News Archive

September 9, 2003
U.S. Speedskating Wraps Up Pettit Training

The United States Speedskating National Team just finished a 2-½ week training session at the Pettit National Ice Center and announced they will be returning to Milwaukee again very soon. The team was hard at work since August 21st as part of a three-year training regiment for the 2006 Olympics in Tornio, Italy.

The Pettit hosted the US Speedskating National Long Track Senior Elite Team skaters and coaches who are preparing for upcoming national and world championship events. One competition the team is focusing on is the U.S. Long Track Championships, December 20-23, right here at the Pettit National Ice Center.

“It was nice to come back here, see some familiar faces and get used to this ice once again,” said 2002 Olympic double-bronze medallist Jen Rodriguez. “That one-of-a-kind brewery smell and this great facility welcomed us back with open arms. It’s like being at home again.”

The National squad heads back out west to Salt Lake City to continue training, but will be back in Milwaukee in the coming months. The speed of the ice and Milwaukee’s altitude are only a few factors that will bring the U.S. National Team back for training in the Brew City during December 2003 and early 2004.

National Team Coach Ryan Shimabukuro elaborated before his departure, “We told the Pettit staff to leave the ice just like it is! There are so many similarities between this ice and the ice in Europe, we really like what we have here.”

Shimabukuro was keeping a close eye on all the skaters during the Pettit training camp, but singled out one skater out who could make a big splash in Torino: Janesville’s own Tucker Frederichs. Frederichs, who will be 20 years old in March, placed 1st overall at the 2002 and 2003 U.S. Junior Speed Skating Championships. The 2002 Janesville Craig graduate also took home a 1st in the 500 meters at the 2003 World Junior Speed Skating Championships.

“Tucker is a jewel in the rough and we have been working hard with him. I am not saying that ’06 is going to be all Tucker, but he has been skating great and he knows what he needs to do. We expect big things from him in the future,” Shimabukuro said.

Contact: Rob Multerer
Director of Marketing
Pettit National Ice Center
414.266.0100, ext. 132
rmulterer@thepettit.com