PAST: Kitsilano Blue Demons and Tyee Ski Club
PRESENT: Grouse Mountain
FUTURE: Team B.C.
Grouse Mountain is so crowded in the summer, downhill skier Sam Mulligan wondered aloud if the mountain resort gets more visitors when there’s no snow. But this winter because there was no snow, neither the racer nor anyone else skied the slopes with the panoramic view of the Lower Mainland.
Mulligan, a six-foot-two, long-locked racer for Team B.C. who got his start on Grouse’s short runs, now chases snow all over the world 12 months a year. He rode the Grouse gondola for the first time this year on the second last day of June.
The one-time Tyee Ski Club racer started at Grouse nearly a decade ago one winter when massive snowfalls blanketed the region. “It was sweet,” remembered the well-liked skier knows as Smully. “The best thing is to go after school and ski a few hours without crowds. It’s small but has enough.”
Since he was selected to the provincial ski team in 2014, Mulligan has travelled the world to train and race at places such as the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps, glaciers in Austria, peaks in Chile, and slopes across Canada and the U.S. This week he’s at Mount Hood in Oregon.
Mulligan, 18, is being scouted by the national team and aspires to race for Canada. So far, his NorAm Cup results are promising and he’s building on his training as a slalom skier to include Super G and downhill to become what his coach calls a “four-event skier” and eventually qualify for the World Cup.
“Sam, he’s a beast of a human,” said Johnny Crichton, the athletic director of Alpine B.C. and Mulligan’s coach on the provincial team. “His body composition and his overall athletic ability is insane.”
He plays ultimate for the Kitsilano Blue Demons and last summer won the U18 GranFondo Whistler despite minimal time on a road bike. (He came 72nd overall in the men’s division.) Crichton believes he’d turn the heads of B.C. Lions scouts. “If they saw him in a work out, they would be thinking let’s give this kid a football and see what he can do with it,” said the coach.
What will put the skier in the highest tier of his sport, however, is his attitude. In addition to the gifts of natural ability, Mulligan has the desire and work ethic to aim for Team Canada and race for his country.
“He’s got the talent and the drive,” said Crichton. “It’s nice to see. As in just about any sport these days, you’re not making it anymore just on talent alone. There are a lot of factors. You’ve got to have all the components to make it.
“He’s an animal — but a big lovable animal with long hair who plays a guitar.”
