Popular Figure Skating Coach:
Howie Harrold was a very popular ice dance and figure skating coach. He taught in southern California in the late 1960s.
Former Roller Skater:
Harrold had been an artistic roller figure skater and roller dancer who switched to ice skating. Many of his ice dancing students had once been roller skaters and roller dancers.
Students:
Dorothy Barker and Herb Swain won the 1969 Silver Dance event at the Pacific Coast Figure Skating Championships. Howie Harrold was their coach. He also taught Sharon and Curt Finley who won the 1969 Bronze Dance title.
Made Ice Dancing Fun:
Howie Harrold had the reputation of making ice dancing fun. He was a very popular coach.
Taught at a Different Ice Rink Every Day:
Ice dancing was not easy to do in southern California. Ice time was limited. For that reason, Harrold had to travel to a different ice arena every day to teach his figure skating students. Tuesday and Friday he'd be in La Habra, Thursday and Sunday he'd be in Anaheim, Saturday, he'd go to West Covina.
"Head's Up!":
Harrold was known for always telling his ice dancing students to keep their heads up. The phrase "Head's Up!" was his motto.
Died in a Tragic Accident:
One night, after coaching at a Friday night ice dance session at the La Habra ice skating rink, Howie went home to relax. He used his home-made sauna; the sauna exploded. He died the following Sunday. He burned to death.
Family:
At the time of his death, Howie Harrold was married. His wife's name was Joanne. They had one young son, and Joanne was pregnant with another child when he died.
Howie Harrold Lived On Through His Figure Skating Students:
After Howie Harrold passed away, some of his ice dancing students continued in the sport. Some medaled at the
U.S. National Figure Skating Championships. Harrold's love of figure skating, ice dancing, and roller dancing lived on through his students. He is remembered for inspiring many ice and roller figure skaters. His memory lives on.
