Ski Racing - November 21, 2011

And he says he wasn’t chosen for his fishing prowess: Sullivan showing off with Daron Rahlves (left).

2012 U.S Ski Team Preview

I was a little rusty, but we pulled off the win, which was especially nice after losing the winter
to my concussion.”
Next on his schedule was another Alaska adventure, this time with Moe and Rahlves, filming
July corn skiing for a Warren Miller film due out in 2012. The trip, called “Kings and Corn,” is
guided by Moe each summer for Chugach Powder Guides, featuring heli-only ski access and
king salmon fishing.
“I was not chosen for my fishing prowess,” says Sullivan. “It was great to hang out with both
those guys – I hadn’t really known Tommy before. He was always legendary when I was grow-
ing up. Even with Daron, it’s been a couple of years since we’ve been able to hang out.”
Sullivan’s fans have been able to read about these adventures thanks to a website (mar-
coarcs.com) created by his graphic-designer sister, Chelsea Robinson. She’s also the one
mostly responsible for the massive Marco Sullivan party at Beaver Creek. “Years ago, we
started off with just family and a couple close friends,” says Robinson, “but more and more
of our friends who are fans kept expressing interest in joining us, so I decided to make it an
‘event.’ We call it Beaverfest, and every year I get souvenirs made for our crew. It’s a perfect
way to support the U.S. Ski Team at their only World Cup on home soil, embarrass and cheer
on my brother and have a great time with a fun group of people.”
For Sullivan, the lead-up to Beaver Creek is a lot of genuine hard work, with as much snow
time as possible. In August, he traveled to New Zealand for three weeks of team training, fol-
lowed by a successful speed camp in Portillo and then, this month, another at Copper, where
teammate Steve Nyman lost his winter to an Achilles tendon tear.
“I’m really bummed about the injury to Steve,” says Sullivan. “When you have a core group
of six guys, to lose a veteran like Steve is a huge loss and helping him pack up for his trip
home was heartbreaking. I wish him a strong and fast recovery.”
But Sullivan also knows he needs to focus on his own recovery, which now involves proving
just how fast he can be. “My body has healed well,” he says. “I’ve been on the podium before
and I definitely know I have that talent, but for the past two years, I’ve been a far cry from
that. The last couple of years, my back, especially, has been really sore, so I decided I had to
motivate and it’s been really good so far. I feel strong.”