 So
you’ve caught Olympic fever. That’s great, because right in our
backyard are opportunities to try some of the Winter Games’ most
famous and fun sports.
Start out at the Pettit National Ice
Center located at I-94 and 84th Street. The Pettit will be celebrating
the Vancouver Games this month by hosting an Olympic Dreams Session. A
single registration gets you instruction in hockey, figure skating,
short-track speed skating, long-track speed skating and even curling,
plus other perks.
Also, Learn to Skate classes for
would-be Olympians as young as 3 years old are available starting Feb.
20.
If you can’t commit to those classes,
drop in for open skating during the evenings of the opening (Feb. 12)
and closing (Feb. 28) ceremonies. There will be a viewing lounge for
catching the pageantry on TV, and it’s possible that past Olympians
will attend and sign autographs. For information, go to
www.ThePettit.com.
Shoot the Puck
The 2010 Games have a touchstone to the
"Miracle on Ice:" Team USA women’s hockey coach Mark
Johnson was a key player on that memorable 1980 squad. Even if you don’t
have Olympic aspirations, you can find a team or league that suits
your skill level.
Arrowhead Youth Hockey:
www.arrowheadyouthhockey.com, Dave Steiner (763) 232-6439.
Elmbrook Youth Hockey Association:
www.elmbrookyouthhockey.org, Jeff Oleson (262) 821-3673.
Five Star Hockey:
www.fivestarhockey.com, Bob Nelson (262) 719-8878.
Metro Milwaukee Women’s Hockey:
www.milwaukeewomenshockey.org, Lori J. Highby (414) 350-1005.
Milwaukee Junior Admirals:
www.milwaukeejradmirals.com, Bob Delgadillo (414) 617-8153.
Ozaukee County Hockey League:
www.ochlhockey.com, Bob Sharp (262) 375-1309.
Ozaukee Youth Hockey Association:
www.leaguelineup.com, Kelly Henneberry (262) 488-2033.
Southeastern Hockey Association of
Wisconsin: www.shawhockey.org, (414) 325-7429.
Waukesha County Youth Hockey
Association: www.waukeshawarhawks.org, Jamie McKnight (262) 695-9761.
Wisconsin Wild Girls Hockey:
www.wisconsinwild.com, Kevin Suino (262) 790-9204.
Need For Speed
Whether the discipline of long-track or
the thrills of short-track are your style, the training you need for
speed skating is available through local clubs. Speed skating Hall of
Famer Tony Arena and current world champion Trevor Marsicano are among
those who lend their expertise to even the beginner.
Badger SpeedSkating Club:
www.badgerspeedskating.tripod.com, Grace Mane (414) 671-0563.
West Allis Speed Skating Club:
www.wassc.org, Maurice Miller (414) 254-5922.
Find An Edge
If you’ve been captivated by ice
dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, you’re not alone. A recent
Google search of their names turned up nearly 84,000 results. To find
your edge on the ice, begin with the Greater Milwaukee Figure Skating
Club’s basic skills classes in both figure skating and hockey,
starting Feb. 24 at Eble Park Ice Arena.
Greater Milwaukee Figure Skating Club:
www.greatermilwaukeefsc.org or Wisconsin Figure Skating Club:
www.wisconsinfsc.org, Mary Wray (414) 510-7977.
USM Learn to Skate Program:
www.usmk12.org, Jill Herbst (414) 540-3306.
Glide With Grace
Twirling around on a local pond or
man-made rink is a breath of fresh air, but is dependent on weather
conditions. A more reliable choice for outdoor skating is Slice of Ice
at Red Arrow Park (the ice is refrigerated from beneath) and it’s
free.
The metro Milwaukee area also has
plenty of options for public skating.
Eble Park Ice Arena, Brookfield.
www.waukeshacountyparks.com, (262) 784-5155.
Howard G. Mullett Ice Center, Hartland.
www.arrowheadschools.org/activities/about_mullett_ice_center.cfm,
(262) 369-3600.
MSOE Kern Center, Milwaukee.
www.msoe.edu/academics/outstanding_facilities/kerncenter, (414)
277-2850.
Naga-Waukee Park Ice Arena, Delafield.
www.waukeshacountyparks.com, (262) 646-7071.
Ozaukee Ice Center, Mequon.
www.ozaukeeicecenter.org, (262)375-1100.
The Ponds of Brookfield, Brookfield.
(262) 786-7663.
Slice of Ice, Milwaukee.
www.countyparks.com, (414) 289-8791.
Polly and Henry Uihlein Ice Arena,
University School of Milwaukee, Milwaukee. Rene Cranston (414)
540-3307.
Wilson Park Ice Arena, Milwaukee.
www.countyparks.com, (414) 281-6289.
Strap on the Boards
Calling a ski hill in southeastern
Wisconsin a "mountain" is a bit of a stretch, but reigning
Olympic champs such as snowboarder Shaun White and alpine skier Julie
Mancuso would be right at home here surrounded by night skiing and
snowboarding.
There are miles of packed or groomed
cross country trails in these parts, too. The McMiller trail at Kettle
Moraine State Forest in Eagle is set up for biathlon, the Olympic
sport that combines cross country skiing and target shooting.
Alpine Valley Ski Resort, Elkhorn.
www.alpinevalleyresort.com, (262) 642-7374.
Brown Deer Park, Brown Deer.
www.countyparks.com, hot line (414) 257-5100.
Crystal Ridge Ski Area, Franklin.
www.skicrystalridge.com, (414) 429-SNOW.
Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee.
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/ski/, (414) 527-0232.
Highlands of Olympia, Oconomowoc.
www.skiolympia.net, (262) 567-6048.
Kettle Moraine State Forest — Lapham
Peak Unit, Delafield and Sourthern Unit, Eagle. http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/ski,
or Lapham Peak Unit: (262)646-4421, Southern Unit: (262) 594-6202.
Waukesha County Parks — Menomonee,
Minooka, Nashotah and Retzer Nature Center. www.waukeshacounty.gov/parks,
(262) 548-7800.
Ozaukee Interurban Trail.
www.interurbantrail.us, (877) 875-7795.
Sunburst Ski Area, Kewaskum.
www.skisunburst.com, (262) 626-8404.
Whitnall Park: Milwaukee.
www.countyparks.gov, (414) 425-1810.
Learn to Throw Stones
The Milwaukee Curling Club dates to
1845, making it the longest continually operating curling club in the
United States. No wonder Wisconsin has produced Olympic athletes and
coaches ever since curling officially entered the Games in 1998. If
you want to find out why curling rocks, go to:
Kettle Moraine Curling Club:
www.kmcurlingclub.com, (262) 367-8862.
Milwaukee Curling Club:
www.milwaukeecurlingclub.com, (262) 242-6003.
Waukesha Curling Club: (262) 542-4551.
Wauwatosa Curling Club:
www.wauwatosacurlingclub.com, (414) 453-CURL.
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