The Pettit National Ice Center, a United States Olympic Training Facility, is hosting the United States National Speed Skating Team now through September 3, 2005. The U.S. Long Track Team moves its training to the Pettit Center citing the altitude similarities of Milwaukee and Turin, Italy; host city for the 2006 Winter Olympics.
The U.S. Team will be hard at work training for the Winter Olympics, which are less than five (5) months away. Besides skating on the Pettit Center’s Olympic Oval, the skaters will also be working out on the Pettit Center’s short track ice. In addition to skating, the U.S. Team will do extensive cycling workouts on the Milwaukee Mile.
The U.S. skaters will not only be training, but also will be doing some learning at the Pettit Center. On Wednesday, August 24, the U.S. team will have a presentation from six-time Olympic medallist Bonnie Blair-Cruikshank. The most decorated woman in U.S. Winter Olympic history will be prepping the athletes on what happens at an Olympiad and what to expect from the media and other nations.
The U.S. Team will also be part of an informational session with representatives from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) on Thursday, September 1. Also on September 1, dual bronze medallist Jennifer Rodriquez will be taping a USOC public service announcement from the Pettit Center’s Olympic Oval.
Another important facet of training in Milwaukee are the altitude rooms at the Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center, adjacent to the Pettit Center. The altitude rooms offer a special training advantage the U.S. Team can’t find anywhere else --- skaters are able to keep reaping the benefits of high-altitude living by “sleeping high” (5,000 – 7,000 feet) in the altitude rooms and “training low” on the Pettit Center’s sea level ice.
The “high-low” training philosophy is a key cog as U.S. Speedskating attempts to increase record medal counts in Turin as well as in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Turin and Vancouver both have about the same sea-level elevation as Milwaukee.
The U.S. Team is available for media and press interaction. To schedule an interview with any of the US National Team coaches, skaters or to observe a daily training session, please contact Rob Multerer at the Pettit Center, 414.266.0100 ext. 132 or email rmulterer@thepettit.com.
Contact: Rob Multerer
Director of Marketing
Pettit National Ice Center
414.266.0100, ext. 132
rmulterer@thepettit.com
