My first win
Well, well, for those of you who have not heard, I won my first World Cup ski race last weekend in Chamonix, France.
I was stoked that it happened on one of the classic world cup downhill courses and the race was not affected by the weather at all. It was a nice sunny day that reminded me of being back home in Squaw, and I had one of the best runs that I have ever managed to pull off!
It feels really great to have accomplished a goal that I have been dreaming about for a long time. It is funny that before last weekend I always thought I would be satisfied to win just one World Cup. Just to be a part of that elite group, I thought would be enough. Now that I have one in the bag all I can think about is how I am going to win more.
One of the greatest parts was hearing from a ton of family and friends from back home, and knowing that they were all tuning in! Being in Europe all winter, we tend to get encompassed in our own little bubble. But to hear how stoked everybody was back home was really special for me!
So we have moved on. We are in Val D’isere this week. It is going to be a really cool race because we are on a course that has not been run since the Olympic Downhill was held here in 1992. It is refreshing to see something brand new since a lot of our venues are the same year after year. I am obviously feeling in good form as is our team.
TJ Lanning has been skiing great lately, and he is coming off of his best ever DH result last week. We also have Steven Nyman back, a week of rest is just what his ailing back needed and he is ready to charge! Ted Ligety and Andrew Weibrecht are also here for the combined but this downhill looks so steep and turny that I think both of those guys have a shot at throwing down some really fast runs!
This week is apparently some sort of British holiday and therefore the town of Val d’Isere is popping! Rumor is that there is not a bed available for miles around. Each week the race organizers are responsible for providing accommodations for all of the teams and this week they put us up in Club Med. Not sure if any of you have ever experienced a Club Med atmosphere before, but it is full of foreigners who are ready to party and ready to participate in planned activities around the clock. Each day there is a schedule for the guests to follow from aerobics to talent shows. It is a far cry from the quaint family-owned hotels where we usually stay, but the huge buffets of food are pretty good and it is definitely entertaining. This morning on my way to the hill, I passed a guy in a full bumblebee costume…..why not?
I hope that everybody is enjoying there winter. Sounds like it is dumping everywhere in the Western US this week, that is awesome and it makes me really excited to head home after this race.
Talk to ya soon,
Marco
January 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
For my favorite nephew: Congratulations, much love & best wishes from your NorCal family fan club! We are so very proud of you. We’ve been praying for you & rejoicing with you from afar. Looking forward to seeing more of you(& your team mates) on the podiums. Ski & be well. xoxo
January 29th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Congrats again, and good luck this weekend. That’s funny about your hotel.
And can’t believe I caught YOU on one (there=their).
January 29th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Marco,
Tears were almost shed while watching live. We had a feeling it was going to happen at Chamonix. I was getting hollers from the lift yesterday on a blower day in Jackson Hole cheering for you!!! Your fan base is wide and diverse. Just so amped, it’s what every little grommet racer dreams of growing up. Huge Congrats……
Ahh, the “P” is back. Well, well, thought you were out like parachute pants. Harkin, good to have the little “P” back eh.. Missed ya “P”. I think the proper vernacular these days is mentally challenged…
Mr. T
January 29th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
So this is how it went down…woke up Saturday morning to check how the race went on my phone from bed… saw you took it. I was so fired up didn’t know what to do. Called Ryan Fagan who was also in bed. We both admitted that we were shedding man tears as we reminisced about everything you had gone through to get where you were and win a world cup. So picture that…two guys laying in their beds in California and Portland…crying because they were so damn psyched for you. Congratulations dude and keep soaping the boards.
Oliver
January 30th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Hey BOY! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You rock!!!! I’m sooooo happy for you and I know that you’ll win more races. I saw your run on TV and I knew that you have the chance to win because it was a great run!!!!!!!! After Didier Cuche I was sure and in the evening - I went on a party - I drank one beer to you… So congratulations again and good luck, I’ll keep my fingers crossed!! Have a nice day boy….
Patricia
January 30th, 2008 at 9:37 am
So that’s what it took? Marco, the King of Shralp, The Sultan of Shred, just needed to win in order to get little “P” back on line? Welcome back to the 21st century P-nut. How are swimming lessons in Virginia going?
Mr. T, I think we should pitch in and sign P-ickle boy up for a typing class at Squid Community College.
Marco- Best of luck this weekend. Watch out for the pool girls at Club Med.
Welcome to Marcoville Oliver.
PS-we all shed man tears on Saturday.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Hello Marco and congratulations. We all watched your race (almost real time). You are amazing and an inspiration to us all. We think of you often and look forward to seeing you soon. What are you reading these days?
love from us all,
Chris, Karen, Eli, & Leo
January 30th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
We had the pleasure of meeting you last winter at the US Nationals at Alyeska, Alaska. You and your teammates came up to the Challenge Alaska building and met my kids and my daughter who is disabled but skis with us using a bi-ski. You were the nicest group and made a huge impression on all of us. We have been Marco Sullivan fans ever since and follow the results of all your races. We were so stoked about your win!! We can’t wait to see what comes next!! We hope to see you back in Alaska soon…until then, keep up the great work!!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:28 am
congratulations!!!!!i`ve watched the race and i was so nervous,seeing cuche didn`t came on 1st possition,that you`ve stayed!!!!omg,i just couldn`t stop screaming and jumping around!my friends were looking at me like:”what the f… is wrong with you?!?!”yeah….so…..ok!keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!xxxo
January 31st, 2008 at 11:11 am
Chelsea: Send me an e-mail to tkgore@wcsn.com
Go Marco and US Ski Team in Val D’isere
January 31st, 2008 at 8:37 pm
We got up at 4am to watch the live video on WCSN and you sure made it worth it! I was so excited I couldn’t go back to sleep and was just trying to figure out who would want a great wake up call on Saturday morning! Nice work Marco! That was so awesome, I still haven’t stopped bragging to people about you!
Good luck this weekend, sounds like there are a lot of firsts for you guys in Val d’Isere, the course, club med…always room for another to be added to that! Keep it rollin…
TK, I emailed you today.
February 1st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Felicitations!!! Tu es incroyable! Je suis tellement heureuse pour toi, et tu as beaucoup travaille pour tout ca!! Meme a 15 ans tu revais de gagner ces courses, et voila. Je pensais toujours que tu allais le faire!! Bonne continuation a Val!! Janet
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:55 am
Hi! My name is Susie from Germany. I’m a big fan of the american ski team and especially of you, Marco. It has been a fantastic season for you so far with two podiums -> and your first win. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m sure there are a lot more to come. It’s really sad that there was no downhill in Val d’Isere on Saturday, but that’s the weather!! One year there’s not enought snow in Europe and the other yaer there’s too much! That’s life!!! Well, good luck for the next races, I’ll keep my fingers crossed! And have a nice time at home, see ya…
Susie.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Dear Marco-
I saw you in your red white and blue banana hammock lounging pool side at Club Med. You are so hot. Such strong legs.
I am in the Navy. We wear tight white slacks and little paper hats. I’m a real good swimmer now. I like pizza and sunsets and rednecks.
well, I’ll be watching you. See you when come through my town.
Your Number One Phan-
Michael Prado
PS- Do you like Super Mario Brothers?
February 7th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
That is awsome, keep on winning! I wish you good fortune in the rest of your races.
-Nate, the kid from Boulder,CO