[ 80's Legend - Mark Howard - USA ] j a y s o n s u t c l i f f e . c o m

Mark Howard - champion

Mark & Cindy

Other 80's Legends:

COMING SOON..

Tim McGuire

Sandro Guerra

Rick Monturo

Tina Kneisley

Scott Cohen & more..

Mark Howard - World Dance champion 1981-82.

Mark Howard & Cindy Smith were on top of the world for years, winning both world and National titles, a true blend of flamboyancy and skill that shone. They are among USA's finest dance skaters to date.. I caught up with Mark recently as a part of the 80's Skate Legends group on Facebook, and here's what he had to say..

Introducing - Mark Howard..

You've recently joined Facebook, how have you found catching up with so many skating friends?

It has been exciting and overwhelming. Not only have I gotten in touch with past skaters but with many skaters I skated with that I didn't know what they have been doing the past 10-20 years. I'm loving it!!

Does it surprise you that there are so many skaters on the net that are still so very interested in your former involvement in the sport?

As many sports, most are drown within time and are forgotten. YES, I have been very surprised of the amount of people that really remembered and embraced our style of skating.

When was the last time you had a pair of skates on, and how did it feel?

Yesterday morning and 2-3 days a week right after teaching school......lol! I still on my time, practice the WC figures and dances I competed. It is great physical training!

More so, do you remember the first time you put a pair of skates?

My mom and dad put skates on my and put me in a walking (skating...lol) cradle while they coached at the rink with a sign on my back not to feed me!

How did it impact your life when you retired from skating?

I was saddened. I really wanted to skate another year and Cindy had decided that March she was ready to retire. So, there is when I started to coach!! I coached full time for 20 years and at the 15 year mark went back to school to get another degree, Education. My mom always told me I would be a math teacher and damn, mothers are always right. I am not coaching 3-4 days a week and have been teaching mathematics for almost 8 years.

What were the key life lessons you gained from being an artistic skater?

To appreciate each and every moment. I knew this was part of my life that would never return and that I would cherish for the rest of my life. Though you are on top of the world don't ever let it swell your head and remain grounded to reality at all times.

Did you have any childhood heroes, and who were they?

Hee Hee.....Batman! We'll leave it there!

Were there other great skaters in your rink when you trained?

Cindy and I were the first World Champions in our region. We had a very strong club back in the day and my father continued to develop many many National Champions.

Do you think being surrounded by greatness inspires people to greater things?

Most will be inspired by their surroundings. Our club was strong for many years and the competitive spirit that existed, I believe, kept the drive and passion at it's highest during the time when skating was a #1 past time and sport of it's own.

Is that what is missing from our sport for many of the skating clubs today?

Yes along with unsatisfactory leadership the past two decades. This sport needs to put skaters and positive programs FIRST that will inspire others to join and create a higher involvement. I know there are many choices for our youth, but the programs need to create attention to want to get involved.

Below: Mark Howard & Cindy Smith, celebrate victory.

Who inspired you as a skater and what motivated you to push yourself to the limits?

My parents for the most part. I was very successful throughout my skating career from Juvenile all the way up through World Class I started to get training from others. Peggy Yambor did so much for me to reach into myself and give 125% of myself when performing.

Was your coach tough? And who was your coach/coaches?

Any dad being your coach is tough. He expected so much more than I could give at times, but the payoff having over 36 National placements along with Pan Am Games, World Games, and the Sports Festivals, I thank him for the most part. Peggy Yambor did more than you could imagine for me during my World Class years, along with Warren Danner and Jane Warshnowski......My idol!

Did you have a skating highlight or event?

From childhood to World Class, I skated Figures (my major strength), Dance, Free Style, Pairs, and even Fours and Speed. I had placed every year at nationals in my career up to World Class in Figures and Free Style. Dance continued and it was a success!

Do you recall a moment during your skating life where you can just sit back and laugh about?

YES and there a way to many and I mean many. I miss all the good times with my closest friends at nationals. As a skater and coach it was always a great time as though a annual family reunion.

Does it surprise you that the Italian's dominated the skating world post the late 80's?

No it doesn't. Their programs are so outstanding to preparing athletes in our sport. They put skaters first...... for this reason, they dominate the World Championships as the USA did in the early and mid 80's.

What do you think it is that catapulted them to such heights?

I honestly believe they watch the USA and learned from them. They then developed a criteria to design such precise skaters of today. The USA was to internal with their programs that, I believe, eventually affected the higher divisions. We are not paying the price for this. Don't get me wrong, we still have good skaters but the mentality of the italians due to their progress with their programs and training has paid off. It is now spreading world wide. We need better programs in our country and to put SKATER first.

Do you ever get the urge to put your skates back on and get out there again?

I always enjoyed performing. I still skate regularly and if asked to do one of my programs.....Nah! With some training on my endurance.....LOL....I may try. I like a challenge.

Personal message from Mark...

Always work from the basics and develop a style the is clean, correct, and exciting. There are to many easy ways to get through things and in the long run, those SHORT CUT will catch up and affect your skating. There are one in a few these days that want to do it TOTALLY RIGHT and they go through the rough times to get it TOTALLY RIGHT.

"Always be the best you can and Always be yourself, keep it real".

Special thanks to Mark Howard for taking time out with us...