About

Tailgate Alaska utilizes a crew built from mountain veterans: The staff of the Alaska Snow Information Center, US Snowboard Team, Alaska Back Country Adventures, Alaska Rendezvous Adventures, US Grand Prix, AMGA Mountain Guides, The Olympics as well as a crew of former professional athletes, Alaska legends and legends in the making. If you are interested in volunteering at Tailgate Alaska or Tailgate BC, please download the volunteer application Here.

Mark Sullivan

Event Director

Mark Sullivan founded Tailgate Alaska World Freeride Festival in 2008 with the idea to make the world’s best mountains and snow conditions accessible to more people. Mark’s event experience includes working for NBC Sports at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games, working for the US Snowboarding Grand Prix from 1999- present, and more than 10 years of working at the US Open of Snowboarding. In addition, Mark founded the World Quarterpipe Championships in 1998 and the Cutters Cup World Park Building Championships in 2001. As the Editor in Chief of Snowboarder Magazine, and later Founder/Publisher of SNOWBOARD Magazine, Mark’s media expertise has exponentially grown the event over its first four seasons through international media exposure.

Day Franzen

Operations Director

Day Franzen is the man around Tailgate — from driving the cat, to directing all aspects of the Tailgate base camp, Day has been there and done it all when it comes to resorts. He was a co-founder of the world-renowned Cutters Camp terrain park camps. Also as Founder/CEO of Kingvale, Day was involved in all aspects of operating and managing that groundbreaking operation. As freestyle terrain park manager of Mt. Snow, Day takes a mountain of experience from the West to developing cutting-edge terrain on the East Coast.

Scott Newsome

Tailgate BC

Scott brings a world of backcountry riding experience to Tailgate BC. In the '90s, Scott was a professional athlete for brands like Option. In 1998 Scott moved to Revelstoke, discovered splitboarding and never looked back. In 2006, he became the first snowboarder to join the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. The would-be snowboarding Jackie Robinson went on to own and operate Eagle Pass Heli Skiing — he has the keys to the best terrain in Revelstoke, and maybe the world.

Elizabeth Sullivan

Office Manager

Liz runs the office for the Tailgate events. Her experience as Group Managing Editor of Primedia's American Motorcycle Magazine Group, as well as co-founder and inaugural Managing Editor of SNOWBOARD Magazine, makes her an indispensable part of the Tailgate team.

Dave Geis

Site Manager

Dave Geis Has been riding terrain in Ak for over a decade, it has been the sole focus of his snowboarding life since his first heli lift years ago. Dave helps facilitate activities at base camp as well as helping to keep everyone up to speed with snow conditions and dangers. In the 'real world' Dave is one of the owner/operators of the Excel long-range sportfishing boat.

Jeff Harper

Video Manager

Jeff has been involved with video production for more than a decade, producing First Hand episodes for Fuel TV as well as managing all aspects of Crankworx Colorado's event and media production.

Osifer Moss

Security

In his day job, 'Osifer Moss' is a Sergeant and watch commander in the Burlington Vermont Police Department. He deals with messed up shit all day/night long — drug dealers, wife beaters, homicides and hopped-up frat boys. At Tailgate, he oversees security and responds to any "situations" that may arise. 'Osifer Moss' works with local and state police in Alaska to ensure a smooth-running event — while getting his share of heli laps.

Pam Grillo Robinson

Head Chef

I was told to keep it in the family, growing up. So it only seemed natural to bring Pam Grillo Robinson in as Head Chef. As mother of A-Rob, she is already part of our family, and we are honored to have her be a part of the 2012 event.

Rasmus Ostergaard

Sponsorship/European Ambassador

Rasmus has been involved with the snowboarding industry for a long time. How long? Remember Crazy Banana? He was the Scandinavian distributor — well, Ras has learned a lot since the early '90s. He has gone on to be the CEO of Method Snowboard Magazine and currently is a partner in Chuckbuddies LTD.

Oscar Woodruff

Art

As an accomplished professional illustrator and Tailgate Alaska participant, Oscar's art reflects his unique perspective and pursuit of rich, detailed imagery.

CREW

Sean Wisner leads Tailgate Alaska's safety efforts. As Director of the Alaska Avalanche Information Center, he organizes a crew of snow safety professionals to generate snow reports, teaches classes and acts on on-site responders to incidents on the Alaskan venue.

Jeremy Hanke is heading up snow science and sled operations at Tailgate BC. Look for Jeremy and the Soul Rides crew to give riding lessons, sled maintenance clinics, and snow science briefings.

Joe Weber bleeds Tailgate. We mean it, just ask to see his tattoo. Joe has been coming to Tailgate for a few years and has expanded into an operations role. In the off-season Joe runs, I Rip'Em, You Ride' Em Splitboards.

Eric Eckles brings years of resort operations experience to the Tailgate staff. 2012 will be Eric's second year on the Tailgate operations team.

Andy Bergin-Sperry is a bad ass up-and-coming rider. He also happens to be a responsible kid, ready for the work of helping hundreds of riders access the backcountry. When not organizing things at base camp, look for Andy to pioneer new ways around the mountains.

Darren 'Gilly' Gilmore oversees transportation operations in and around Tailgate. He has been involved in the snowboarding industry for years managing shops and working at resorts.

Dan VanDerMuelen is a legend of sorts around the mountains in Valdez. He has skied more lines than most riders have dreamed of. On top of that he is the defending Man Games Champion and will be orchestrating this year's festivities in the evenings around the AK base camp. Dan is also defending ski champion from the 2011 World Freeride Championships.

Ricky Bower works on the Flow World Freeride Championships on contest formats and judging. He is one of the most experienced veterans of the cometition circuit, having competed professionally before taking over as coach of the US Snowboard Team. Ricky was recently awarded the top honor in his profession, winning International Coach of the Year from the international governing body.

Mike Jankowski works along Ricky in the real world and in Alaska. As head coach of the multi medal award winning US Olympic Team, Mike has taken his involvement with snowboarding competitions to the highest level. Mike sets a high standard for the Flow World Freeride Championships.

Eric Webster brings more than two decades of competition management to the Flow World Freeride Championships. In addition to working with NBC Sports at the Olympics, Eric is competition director for the US Ski and Snowboard Grand Prix competitions.
Nicolas Demetrio has been coming to Tailgate for a couple. The Chilean sensation will be helping out with the daily Tailgate Times and helping to organize Man Games.

Tailgate Alaska also wants to thank the volunteers who make all of the events possible.

Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions:
mark@tailgatealaska.com or 801 897 4369