Calgary's Cary Mullen set the trendy Colorado ski resort of Aspen ablaze three years ago when he captured a World Cup gold and silver medal in the downhill on the same late season weekend. Earlier that season, the 27-year-old finished second in the Saalbach, Austria downhill. However since then, Mullen's career has been plagued by a variety of injuries, particularly various knee traumas and an on-going bout with chronic patella tendinitis. Needless to say, his results since those heady days of Apsen have been disappointing: his best result during from the1994-95 campaign was a 19th in Whistler, B.C. and Kvitfjell, Norway. Best showing from 1995-96 was a 14th in Val Gardena, Italy. Last season, the easy-going Mullen showed numerous signs of life on the World Cup circuit, with eight top-30 finishes in the downhill, including a impressive 12th-place showing on the treacherous Hahnenkamm course in Kitzbuehel, Austria.
  Mullen and Podivinsky feed off each other in a way. If one catches fire, the other is usally right behind.
  Calgary native Mullen is a real cowboy, and actually rode in the Calgary Stampede at the age of seven, although he was forced to leave the sport because of an allergy to animals.