Kathleen's Story

The first time I remember Tuffy and Doug is the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. I was 7 and we did have tickets to the Pairs free skated but due to circumstances that could not be avoided we never went. To say the least I was not impressed. But watching it on TV probably was easier but there still is that thing about being to an event in the Olympic Games. Anyway, as we were watching the Pairs I saw Tuffy and Doug start skating and that just stuck in my mind. :-D Actually all I remember from the 1988 Games is the closing ceramonies, The battle of the Brians, Jill Trenary's free skate and Tuffy and Doug. Then in 1989 as we were watching worlds I kept thinking of Tuffy and Doug. I wondered why they wern't shown on TV. I guess that was because they did not go to those worlds. Then I saw them skate at the 1990 Canadians and they were brilliant!! I really wanted them to go to worlds and get a medal. That did not happen but they were sixth. About the highest they would ever get in the World Championships. Then when I heard that 1990 Skate Canada was to be held in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.....I begged mom to get tickets. She got tickets for the Fours competition and the Parade of Champions. What I did not know, what my mom did not know is that she had gotten tickets for the two events that Tuffy and Doug were skating in. When I heard that Tuffy and Doug were skating in the Fours, I was on cloud nine. I was so happy when they won the silver in the Fours. That meant that they would be at the Parade of Champions. No way did I want to miss them skating. As luck would have it we got in the back of the washroom line and almost missed the entire performance of Tuffy, Doug, Michelle and Kevin. All I remember of the Parade of Champions was that Tuffy, Doug, Michelle and Kevin had on green costumes with silver fringe; Brasseur and Eisler's Patricia the Stripper (I think); Joanna Ng -- who at that time was 12 years old and won Ladies Interpretive.

Over the years I have watched the pro career of Tuffy and Doug evolve from nothing to being one of the best. Every year they got better. Then in 1995 Skate the Nation when they did My Sharona, that to me was the BEST program that pair ever did. They just came alive out on that ice when the opening bars of MY SHARONA started. To me that is the highlight program that they ever did. Everytime I hear that song on the radio I can picture Tuffy and Doug skating to it. :o)

In closing I would like to say that Tuffy Hough and Doug Ladret, to me, were the best pair there ever was!