End of the season banquet Wednesday, April 9th
Join MSSC members for a celebration of the 2007-2008 skating season!

6:30 PM Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
Aldersgate United Methodist Church felllowship hall, (Airfield Lane & Dawn)

Potluck!
Last names A-H bring a main dish
Last names I-P bring a desert
Last name R-W bring a salad or vegetable

Table service and drinks provided

Note:  Club skates, jigs and skinsuits will be collected.  Please sharpen skates before returning.  If you wish to keep your skates over the summer, a $25 fee needs to be paid at the potluck.  Skinsuits need to be washed and put in a bag labeled with the skater's name.  If you can't attend the potluck, you can return your skates, jigs and skins to Lisa Lehman.


MSSC to hosts USS Level 1 Coaching Clinic May 2-4, 2008
The schedule is tentatively set for 6pm -9pm on Friday, 8-5 on Saturday and 9 to 2 on Sunday. Download the U.S. Speedskating registration form here.


Last Practice for the Season Ends at 8:40PM, Thursday 3/13/08
There will be no 3rd session on Thursday, March 13th, so plan ahead!


MSSC Skates Great at Nationals!



Sixteen MSSC skaters competed at either the 2008 Age Group National Championships or the American Cup Final, March 7-9 at the Petit National Ice Center in Milwaukee. Congratulations to all!!!!

The following MSSC skaters placed in the overall standings:

Sophia Olencheck - 5th, Pony Girls
Hobie Fisher - 5th, Pony Boys
Andrew Dyke - 9th, Pony Boys
Brett Perry - 3rd, Juvenile Men
Kelsey Schiel - 2nd, Intermediate Ladies
Ryan Bedford - 1st, Intermediate Men
Dick Smith - 2nd, Masters 50-59
Barry Winslow - 6th, American Cup Final
Travis Jayner - 2nd, American Cup Final


MSSC dreams big w/bid to host the 2010 Olympic Trials!
(click here to go to MSSC's 2010 Olympic Trials Bid webpage)

MIDLAND, MI –  The national spotlight could shine bright in Mid-Michigan in December 2009, as the Midland Speed Skating Club, (MSSC), is preparing a bid to host the 2010 Olympic Trials for short track speedskating. Hosting the most prestigious national short track competition has been a goal for the club since construction started on the new Midland Civic Arena in 2004, home to an Olympic-sized ice sheet. With a world-class venue in place, a club legacy of over 50 years behind them, and the successful hosting of four national and international competitions since 2005, the club feels they have a fighting chance to bring a piece of the Olympic dream to Midland. MSSC Local Organizing Committee chair Beth Bedford spells out why she wants to bring the Trials home: “Having an event like this in Midland allows the whole community to share in the Olympic aspirations of our local skaters as they compete for a chance to represent their country. It’s also an opportunity to motivate young skaters to see what they can achieve, while bringing economic benefits to the community.”

With the national media and the nation’s top speedskaters together in Midland, Mid-Michigan would reap the many benefits of the national limelight. Unfortunately, MSSC’s all-volunteer Local Organizing Committee faces stiff competition from both bigger cities, and bigger venues. Bedford explains, “We need to compete by offering tangibles and intangibles that our competition can’t match. If we can raise enough pledges to cut U.S. Speedskating’s costs for this event to zero, we might have a chance. If we can offer the athletes, coaches, and officials transportation, food, and lodging, we have a chance. If we can be creative with entertainment and community programs, that helps us too. Anything that makes our bid unique and enables us to host a top-notch event gives us a chance.”

A significant donation pledged from Dow Chemical will insure the viability of the club’s bid, but widespread community support is what Bedford believes will truly make the difference between winning and losing. To meet this goal, the club is asking for either monetary or value-in-kind (VIK) pledges of support from the community to attach to their bid. Especially needed are pledged donations of meals for the officials and athletes, gas cards, hotel rooms, entertainment passes, reception space, gym usage, rental cars, air transportation, and shows of support for the event (e.g. Olympic/speedskating-themed art shows, promotions, or programs). A sample pledge letter, which also outlines donation acknowledgement plans, is available at www.midlandspeedskatingclub.com. In addition, the club is asking businesses to place a slogan of support on their signs/marquees on Tuesday, March 18th. Let the club know of your sign at information@midlandspeedskatingclub.com, so they can include a photograph of your slogan in the bid package as a show of community support.

