KEARNS — Apolo Anton Ohno has been a very busy guy. In addition to being one of the faces of U.S. speedskating, the gold medalist has taken time away from the sport to pick up endorsements, lap up the celebrity thing and — as you might have noticed — win a little television dance contest with Utah's Julianne Hough.

He's also moved to the Beehive State himself after U.S. Speedskating consolidated its offices at the Utah Olympic Oval.

Friday, the energetic star of the speedskating program will be competing on the ice for the first time since the end of the World Cup season last March. It will also be his debut on his new home ice as he tries to secure a spot on the World Cup team at the U.S. Senior Short Track Championships.

"I took two full summers off," Ohno said Monday during a press conference before this weekend's competitions, "which isn't a good thing — but I'm excited (for this weekend). It should be good times."

Ohno will be joined by about 20 other Olympic hopefuls as they zip around the ice at the oval.

But the event is much more than just the Ohno show.

Since moving its offices from Colorado Springs to Utah, most of the skaters involved with the short track program have also packed up and joined the coaches here.

"It's great that the spirit of the Olympics is still here in Salt Lake City, at the oval, especially," Amanda Baver said.

Being at the oval means the short track skaters no longer have to compete for ice time with hockey teams, figure skaters or — in the case of those training at Marquette, Mich. — a basketball team who laid a hardwood floor over the ice rink for games.

Now, the speed skaters have a facility devoted to turning them into national, world and Olympic champions.

"The biggest difference is we have the control here," team member Travis Jayner said, noting the availability of ice, a running track, weight room and coaches all in one place. "There is no facility in the world that has all those things combined."

Putting all those ingredients together, Ohno says, will make for the best team the United States has ever had.

"They all bring something else to the pie," Ohno said. "And we all like pie."

Spectators get to sample that dish this weekend and then again in February when the oval host a world cup competition.

U.S. Senior Short Track Championships

Dec. 21-23, Utah Olympic Oval, Tickets: $4-7

Event schedule

Friday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m.
1,000 time trial 6 p.m.
1,500 men and women

Saturday, Dec. 22, 11 a.m.
500 men and women

Sunday, Dec. 23 10 a.m.
1,000 men and women
3,000 men and women
3,000 relay
5,000 relay

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E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com