Cory Rasmussen has returned to the short-track oval looking to influence his six-year-old niece Shaily and keep the family tradition of speed skating alive.
"I remember being quite inspired by watching speed skaters go really fast when I was about seven," said Rasmussen. "I figure she's old enough that she's going to remember. It's a part of our family. It'll let her experience what we're all about. It's a fun way of being a part of her life."
The 29-year-old met his niece, who resides in Quebec, for the first time about a year ago. The former world record holder in the 500 metre race (0:40.86) took time off to refocus his goals after missing out on an opportunity to represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
He'll be in Drummondville, Quebec, on Dec. 13-14 where a Top 16 finish will qualify Rasmussen for the Canadian team trials in Montreal in January. Shaily will be in the stands watching her uncle skate in Drummondville.
He said despite taking more than a year off from skating his return to the ice was natural.
"My skates are extensions to my feet after so many years of skating it's just natural to be on the ice," he said.
Rasmussen was born in Chilliwack but raised in Prince George where he credits the Blizzard Speed Skating Club with helping him achieve his success. Rasmussen moved to Calgary in 2001 to train with the Canadian national team. His brothers Darryl and Trevor are both involved in the sport as well.
Next year, Rasmussen will move up to the masters category in short track where he'll get to skate against his brothers and, he said, he plans to set the master records at a level where they'll never be beaten in the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m events.
Rasmussen was in Prince George Nov. 24-25 at the Western Canada Short-track Speed Skating event where he skated against competitors at least a decade younger. The laid-back skater stood out by skating around the oval in his handmade super hero costumes.
"I've been in the sport since I was two," said Rasmussen. "I'm a part of the sport as much as the sport is a part of me. I'm trying to inspire so I have the super hero suits. It was my idea to bring the sport to life in a way that makes it fun as it should be."
He skates in Spiderman and Green Lantern suits and plans on adding more super heroes to his repertoire in the future. He started skating in the Spiderman suit when he was 17 and added a Flash Gordon suit in 2004.
"I've been working on this plan for a few years now and eventually hope to have Superman, Batman, Wolverine and redo the Spiderman," he said. "It was an idea to inspire the young kids.
"It's very rewarding to hear young kids get excited," added Rasmussen. "I know I bring a smile to their faces just by wearing a skin suit and that's rewarding."
Rasmussen's personal best times in the three short-track distances include his former world record (set in 2007) in the 500m and 1:25.45 in the 1,000m and 2:12.87 in the 1,500m distances.
He credits his speed skating career with helping him find an equilibrium in life.
"It creates a balance in life, being able to blow off steam," said Rasmussen. "It's just fun skating around."
Rasmussen's Olympic dream didn't work out but, he said he'll forever encourage young skaters to pursue their own dreams.
"If you have the dream and that's your goal then never give up," he said. "Everything is possible and anyone can do it."
