. Dawson doesn’t expect to be back training on the Oval ice until September.  While navigating the Oval renovations, Dawson has furthered his passion for off-the-ice training methods like mountain biking, hiking and lifting weights. He has spent much of what would’ve normally been on-ice time on the trails and in the gym instead.  “The offseason has treated me well,” Dawson said. “I’ve been biking a ton. … I’ve just been enjoying having some freedom as far as training goes.” Dawson said gravel biking and hiking with his girlfriend and dog are good ways to escape from skating. He wants to avoid thinking about skating as much as he was this past season. As much fun as Dawson has been having training through other sports outdoors, he said it’s almost time to start more seriously preparing for the upcoming season. He will focus more and more on skating movements in his workouts, and may travel for a training camp before the Oval ice is ready in September.  The U.S. World Cup team trials will be held Oct. 30-Nov.1, determining who will skate for the country in those events. The World Cup season will begin Nov. 13-15 in Beijing. Dawson said he would like to podium at a few World Cups, finish top five in the world in the 5K and 10K and have a ton of fun this season.  “It’s definitely going to be a short turnaround between getting on the ice (and competing this season),” Dawson said. “It’s definitely a big transition from last year, but I’m not too worried. … I think it’s kind of a good reset for me, and it’s going to be fun to explore this new side of skating.” Dawson felt there was a lot of pressure on him and his teammates, Ethan Cepuran and Emery Lehman, results last season in team pursuit, so he’s excited for a season with a bit less expectations. He is anticipating the individual fields coming in not too far ahead of him because of all the rink renovations going on around the world and skaters taking it a bit easier after the Games.  Regardless of Dawson’s results this season, he and the field will be paid twice as much. On June 10, the International Skating Union Congress approved a doubling of prize money for skaters.  “I think it should have been done sooner,” Dawson said. “I think the prize money has been the same for a long time and they haven’t really calculated for inflation and everything. … I think it’ll up the competition.” For more speed skating information, like the complete World Cup schedule, see the ISU website. The Salt Lake City World Cup, held at the Oval, will return Jan. 29-31, 2027. The post Park City speed skater Casey Dawson enjoying a slower offseason appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less