Three days of world-class speed skating are coming to Milwaukee's Pettit National Ice Center from January 31 - February 2, 2025. The International Skating Union's (ISU) global World Cup Speed Skating series will stop in Milwaukee for round four of six—the first time in nearly 20 years.
Among the likely competitors you'll find are the highly acclaimed Milwaukee-area native Jordan Stolz. Stolz youngest single-distance world champion in history, is also the current World Record-holder in the 1000m race and a 6-time world champion.
According to the Pettit National Ice Center's website, in 2023 "at only 18 [years old], he became the first male to win 3 Golds in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m at a World Championship, and then defied the odds to win all three again" earlier this year.
So far Stolz has picked up eight wins in the first two rounds of the World Cup.
Also expected to attend are:
- Erin Jackson (500m Olympic Champion)
- Brittany Bowe (1000m and Team Pursuit - Olympic Bronze)
- Mia Manganello (Team Pursuit - Olympic Bronze)
- Emery Lehman, Ethan Cepuran and Casey Dawson (Team Pursuit - Olympic Bronze)
- Plus many other Olympic medalists from across the globe
Throughout the weekend, pairs of skaters will compete against each other racing across specific distances (500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m) until the ultimate winner is decided via an elimination bracket. There will also be competitions in additional categories, including Mass Start (numerous competitors compete at the same time), Team Pursuit (teams of 3 race across 6-8 laps) and Team Sprint (teams of 3 race across 3 laps).
The Pettit National Ice Center is an obvious choice for a World Cup competition, with its history as an official training site for U.S. Olympic speed skating. Since it opened in 1992, the arena has been host to every U.S. Olympic qualifier who has either trained or competed on their Oval and many more throughout the world.
The U.S. currently holds 71 medals in speed skating, more than any other winter Olympic sport.
General admission and VIP tickets are on sale now. Find more information and purchase tickets at thepettit.com/isu. More information may also be found at usspeedskating.org.
Jason McDowell grew up in central Iowa and moved to Milwaukee in 2000 to attend the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
In 2006 he began working with OnMilwaukee as an advertising designer, but has since taken on a variety of rolls as the Creative Director, tackling all kinds of design problems, from digital to print, advertising to branding, icons to programming.
In 2016 he picked up the 414 Digital Star of the Year award.
Most other times he can be found racing bicycles, playing board games, or petting dogs.
