World-Class Short Track Speedskating Debuts in Midland as
Bronze Medalist Alex Izykowski
Competes in Home State for Spot on the U.S. World Cup Team

MIDLAND, MI: Michigan’s 2006 Olympians Alex Izykowski (Bay City) and Kimberly Derrick (Caledonia) finally get a chance to showcase their skill before a home-state crowd as they take to the ice November 11th and 12th in Midland to claim their spot on the next U.S. World Cup Short Track Team. Joining Alex & Kimberly at the 2006 Dow American Cup II will be Olympic bronze-medalist J.P. Kepka and current U.S. Short Track World Cup team member and Midland-native/hometown favorite Ryan Bedford, now training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The top six men and women finishers in Midland will be named to the U.S. World Cup team, which will compete in Quebec, the Netherlands, and Belgium this winter. Further, the top five eligible men and women will be named to the team representing the U.S. at the World University Games in Torino, Italy this January.

Short track speedskating is an exciting spectator sport, as fans can literally feel the breeze at rinkside as the skaters approach speeds around 30 mile per hour. With the glass surrounding the ice surface removed at the nearly-new Midland Civic Arena, spectators are amazingly close to the action. Fans can expect to witness unbelievable high-speed passes, as well as spectacular, wall-shaking crashes.

As one of the largest speedskating clubs in the country - and as Michigan’s largest speedskating club - the Midland Speed Skating Club, (MSSC), is proud to have been chosen by U.S. Speedskating to host this premier event. In conjunction with the 2006 Dow American Cup II, MSSC is also excited to host the Midwest Mini Cup, a youth short track meet. Watch up-and-coming skaters as young as four years old compete in this highly technical sport. Mini Cup races take place in the early morning of both Saturday and Sunday, with the Dow American Cup II events immediately following on both days. Admission for both events is $2/day for those under 12 years of age and $5/day for everyone 12 and over. Please visit the official event website, www.MSSCevents.com, for the latest information, as well as updated race results throughout the event.

Press credentials and opportunities to interview the athletes and/or meet officials can be arranged through either meet director Beth Bedford or U.S. Speedskating Managing Director of Marketing and Development, Thomas McLean. Please visit www.usspeedskating.org for biographical information on many of the athletes. Media is welcome at all practices, as well as during the event. Please visit www.MSSCevents.com for further details on the 2006 Dow American Cup II and the Midwest Mini Cup.

Open Press Opportunities Prior to the Event

Tuesday, November 7th – 9AM-11 AM, Dow American Cup II Practice at the Midland Civic Arena, 405 Fast Ice Dr., Midland, Michigan 48642
Wednesday, November 8th – 9AM-Noon Dow American Cup II Practice at Midland Civic Arena
Wednesday, November 8th  - 11:45AM, Midland Amateur Sports Booster Lunch at Damon’s Restaurant, 6801 Eastman Ave, Midland. Meet Olympians Alex Izykowski  and J.P. Kepka, current U.S. World Cup team member and Midland-native Ryan Bedford, U.S. Olympic Education & Training Center resident and Midland-native Barry Winslow, along with other local athletes competing in the events. Introductions by U.S. Speedskating Marketing Director Thomas McLean, 2006 Dow American Cup II Meet Director and U.S. Speedskating Board Member & Treasurer Beth Bedford, and Midland Speed Skating Club President Wayne Winslow.
Thursday, November 9th, 6PM-9PM (Note change), Dow American Cup II Practice at Midland Civic Arena
Friday, November 10th, Noon-6PM, Dow American Cup II Practice at Midland Civic Arena
Friday, November 10th, 6PM-8PM, Midwest Mini Cup Practice at Midland Civic Arena

World-Class Short Track – Live!!
  2006 Dow American Cup II, November 11th & 12 th, 2006

© S.DYKE & BDMC MSSCSITE 5.2006 All rights reserved.