Bill Cushman
(Head Coach)

Bill is the head coach of the Midway Speedskating Club.  He is a charter member of Midway and was a competitive speedskater until 1960 (except for two years in the U.S. Army).  Since 1961, Bill has been a Midway coach.  He has also served as coach and manager of several U.S. World Speedskating teams and was manager of the 1980, 1984 and 2002 U.S. Olympic Speedskating teams.  Bill served as U.S. Speedskating President from 1989-2000 and U.S. Speedskating Board member from 1972-2002.  A graduate of St. Paul Monroe High School (1952) and the University of Minnesota (1956), Bill says "The basic goal of Midway is to give the youth of our area a program to develop into the best skaters each can be and to provide a direct path to World and Olympic competitions, while having fun and completing their education.  It can be done!"  Bill began his speedskating career with the Midway Speedskating Club.

Nancy Blumel
(Senior Coach)

Nancy skated with Midway for 15 years and was a national champion in long track, as well as a member of the U.S. National team.  Nancy loves the enthusiasm and joy of the young skaters.  Nancy and her husband Joe live in Woodbury and have three sons, Mike, Charlie and Mac.  Mike is currently on the U.S. National LT Speedskating Team. Nancy began her speedskating career with the Midway Speedskating Club. 

Diane Bradford
(Senior Coach)

Diane Bradford is recognized nationally within long-track speedskating as being an excellent developmental coach. For over 30 years, she has been both a teacher and mentor to young people, through both her piano studio and as a speedskating coach for the last 10+ years. Her strengths lie in the technical aspects of the sport – in both identifying technique and, most importantly, being able to communicate it to the skater. She has developed training programs that have proven successful and several of her former skaters advanced to become Jr. World Champions.

Diane grew up in a speedskating family and has been involved in the sport since age 3. She has three children, all of which competed in speedskating. Her youngest, Rebekah, is currently on the U.S. LT National Speedskating Team in Salt Lake City, UT. Professionally as a coach, Diane has been mentored by Tom Cushman, Bart Schouten & Ryan Shimabukuro, all of whom were Olympic speedskating coaches.

Above all, Diane loves working with the skaters. She understands them, speaks their language and easily builds repore with them. Her goal for each skater is for them to develop and compete at their personal best and to feel incredibly proud and confident in their abilities.

Annette Ristau
(Development Coach)

Annette competed for the Midway Speedskating Club from 1963-1974.  When her daughters Natalie and Sophie began skating, Annette coached Roseville’s Novice Speedskaters (1997-1999). Along with Paul Gangl, Annette coaches the Midway Peewee and Pony skaters while her daughter Sophie continues to compete as a Junior B skaters. Annette began her speedskating career with the Midway Speedskating Club.

Julie Stangl
(Development Coach)

Julie coaches the Midway Junior B skaters.

Amy (Peterson) Peck
(Consultant)

Amy is a 5-time Olympian in Short Track speedskating and won several Olympic medals. She represented the USA as the flag bearer at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Amy consults with Midway coaches regarding skater programs & skater progress, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Club. Amy began her speedskating career with the Midway Speedskating Club.

Paul Gangl
(Development Coach)

Along with Bill Cushman, and Annette Ristau, Paul coaches the Midway Peewee and Pony skaters. In addition, Paul is the head coach for the Roseville Skating Center Novice Speedskating Program.