Fueled by Passion, Powered by Warmth: Mark Hanretty’s Skating Journey

From childhood inspiration to international competition, coaching Olympic talent, and starring in one of Britain's most beloved TV shows, few people embody the spirit of figure skating like Mark Hanretty. After representing Great Britain in ice dancing and spending twelve seasons partnering celebrities on Dancing on Ice, Mark now brings expertise to a global audience as the ISU’s resident commentator.

In this exclusive interview, Mark shares the highs and lows of a lifelong skating journey, the realities of spending ten-hour days on the ice, and how ororo’s heated apparel has become an essential part of daily life, so much so, even legends like Jane Torvill and Christopher Deane now wear it too.

Read below to find out everything about Mark and his inspiring story!

Q: Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

I started ice skating at the age of nine, and watched the British legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean return to compete in the 94 Olympics, having won the Olympic title ten years before. I was totally inspired by them, and then went on to represent Great Britain at the World and European Championships as an ice skater myself. 

I later joined Jane and Torvill’s TV Show, Dancing on Ice, which is a really popular part of British culture. I did that for twelve seasons, partnering celebrities who had never skated before. I reached the final show many times with different celebrities from all sorts of walks of life. 

As an ice skating coach and choreographer, I’ve coached and choreographed for lots of World Championship competitors and Olympians. 

I'm now the International Skaters Union’s resident commentator so I comment on all the world’s biggest events for the ISU. 

So skating is life, and I just recently finished the Jane and Torvill’s Last Dance tour, which is the retirement show of my idols. It’s a really pivotal time of my life to perform with them in their final performance, which could be my favorite performance ever.

As I turn 40 and look to explore more opportunities in skating that are less body-dependent.   

Q: What do people not realize about the temperature challenges in figure skating?

Unsurprisingly, ice skating can be very cold. When I’m performing or rehearsing, I can get really warm, but if you’re in a rehearsal situation for a big show, and you’re in the ice rink for a long time and you’re not the focus of the choreographer’s attention, or active all the time, it can be uncomfortably cold. 

And also for me when I do long coaching days, sometimes up to 10 hours a day, it can get painfully cold to the point that it’s really hard to do your job. You lose focus because you’re so uncomfortable!    

Q: What are some personal or professional challenges you've faced throughout your career?

I came from a very academic family. My parents both have law degrees and are successful in their professions. My brother and a sister also pursued academic careers, my brother even has a PhD and is a professor of politics. 

So for me, it was a challenge to pursue something that was so different to what I grew up around. 

That was one challenge… 

Another challenge for me was when I competed with an American partner. We hoped that we could get her a British passport and qualify for the Olympic games, but that didn’t materialize in time, and thus, I never got the opportunity to become an Olympian, and so that was a life-long dream that didn’t come to fruition and that was really sad, very hard to deal with.

Fortunately, as is often the case, all the challenges and frustrations have often been the best learning ground, so retrospectively, any of the biggest challenges that I’ve faced have turned out to be the best opportunities.    

How did you first discover our heated apparel?

I first learned about ororo through my friend Brendyn Hathfield, who’s a professional American ice skater, a really good skater who was also working with me on the TV show Dancing on Ice, and he wore ororo and it seemed game-changing! Once I had my first ororo gilet, I was sold, and now I tell everybody! 

I used to turn up to work with different outfits every day, and now, maybe for the last 3-4 years, it’s like a uniform! I’m never at an ice rink without my ororo. Even though I may have a desire to change up, ororo overwrites that now. I will continue to wear ororo on the ice-rink, for as long as it exists. 

 5.⁠ ⁠What heated apparel item do you currently own and use most often?

My heated gilet. I’ve also got a jacket, which is almost always on.

I have the heated trousers too, which are amazing for long coaching days. When I wear those, I never get cold, even during 10-hour coaching days. If I’ve got my ororo trousers on, I’m sold! It's game-changing. 

Q: How has wearing heated apparel changed your comfort or performance?

When I reach for my ororo, I change my temperature. That’s just part of my day. I love the fact that I can turn up the temperature!

Q: ⁠Is there a particular moment that stands out, where the gear really helped you?

ororo has made work immeasurably more comfortable than life without ororo on the ice. And because I feel better physically, I also feel better mentally and emotionally. So I actually think I give a better version of myself. 

I’m in a very fortunate position at the moment, I’m in high demand for work, and always fill the day with lessons. I know that I give better lessons, because ororo keeps me mentally, physically, and emotionally more at peace. And warm!   

Q: ⁠Who do you recommend it to?

One of the highlights, probably for me with ororo, was when I was able to ask the team to provide ororo for Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean. And they are legends! They are the most celebrated ice skaters ever! 

Chris had seen me wearing my ororo and asked about it, and I said, “Oh, I think I can sort your jacket out.” And so it was then seeing the legend Christopher Dean wearing the heated jacket repeatedly and regularly me thinking “oh wow, I got a legend a jacket”. And it’s all thanks to ororo.  

Q: Anything else you’d like to add about comfort, recovery, or warmth as a performer?

I’m sure ororo would be game-changing for so many people! You know, in the British winter-time, I’m sure it would be game-changing. I even wear it outside when it’s cold! But now every ice skater that I know, and particularly the coaches that are not as physically active on the ice because they’re teaching, I’ve told… Well, everybody! 

Q: ⁠Is there anything else you'd like to say?

I was never into brands as a child, you know… And even now! Of course everyone likes designer wear, I would never turn down being gifted some fancy designer clothing, but I am team ororo. I’ve never been so passionately invested in a brand, because it’s the perfect companion to my work. Team ororo always!

Whether performing in front of thousands, coaching the next generation, or commentating on the world’s biggest skating events, Mark brings passion, warmth, and resilience to every role. That warmth, both figuratively and literally, now comes in part from ororo gear that has transformed not just comfort on the ice, but energy, mindset, and performance.

As Mark looks ahead to the next chapter, one that’s less body-dependent but just as impactful, the message is clear: skating isn’t just a sport. It’s a lifelong calling, and we are proud to be part of the journey.