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.

Learn How Local Clubs Pack Sessions/Events High Performance

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 Speed 1 and Speed 2 classes

Local Speedskating Clubs

West Allis Speed Skating Club

The West Allis Speed Skating Club (WASSC) is a non-profit organization that supports every age of skater. We have over 150 members and over 50 active skaters. The club focuses on the development of youngsters to achieve their goals and has been a feeder program to U.S. Speedskating. With an incredible 70 year history, WASSC has been responsible for the development of a number of top US speed skaters. WASSC is grateful for the dedication of many people’s time and the support of the local business communities.

Paid coaches, volunteer coaches and skaters train up to 5 days a week, all year round. The people involved in this sport are dedicated to our youth and value the lifelong lessons learned and imparted to the youngsters. Parents also participate on the ice by coaching or learning to skate themselves – making this a strong family sport. Speed skating as a sport creates a positive attitude for all skaters, and WASSC creates a positive and fun environment for all of our members and their families.

The West Allis Speedskating Club operates under and as a part of the West Allis/West Milwaukee Department of Recreation. The club is proud of its association with the Rec Department and gratefully acknowledges its continued support and cooperation. Since the 1930’s, the club has brought the City of West Allis international recognition, claiming more than 17 Olympians, 50 World Team members and 95 National Champions.

For more information on the West Allis Speed Skating Club, please contact the club at: information@wassc.org

Or check out their website at: www.wassc.org

Badger Speed Skating Club

The charter of the Badger Speedskating Club is to promote and grow this great sport. Since 1975, we have worked hard to remove obstacles for all to try and hopefully become a Speedskater. Our fees are low and we do our best to have skates available for people to rent. We are a level and age diverse club offering programs for beginners, intermediate, advanced, and masters skaters. We strive to be a club in which the whole family can be involved. The Badger Club has activities for much of the year. Badger typically practices two evenings a week at the Pettit National Ice Center from early fall to early spring with some Short Track and Dry-land Training sessions between. Whether you are simply looking for a great way to exercise or become a great Speedskater, Badger Speedskating Club is for you! All the information you need can be found at www.Badgerspeedskating.com. You may also contact Kevin Desotell at kedesotell@hotmail.com or (262)378-0639

Speed Skating Pack Sessions/Events

Speed Skating Event Schedule at the Pettit Center

Click Here

US National Long Track Skating Marathon- Feb 13 to 14 (Register online by Clicking Here. Event PDF by Clicking Here)

Time Trials for Speed Skaters

The Pettit Center has traditionally offered 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. Below are the dates for the time trials scheduled for the 2014-15 season. The deadline for registration for Saturday time trials is the preceding Wednesday at 4pm. Payment of $16 for each day is made at time of registration. Registration after Wednesday 4pm deadline may incur additional late fee. Cancellation of registration prior to the officials’ draw at 4pm on Friday will result in a credit for the fees paid being applied to the skater’s next time trial. Cancellation after the draw may result in the fees paid being forfeited. A minimum of 13 registered skaters is required or Saturday time trials may be cancelled. For the two Sunday time trials, which are scheduled to provide skaters with experience of racing on consecutive days, as in competitions, deadline for registration is Saturday at 1pm, eight (8) days in advance and a minimum number of 16 skaters need to be registered.

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

Time Trials 2014-15 Registration Form Click Here (required three days before skater’s first time trial)

Click Here for Time Trials Schedule

Pack Speedskating Sessions

Pack Speedskating session are $11 per session and 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

High Performance

Academy of Skating Excellence (ASE)

The Academy of Skating 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 acollaboration 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.com.

ASE Winter Camp for Cyclists Click Here

ASE Winter Camp for Cyclists Sign Up Form Click Here

ASE Winter Camp for Cyclists Online Registration Click Here

Questions?

E-mail:

Short Track Coach Katherine Reutter: kreutter@thepettit.com
Long Track Coach: Eric Cepuran: cep_34@hotmail.com
Program Director Liam Ortega: liamortega@gmail.com

Pettit High Achievement Speedskating Team (PHAST)

The Pettit High Achievement Speedskating Team (PHAST) is the Pettit Center’s junior and senior long-track speedskating development team. PHAST skaters are teens and 20-somethings who show strong potential in long-track speedskating and whose goal is to represent the United States on the world stage. PHAST skaters embrace a rigorous training schedule that includes on-ice and off-ice year-round training with progression to US Speedskating’s ASE program as a next step toward membership on the US National Team. For more information click here.