The Minnesota Masters Speedskating Scene
- Long Track Facilities
The Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval is an outdoor long track facility in Roseville, Minnesota (a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul). It is an outdoor oval, but is refrigerated and thus is typically open for skating from early November through the first weekend in March. Typically, there is open speedskating available on weekdays in the afternoon, and two or three late night sessions. The Greater Minnesota Speedskating Association (GMSA) also has practice ice time on Tues/Wed/Thurs nights, as well as pack and metric style racing most Saturdays and practice ice time Sundays. In order to access the GMSA time (which is when most speedskaters practice), you must join the GMSA. For more information on joining GMSA and accessing their ice time, go to http://mnspeedskating.org/
There is also a long track oval in Duluth. This oval is shorter than 400 meters, and is not refrigerated so the Duluth season is a bit shorter than the Roseville season. For more information on speedskating in the Duluth area, go to http://www.duluthspeedskating.com/
- Short track facilities and clubs
The Plymouth Wayzata Speedskating Club offers short track skating and racing for children and adults. They skate in Plymouth, MN. For more information go to http://pwspeedskating.com/
- Clubs and classes at the John Rose Oval
For a list of other clubs besides MMSS: see GMSA
The City of Roseville typically offers adult Learn to Speedskate lessons throughout the winter City of Roseville’s current Community Education brochure or call Kevin at the Oval 651-792-7122
These lessons are a great way to learn the basics of speedskating, and they typically offer skate rental for those who don’t yet have equipment. Those who haven’t skated much, or at all, should take a “learn to skate” class (offered at hockey rinks in many communities) before taking the oval’s Learn to Speedskate class.
Important Links:
- Roseville Oval
- U.S. Speedskating
- Pettit Center
- U.S. Masters Speedskating
- List of Speedskating events
- Join U.S.S. – membership required to compete
- Greater Minnesota Speedskating Association
- Twin Cities SpeedSkating Club (formerly Plymouth/Wayzata)
- Midway Speedskating Club
- Speed Skating Results
- Long Track Life by Kaari Cox
Sue Ellis masters short track camp in Ottawa: July 31 to August 3, 2015
We are pleased to announce that the Sue Ellis summer speed skating camp will run again this summer in Ottawa.
Here are the details:
Dates: 4 days, from Friday, July 31st, to Monday, August 3rd, 2015 (the Civic Holiday weekend)
Each day includes 3 off-ice sessions and 2 on-ice sessions. On Friday the program runs from 12:00 to 8:30pm, and on the other three days from 8:00am to 6:30pm. We are also planning a social gathering on one of the evenings.
Fees: $425 by June 30th, and $475 starting July 1st.
A deposit of $150 is due on registration (refunds under exceptional circumstances only), and the balance is due by July 8th.
Food and lodging: not provided
For more information: Go to http://www.ellisedge.com/ and click “Camps & Clinics” on the left menu, then “Ottawa Masters Camp”.
If you have questions or need help registering, don’t hesitate to contact us:
Gail Bouchette
gailbouchette@hotmail.com
613-560-9111
Hilles Hamersley
hilles.h@sympatico.ca
613-692-0466
We hope to see you there! Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to learn from one of the leaders in speed skating coaching.