KEARNS, Utah (AP) – Chad Hedrick was playing blackjack in Las Vegas while watching on television as buddy Derek Parra won gold and silver speedskating medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Hedrick’s mind started racing, thinking about how Parra had crossed over from inline skating to become an Olympic champion.

“I didn’t even pay attention to the table, I probably lost a few hundred bucks,” he said. “When I got home from Vegas, I knew that my place was here.”

So Hedrick took a huge gamble, packing his bags and moving to Salt Lake City, determined to translate his inline skills to the ice. He left behind a comfortable six-figure living as an inline skater who won world championships but had lost his motivation.

Fifteen months after starting training at the Olympic Oval, Hedrick went to Norway for the world long track championships to gain experience. He left as the first non-Dutch skater to win the all-around championship since 1988.

“It was pretty crazy,” he said in a soft Texas twang.

Less than three years later, Hedrick will try to make the Olympic team in five events when the U.S. long track championships begin Tuesday at the Olympic Oval.

All six U.S. Olympic medalists from 2002 – Parra, Jennifer Rodriguez, Chris Witty, Casey FitzRandolph, Joey Cheek, and Kip Carpenter – will compete in the event that finalizes the team for the Turin Games.

“There is definitely a little vibe going around the rink, people are nervous,” Carpenter said after practice Monday. “People sum up your speedskating career every four years. A lot of times outsiders measure how great you are through whether or not you went to the Olympics.”

Hedrick, a 28-year-old from Spring, Texas, has already qualified in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters, as well as the new team pursuit event. He is chasing the last open spot in the 1,000 this week.

“I don’t think anybody has targeted me this week,” he said.

“Everybody knows I’m pretty much in control of my own destiny. I get to continue to train rather than having to peak this week, which is a big advantage.”

Shani Davis, Hedrick’s main rival in the 1,000, has already qualified for Turin in three individual events, so he’s skipping the meet to train in Calgary. Davis failed in his bid to make the U.S. Olympic short track team two weeks ago.

“The world has got their hands full with us two,” Hedrick said, laughing.

Even without Davis on the ice, Hedrick has goals this week. He wants to set world records in the 5,000 and 10,000 on the Olympic Oval’s ice, advertised on the “fastest on earth.”

Of the six distances contested by the men, Davis wants to own four world records by the end of 2006. He currently holds the 3,000 mark.

“I’m pretty tough on myself, but I’m really confident with my skating,” he said. “A lot of people get it confused with being cocky. I sacrificed so much to do my best, left home and came here. If I’m not confident about it, then I don’t know who would be.”

Hedrick might have been the only one who thought he could take speedskating by storm three years ago. His transition from inline to ice was awkward, embarrassing and downright laughable.

Skaters from other countries laughed when they saw his unorthodox skating style on the big oval.

He committed gaffes on his first day skating with the national team: forgetting to remove the rubber guards from his skates and falling down, and taking out a helmet to wear. Long track skaters don’t wear helmets like inline and short trackers do.

Hedrick’s frustration mounted when he finished 29th in his first World Cup race.

“It really put fuel in my fire to come out here and even work harder,” he said.

Hedrick arrived in Salt Lake City without any sponsors to finance his training and living expenses.

“I ended up getting a sponsor before I even stepped on the ice,” he said. “If you love what you do and you work hard and you do your best at it, all the right things are going to happen.”

Already, Hedrick is getting a taste of the Olympic spotlight. He’s scheduled to appear on “The Tonight Show” next month.

“My mom is the biggest Jay Leno fan,” he said. “I made a mistake, I invited one of my girlfriends that lives in L.A. to the show instead of mom. She got mad.”

Mom will probably forgive her son, who is headed to Turin as a multiple medal threat.

“I’m in a perfect position right now,” Hedrick said. “Everybody knows they haven’t seen the best of me yet.”

AP-ES-12-26-05 1742EST