The U.S. Speedskating board of directors will decide in April which city will host the next short track Olympic Trials. As home to past Olympians Alex Izykowski (2006 bronze medalist) and Terry McDermott (1964 gold medalist and 1968 silver medalist), the 2010 Olympic Trials would be a continuation of the Olympic dream which is already a part of Mid-Michigan history.


Results are in for the 2008 Michigan State Short Track Championships!
Overall Race Results
Time Classifications
Points

---

Click here for results from the 2008 MSSC Regional Winter Ice Blast!


MSSC awarded 2009 U.S. Short Track Age Group Nationals/American Cup Final!
U.S. Speedskating has awarded MSSC the 2009 U.S. Short Track Age Group Nationals/American Cup Final, to be held March 13-15, 2009. Read more about it in the Midland Daily News, here! Thanks Midland Daily News, for a great editorial, too!


Rescheduled for February 9th & 10th Due to Weather! Dreaming of Being a State Champion? Register for the Michigan State Long Track Meet and Get One Step Closer!
Skate outdoors on natural ice in a beautiful treed setting, stay warm in the chalet between races, then head over to the adjacent sled hill after the medals! A fun time for everyone!
Registration for 2008 Petoskey Long Track Meet, February 9th
Registration for 2008 MI State Long Track Meet, Sunday, February 10th


Plan to Attend the Alpena Ability Meet!
Have a great time & support speedskating in Michigan! Register for the Alpena Northern Lights Classic. This ability meet groups skaters by their times, not by their ages. Get your registration form in now!


New Practice Times on Thursday Nights
See the complete practice schedule here.
Group 1 - 6:40-7:30
Group 2 - 7:30-8:30
Zamboni 8:30
Groups 2 & 3 Drills - 8:40-8:55
Group 3 - 8:55 - 10

Badge Night Monday November 5th!
Badge nights are the first Monday of every month

MSSC hosts another successful meet!
Click here for results & photos from the 2007 Midwest Mini Cup
Click here for results & photos from the 2007 Dow American Cup I





Take a sneak-peak at photos from the 2007 Dow American Cup I practices and see the national team in action!

Torino bronze medalist J.P. Kepka joined the MSSC pre-season practice

Pre-season September Ice Time Change
Wednesday night skating in September has been changed to 6:00PM-7:50PM, while Monday times remain at 6:30-8:20. See the Practice Schedule page for more details.


Reminder - Club Registration Night
September 17, 6PM-8PM at the Midland Civic Arena conference room. Come try on rental skates, pick up a skinsuit, and pay ice fees. New skaters get one month FREE to try speedskating! Potential new members, please mark this date on the calendar, so you can come try on skates and watch some speedskating at the same time!


MSSC Board Approves New Positions

The board of directors approved these people for the following positions:

 

Gregg Hancock replaces Wayne Winslow as President

Paul Perry replaces Tom Schulz as Vice President

Kevin Geminder named Skater Representative

Beth Bedford named Director of Coaching

Lead coach for Group 1 is Joe May

Lead coach for Group 2 is Dick Smith

Interim lead coach for Group 3 is Curt Peterson

 

Supporting coaches for Group 1 are Susan Renshaw

Supporting coaches for Group 2 are Susan Renshaw, Paul Foley and Scot Smith

Supporting coaches for Group 3 are Wayne Winslow, Beth Bedford and Gary Westendorf

Note: Check out the updated Club Organization page


Website of PBS TV show Your Next Wild Weekend includes MSSC spot!
The Your Next Wild Weekend TV show has added a 4 1/2 minute video to their website highlighting the MSSC-hosted Dow U.S. Jr. Nationals from 2005. Your Next Wild Weekend originally aired the spot on their show soon after the event, which ran on Comcast cable. The show is now airing on Michigan PBS stations, MAV TV, and the Water Channel. Click here to see this very cool video!


