News Archive

November 17, 2005
Pettit Will Be Center Of The Speed Skating World

The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S Olympic Training Facility, will play host to the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Competition November 26 and November 27, 2005. The World Cup will feature the best speed skaters in the world and is a tune-up for the 2006 Winter Olympics in February.

In advance of the Essent ISU World Cup, the Pettit Center will hold a special Media Day on Tuesday, November 22. All members of the media are invited to learn more about the upcoming World Cup, as well as gain comments from many of the competing skaters. The U.S. contingent on Media Day will include Chris Witty (West Allis, Wisconsin), Casey FitzRanolph (Verona, Wisconsin), Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wisconsin), Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wisconsin) Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wisconsin) Joey Cheek (2002 Olympic bronze medallist) and Derek Parra (2002 Olympic gold and silver medallist).

“The Essent ISU World Cup will be Milwaukee’s and Wisconsin’s chance to see some of the best sprint speed skaters in the world,” said six-time Olympic medalist Bonnie Blair-Cruikshank. “This Olympic team should be the deepest the United States has ever had.”

A World Cup competitor practice session begins at 2pm on Tuesday, November 22. Members of the media will be able to interview skaters and watch the practice session.

The World Cup marks the first time in more than five years that an international long track competition has been held at the Pettit Center. This Pettit Center-hosted World Cup will also be the last time a world speed skating competition will be held in North America before the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Since many of the athletes who will be competing at the Pettit Center will represent their country at the Winter Games, this competition makes for a true Olympic preview.

Nineteen countries from all corners of the globe will be bringing their best skaters to Milwaukee. The competing countries are: Australia, Belarus, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Finland, Germany, Japan, Italy, Republic of Korea, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine and of course, the United States

Accreditation is required to view the competition and can be obtained by completing a Media Request form available from the Pettit National Ice Center. All members of the media must have the proper credentials to gain entry to the World Cup.

For more information on the Essent ISU World Cup or for media accreditation, please contact Rob Multerer at the Pettit National Ice Center by phone at 414.266.0100, ext. 132 or by email at rmulterer@thepettit.com.

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