By: Debbi Wilkes

Growing up in Huntsville with either a hockey stick or lacrosse stick in his hand, World and Olympic Skating Coach Doug Leigh never considered that figure skating would become his destination.

He might have been 7 at the time when one day at the local rink Doug met skating Coach Marilyn Smith who, by chance, also coached his hockey team.

“She was a tough taskmaster,” remembers Doug. “Marilyn did everything … so it just became very easy to go to the skating club and learn regular things.”

As time passed, Doug was playing some hockey, a little lacrosse and figure skating too but he was beginning to recognize a few realities along the way. “We’re all born to struggle,” says Doug, “so you do some searching to try to find some answers.”

By the time Doug was 12, he knew he was too small physically to play serious hockey. “I was a good skater but not the best shot … so I kind of separated from that and changed lanes … which eventually became my path to figure skating.”

One day during training Coach Marilyn stepped in. “She approached my parents to tell them I wasn’t that bad,” laughs Doug, “and encouraged them to send me to Schumacher Summer Skating School to take lessons from Swiss World Champion Hans Gerschwiler.”

For Doug, that move was life-changing.

“Before I knew it, I was doing some unique things. I don’t know whether I understood everything,” admits Doug, “but I do remember many inspiring moments. Doing school figures one day I was put on the ice beside this guy who I thought seemed to be pretty good.”

That guy was Donald Jackson.

Doug with student Tracey Wainman

“I was admiring the way he went to work … and thought maybe I could catch on a bit. That … and meeting so many wonderful people who cared about each other … transformed me. Schumacher became my friend.”

Thinking back to those days, Doug also recalls the international roster of coaches. Hans Gerschwiler, Sheldon Galbraith, Dick Rimmer, Ron Vincent and others. “They all wore 3-piece suits on the ice … and they all meant business,” Doug recalls. “I learned about principles and character. I learned about style. I learned about timing … I even learned about posture!”

When Doug’s Dad, Bob, would come to watch, he often became part of the team. “He was invited to come out and sit on a bench during my lesson,” says Doug. “He wasn’t nosy … he just really liked it … and was trying to be educated.” As an architect and designer who was also good with numbers, Doug’s Dad found the creative process fascinating and loved to help Doug figure things out.

One major discovery for Doug was about ownership.

“Back in those years I had no ownership of my skating which meant I couldn’t count on myself very much or respect what I was doing. As a result, my confidence level was weak when it was actually time to do what I was supposed to do.”

But time and experience taught him some important lessons.

“Your goal in life is not to be a practice champion,” offers Doug. “Your goal is to be able to practice, because if you practice the way you compete, you’re going to compete the way you practice.” Doug admits it took him a while to get that straight in his mind.

Despite Doug’s improvement, life was also throwing a few other lessons his way over time. Coaching changes, training at new venues and in new environments undermined his confidence and motivation and by the time he was 16, he was struggling. He told his Dad he was done.

“I’m no good at this,” Doug confessed. “My confidence is less than a sewer rat … and I’m not worth spending another 10 cents on … I’m finished with skating.”

Doug had a different proposal for his Dad.

“I’m going to follow your path. I want to be an architect and design buildings. I want to understand the mathematics of things.” It didn’t take long for his Dad to offer another direction.

To build back Doug’s confidence, he gave Doug the task of building 30 wooden tent bottoms for a camp outside of Huntsville in Hidden Valley. He could start

when he wanted and finish when he wanted … but he had to be done on time … and would only be paid by the square foot.

Another lesson for Doug.

“I learned to work 12 hours a day right off the top and quickly understood the money part,” explains Doug. “Bam! If I could be successful, I’d stay through all the bugs until it was dark. I even finished the project a bit early!” That success led to others … building cottage frames … and learning the mathematics of how things go together.

Doug’s confidence was building too … although he was 19 and hadn’t skated for two years when his Dad passed away suddenly.

“My Dad and I had an agreement,” says Doug, “that if something ever went wrong, I’d go back to skating … that I’d find the path.”

Once again, that path led to Coach Marilyn who, in the intervening years, had married Doug’s Uncle. She understood Doug’s struggle and suggested that he come to the rink to help out …“Put your double Axel back to work,” as she so kindly phrased it.

Whether it was working with kids or teaching a triple flip, Doug knew he could do it … and as other clubs heard about his efforts, they asked him to join their staff. “I sure learned a lot … mostly how to take responsibility for myself!”

When the 1500 miles/week on the road and 7-day work week began to take a toll, Doug thought, “You know, I just can’t keep staying on everybody’s couch.” And with that his brain started motoring in a different direction.

He looked around and saw that clubs were protective of their own little fiefdoms. “Clubs were selfish at the time,” Doug admits. “They made their own rules … because that’s how they were brought up. This is my little club and everybody else, stay away.” Once that observation became cemented in Doug’s mind, he had the answer to his next path. “I’m going to stay in the skating business. I’m going to break down that barrier!”

But he needed a home base.

Comforted by his dad’s formula … whatever you do, just do it better than everybody else … Doug found his first ‘spot’ … the YMCA. “It had a pool and everything, the room key was on a piece of wood. $39/month. I even got a mailing address and postal box.” Doug was getting organized. He was 20.

As Doug continued to analyze the skating world in Ontario, he acknowledged there were two major training centres: Toronto Cricket and the Granite Club, both pricey options. Then the thought came to him. “Why couldn’t I provide an alternative?” And the Mariposa Skating School dream began to take root.

Doug was only in his early 20’s when he took on the first of three years of summer school in the supportive city of North Bay, adding more tools in his skate bag. But it was the city of Orillia where his dream came to life and the Mariposa School of Skating was finally born … in 1973 and for 17 more years producing skating programs from grass roots to Doug’s first World Champion in 1987 … Brian Orser.

In all those years, no detail was overlooked.

Whether it was something simple like convincing the local Royal Bank to finance the purchase of video equipment or something far bigger like negotiating with town and city councils or approaching the town of Barrie to build him a rink … what became a promise from the city to build the Allandale Recreation Centre in 18 months … or asking the feds for support, Doug never backed away from the challenges he continually faced. His mantra became “There are no problems … only situations.”

The results of his optimism and work ethic are legendary … and continue to mount today.

With 20 World and Olympic medals and dozens of national titles won by students under his coaching leadership, Doug’s vision remains as powerful as ever. Yet … as magnificent as those achievements are … the real shine for Doug is knowing he’s helped to build character people who become the person they want to be.

“Our goal is to create opportunities, live in the moment and leave our mark. The great thing is, out of all the pieces of the puzzle, I look at our evolution and how my students have grown wings and flied.”

What’s Doug’s secret weapon?

“Good coaches are builders, not fault-finders,” he states. “When Plan A doesn’t work, I go to Plan A+ …!”