CELEBRITY TRAVEL CORNER

A conversation with two-time Olympian, World Cup downhill champion Cary Mullen.

CARY MULLEN, TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN, World Cup downhill champion, and former member of Canada’s national ski team, carved out many successful tracks over his ski career including his 1994 FIS World Cup downhill win in Aspen, Colorado. He also holds the World Downhill Speed Record at 151 km/h in Kitzbuhel, Austria, considered the most dangerous course on the World Cup circuit.

Like a ski hill, bumps and obstacles appear out of nowhere and can set you off course. Mullen had his share of falls, some of which led to debilitating memory loss and months in hospital over his professional skiing career in the late 1980s to ’90s.

Born and raised in Calgary, Mullen developed a passion for skiing at three and became a member of a ski club by age six. Even then his goal was to be a World Cup champion. During his childhood and teen years, he was also an accomplished gymnast and eventually had to make a choice.

Living on the edge in a competitive environment has given Cary the tools to succeed in other areas of his life. Having travelled to snow destinations around the world, Mullen, 49, now sets his sights on sun destinations, his business, motivational speaking and real estate development. He bought his first property at 21 and now owns a 30-hectare resort and lifestyle development called Vivo Resorts on the Pacific Coast in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. As a successful entrepreneur, he gives speeches to organizations and corporations about winning and achieving better results. In 2009, he penned the book, How to Win: Achieving Your Goals in Extreme Conditions.

Married and father of three, Mullen juggles his time in between speaking engagements, his home in Calgary and time in Puerto Escondido. He still lives life on the edge but now it comes with ocean, sun, surf and sand.