Speed Skating

With a remarkable history and singular Olympic heritage, the Pettit National Ice Center is synonymous with speed skating excellence. Yet, anyone who wants to strap on a pair of ice skates can, during one of the many public skating sessions at the Center, may skate on the same Oval as past, current, and future U. S. Olympic champions, even fantasizing about her or his own medal winning race while crouched at the starting line.

Speed Skating History

People have always sought efficient ways to do things. Speed skating is a human’s fastest means of travel without mechanical aid or gravity. The sport’s first steel blade was produced in Philadelphia, PA, in 1850. This marked the beginning of modern skating and cleared the way for today’s skaters.

Even prior to the opening in 1967 of the outdoor Olympic Ice Rink at Wisconsin State Fair Park, Milwaukee has served as the center of speed skating in the United States. The outdoor Oval helped to raise the profile nationally of speed skating, attract and inspire determined and talented athletes, and eventually led to the construction of the enclosed Oval of Pettit National Ice Center which opened in 1992.

Wisconsin speed skaters have been a strong, impressive contributor to the Olympic effort. At least one speed skater from Wisconsin has been on each winter U.S. Olympic Team since 1932. A substantial percentage of the U.S. medals won in the Olympic Winter Games are speedskating medals. Plus, an overwhelming majority of those speed skating medals have been won by speed skaters who trained and/or competed at the Pettit Center. The Pettit Center serves an essential role for U.S. Speedskating, providing a premiere venue for the training and development for U.S. National team members in both long and short track speed skating, while offering introductory, instructional, and competitive programming for those motivated to pursue Olympic dreams.

Please choose an area of interest below.

Speed Skating Pack Sessions/Events

Time Trials for Speed Skaters

The Pettit Center offers time trials for speed skaters to measure their progress, record qualifying/seeding times for major competitions, and gain racing experience. We are pleased to do this and grateful to volunteer officials and timers who make themselves available for the skaters. The deadline for registration for Saturday or Sunday time trials is the preceding Thursday at 12 noon. Payment of $17 for each day of Time Trials must be made by credit card online at the time of registration.

Anyone who has missed the registration deadline must secure permission of the Chief Referee for the TT before they will be permitted to skate. Contact information will be available by clicking on the registration link. A fee of $27.00 will be assessed for late registrations, payable to Maurice Miller prior to the TT. (Cash or check made payable to PNIC).

If you fail to skate in the TT for which you have registered, all fees will be forfeited. (Any exception will be made at the discretion of the PNIC).

A minimum of 14 registered skaters is required for Time Trials to be held. Normal starting times for Time Trials will be 7:30am for practice, 8:30am for races. Check for exceptions in each TT registration form.

If you have questions, please contact the Pettit Center office at 414-935-4781.

Click Here for the Time Trials 2017-18 Registration Form (required three days before skater’s first time trial)

Click Here for Time Trials Schedule

Pack Speedskating Sessions

Pack Speedskating session are $12 per session. 10-pack account card and Season Passes are available.

Pack Speedskating sessions are for experienced speedskaters. Those looking to learn how to speedskate should contact a local speedskating club or join the Pettit Center Learn to Speedskate Class.

Click Here for Pack Speedskating Schedule

Learn How To Speed Skate

If you, as a youngster, have been inspired watching people skate fast or wanted to challenge yourself to see how fast you might be able to skate, maybe dream of racing for an Olympic medal, or, as an adult, you have wanted to consider an alternative to running, then a speed skating class, right here at the Pettit Center on the Oval, may be just right for you. Speed skating can be enjoyed at any age – youth, teen or adult. The Pettit Center offers introductory speed skating programming for those who are comfortable with the basic skills of ice skating and want to go FAST on the ice or get a good workout without all of the pounding from running!

Participants are grouped according to their skating ability and are initially divided by age. You don’t have to be a championship skater to learn how to speed skate.

Click here for information on the Learn to Speed Skate Classes

Local Speedskating Clubs

Wisconsin Speed Skating Club

The Wisconsin Speed Skating Club (WSSC) operates under the Pettit National Ice Center and is pleased to continue the traditions of the West Allis and Badger Speed Skating Clubs. The Club welcomes and supports speedskaters of all ages and is dedicated to helping youngsters to achieve their goals. WSSC and its predecessors have a long, impressive history of developing competitive and medal-winning skaters for U.S. Speedskating.

Skaters can train up to 5 days a week, all year round, under the guidance of experienced, accomplished coaches, both paid and volunteer. The coaches and leadership of the Club believe in the value of the lifelong lessons learned, enjoyment of the sport by the skaters, and friendships created through participation in speedskating. Local, regional, and even national competitions provide appropriate opportunities for youngsters to challenge themselves and develop.

Parental involvement is encouraged, appreciated, and enhances the community feeling that is distinctive about this sport. Speedskating meets and Club events offer a variety of activities in which to serve and have fun.

The West Allis Speedskating Club’s history dates to the 1930’s, claiming more than 17 Olympians, 50 World Team members and 95 National Champions.

For more information on the Wisconsin Speed Skating Club, please contact the club at wisconsinspeedskating@gmail.com.

Academy for Speedskating Excellence (ASE)

The Academy for Speedskating Excellence (ASE) is a new, innovative program designed to develop future medal-winning speed skaters. With partial funding from the U. S. Olympic Committee, the ASE is a collaboration between US Speedskating and the Pettit Center that integrates best practices for on and off-ice training techniques, equipment and regimens, while building upon the rich legacy of Olympic medal-winning athletes at the Pettit Center. Visit the ASE website at http://www.asespeedskating.org.

Questions?

E-mail:

Short Track Coach: Hongyang Wang: why_skater@outlook.com
Long Track Coach: Eric Cepuran: cepuran34@gmail.com
Program Director Carl Cepuran: ccepuran@thepettit.com