NEW - Sign-up online to volunteer at the 2007 Dow American Cup 1/Midwest Mini Cup!
Be part of the excitement of the 2007 Dow American Cup 1! Sign-up now through our new online volunteer form for a few hours one day, or the whole weekend, September 29-30, 2007.  We couldn't run the great meets we do without all the great volunteers we have. (FYI - thanks to LaBelle's, the lunches are great!) THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!!


MSSC hosting official's clinic August 10th & 11th
MSSC will host a U.S. Speedskating Official's Clinic at the Midland Civic Arena on Friday, August 10th from 7PM-10PM, and on Saturday, August 11th from 8AM to 4PM. There will be no cost to attend the clinic, which will include starting, refereeing and clerking. Judging and timing may also be included. If you have any interest, please save the date and plan to attend - we need more officials! Also, about 15 skaters are needed to practice starts on Saturday from 10AM-11AM so that the starters can practice. MSSC has arranged for the Best Western Valley Plaza to reserve 17 rooms with King-sized beds on Friday the 10th at $89.99/night. If you call and don't ask for the speedskating rate, they will tell you the hotel is full, so don't forget to say "speedskating" when reserving your room. With the room, you will also receive a complimentary breakfast and free shuttle service to and from the rink. Also, if you purchase popcorn or pop, each guest will receive a free pass to the movie theater. Call 1-800-825-2700 to book your room. More details to come!


Summer training opportunities
Drop-in speedskating at the Midland Civic Arena will be available on most Mondays in the summer, from 8:30AM-10:00AM for those with badges 5 and up. The fee is $12/session, payable at the rink. A 10-pass punch-card is available for $105. Dates are June 11, 18, 25; July 9, 16, 23, 30; and August 6, 13, 20 & 27. (The rink will be closed 4th of July week.)

Drop-in speedskating at the Bay County Civic Arena will be available for $10 from 6:30AM-8:30AM on Thursdays in the summer.

Cycling training will be held Mondays ONLY in the summer, starting June 4th. Riders should meet at the Tridge at 5:45 for a group ride down the Pere Marquette Rail Trail. Leader Curt Peterson says the "goal is to provide a fun, safe, activity that will help lay a good base for speedskating in the fall." All rides include an ice cream stop in Sanford on the way back.


Fall Speedskating Schedule Set
Pre-season skating begins September 5th, and will be on Mondays and Wednesdays in September from 6:30PM-8:30PM for those skaters with badge 4 or higher. The younger skaters will skate the first hour only. September ice will be FREE for those club members who register for either the 2007 Dow American Cup 1 or the 2007 Midwest Mini Cup, to be held on September 29th & 30th. Club members who do not register for one of these meets will be charged $50 for September ice. Non-club members will be charged $100 for the month.

Club Registration Night - September 17, 6PM-8PM at the Midland Civic Arena conference room. Come try on rental skates, pick up a skinsuit, and pay ice fees. New skaters get one month FREE to try speedskating! Potential new members, please mark this date on the calendar, so you can come try on skates and watch some speedskating at the same time!

Regular season practices begins October 1st. The schedule will remain the same as last year, with sessions on Monday and Thursday nights. Advanced skaters may opt to skate on Tuesday nights as well. See the Practice Schedule for more details.

Check out MSSC's Ryan Bedford's video!
Learn of Ryan Bedford's speedskating accomplishments in his new promotional video. Beside's being Coach Beth's son, Ryan is a long-time MSSC member, and now also a member of the U.S. Speedskating national team. Ryan earned a spot on the U.S. World Cup Short Track Team last season, and traveled the world competing for the U.S. Along the way, Ryan earned an individual bronze medal this spring at World Cup 5 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.



Midland Daily News Features Front-Page Story on American Cup 1

Ohno likely to come to Midland for American Cup I speedskating event