BIOGRAPHY:
Marco Sullivan has skiing in his soul, growing up in Lake Tahoe and first making turns at age three on a snow-covered gravel hill in his backyard. He learned to go fast on some of the gnarliest terrain at Squaw Valley and was a promising four-event skier before he started to concentrate on downhill. Indeed, for "Sully," it's all about the speed.

He began 2011 with a brand new ski sponsor in Rossignol and a lot of tweaking to do with the new equipment. Things were headed in the right direction and Sullivan was showing speed when a fluke downhill training crash in Bormio, Italy just after Christmas resulted in a concussion and a scope of his right knee. The injury ultimately sidelined him from racing for the season, but he was able to get back on skis to enjoy an epic powder season in Squaw Valley.

By the time the Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships rolled around at the end of March, Sullivan was ready for gates and foreran both the men's and women's super G races. Perhaps the wind in his face was just what Sully needed, and he headed straight to Alaska to regain the Arctic Man title—a race featuring incredible speeds as athletes are towed by snowmobiles for certain portions.

MARCO SAYS:
"Every other injury I've had, I've wanted to get back as soon as I can. The concussion was unique in that it changed my mood and mindset a little bit. For a while, I didn't want to do anything. I'm glad I'm over that phase. Skiing is what I love to do."

"The Arctic Man course turned out really good, considering the weather. It was bumpy because of the new snow, but that ended up really fun. It was challenging and it was good to win again, but it's really about fun and that's the bottom line."

FIRST TRACKS:
Sullivan was on skis at three and racing by 7 with Squaw Valley's Mitey Mites program. When he claimed the DH bronze medal at the '99 nationals (and won the British Land Championships DH and GS), coaches felt he was ready for varsity. A four-event skier early on, he was bronze medalist in slalom at '00 Juniors Worlds outside Quebec City before zeroing-in on speed racing for his 2001 season.

OFF THE SNOW:
Sullivan is easy-going and always smiling. Enjoys kicking back with a fly rod or a cruise on Lake Tahoe or a good backpacking and mountain biking trip with girlfriend (and Canadian slalom ace) Anna Goodman. Die hard San Francisco 49ers and Giants fan, Sullly says he'll milk the World Series win as long as humanly possible. At least until the 'Niners turn things around.