Skiing Cochrans facts for kids

Cochran's  

Location in the United States

Cochran's
Ski Area

Location in Vermont

The Skiing Cochrans are a super famous family of ski racers from Richmond, Vermont, in the United States. They have been a big part of the U.S. Ski Team for many years, starting in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and continuing through the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.

In 1961, parents Mickey and Ginny Cochran built a small ski area on their land in rural Vermont. This was the Cochrans' ski hill. They used it to train their four children to become amazing ski racers. All four children – Bob, Barbara Ann, Marilyn, and Lindy – raced for the U.S. in the Winter Olympics. Barbara Ann even won a gold medal in slalom at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.

The next generation of Cochrans has kept the racing tradition alive. Six family members have joined the U.S. Ski Team. Cochran's Ski Area has also grown into a popular winter spot. It now has three lifts and eight slopes, bringing families from all over Vermont to ski.

Meet the Parents: Mickey and Ginny Cochran

• Gordon T. "Mickey" Cochran (1924–1998) was a talented athlete, engineer, and teacher. He was especially brilliant when it came to skiing. Mickey played baseball and football in high school and college. He served in World War II and used his athletic skills to survive tough battles.

After the war, Mickey returned to college and earned degrees in engineering and education. He loved skiing and developed his own unique way of teaching it. He built a ski hill in his backyard, where he trained all four of his children. They all became members of the U.S. Ski Team thanks to his guidance.

Mickey also worked as the Alpine Director for the U.S. Ski Team in 1973-74. He coached the University of Vermont (UVM) Ski Team throughout the 1970s. Under his coaching, the UVM team won many major competitions. Mickey passed away in 1998 at age 74. He was inducted into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.

• Virginia Davis "Ginny" Cochran (1928–2005) was the heart of "The Skiing Cochrans" family. She co-owned Cochran's Ski Area with her husband, Mickey. In 1961, when the ski area first opened, Ginny started the first after-school ski program. This was at the request of the Richmond PTO.

Since then, thousands of kids and adults have learned to ski "The Cochran Way." Ginny herself taught many of them. Besides raising four children who competed in the Winter Olympics, Ginny managed the ski area. She continued to do so until her death in 2005 at age 76. The state legislature honored her with a special resolution after she passed away.

The First Generation of Ski Stars

• Marilyn Cochran Brown (born 1950) was a member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1967 to 1974. She was the 1969 World Cup champion in giant slalom. Marilyn also won a bronze medal in the combined event at the 1970 World Championships. She was part of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team and the 1974 World Championship team. Marilyn was a three-time U.S. national champion. She was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1978.

• Barbara Ann Cochran (born 1951) was a U.S. Ski Team member from 1967 to 1974. She won a gold medal in slalom at the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. Barbara Ann also earned a silver medal in slalom at the 1970 World Championships. She was a U.S. national champion in giant slalom and slalom. In 1972, she was named the top American skier in international competition. Barbara was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1976. After retiring from racing, she taught physical education and coached skiing at Cochran's Ski Area. She is also a motivational speaker.

• Robert "Bob" Cochran, M.D. (born 1951) was on the U.S. Ski Team from 1968 to 1974. In 1973, he won the gold medal in the Hahnenkamm combined event. This was the first time a U.S. male skier won that event. Later that season, he won a giant slalom race in California. Bob was a two-time U.S. national champion in slalom, giant slalom, and downhill. After skiing, he became a family doctor in New Hampshire. Bob was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2010.

• Lindy Cochran Kelley (born 1953) was a member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1970 to 1978. She was the top American finisher in both slalom and giant slalom at the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Lindy was a U.S. national champion in slalom (1973) and giant slalom (1976). She was also an NCAA All-American in 1979. Lindy continued the family tradition by introducing the "Ski-Tots Program" at Cochran's, helping young children learn to ski.

The Next Generation of Champions

The Cochran family's skiing talent continued with their children and grandchildren. Many of them have also become successful ski racers!

• Roger Brown (born 1981) is Marilyn's son. He was a U.S. Ski Team member and an All-American. He won the NCAA Slalom Championship in 2002 while at Dartmouth College.

• Jimmy Cochran (born 1981) is Bob's son. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic Teams in 2006 and 2010. He was the best American skier in slalom at the 2006 Olympics. Jimmy also competed in three World Championships and won four U.S. alpine skiing titles.

• Jessica Kelley (born 1982) is Lindy's daughter. She was also a member of the U.S. Ski Team.

• Tim Kelley (born 1986) is Lindy's son. He was on the U.S. Ski Team from 2013 to 2016 and competed at the 2015 World Championships in slalom. He was a three-time All-American at the University of Vermont and won the NCAA Slalom championship in 2011. Tim is a co-founder of Redneck Racing with his brother Robby.

• Robby Kelley (born 1990) is Lindy's son. He has been a U.S. Ski Team member since 2011. Robby won the U.S. national championship in giant slalom in 2012. He has competed on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup tour many times and earned several podium finishes in other races.

• Ryan Cochran-Siegle (born 1992) is Barbara Ann's son. He has been a U.S. Ski Team member since 2011. Ryan competed for the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. He was the top American skier in Super-G and giant slalom there. He won gold medals in downhill and combined at the Alpine Junior World Championships in 2012. Ryan also won his first World Cup race in 2020. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, he won a silver medal in the Super-G event!

Key Moments in Cochran History

• 1961 - Cochran's Ski Area is started. Ginny Cochran begins the first after-school ski program.
• 1967 - Marilyn and Barbara Ann Cochran are named to the U.S. Ski Team.
• 1968 - Bobby Cochran joins the U.S. Ski Team.
• 1969 - Marilyn Cochran wins the World Cup season title in giant slalom.
• 1970 - Lindy Cochran joins her siblings on the U.S. Ski Team. Barbara Ann wins a silver medal and Marilyn wins a bronze medal at the World Championships.
• 1972 - Barbara Ann Cochran wins the gold medal in slalom at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.
• 1973 - Bob Cochran wins the combined event at the famous Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel, Austria. He also wins a giant slalom race.
• 1974 - Mickey Cochran becomes the Alpine Director of the U.S. Ski Team. Barbara Ann and Marilyn stop competing internationally.
• 1976 - Lindy Cochran is the best American skier in slalom and giant slalom at the Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. Barbara is inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
• 1978 - Marilyn is inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
• 1985 - Lindy (Cochran) Kelley starts the "Ski-Tots Program" at Cochran's.
• 1998 - Mickey Cochran passes away. Cochran's Ski Area becomes a non-profit organization.
• 1999 - Cochran's Ski Area officially becomes a non-profit, aiming to provide affordable skiing and lessons for young people and families.
• 2002 - Lindy Cochran's daughter Jessica Kelley is named to the U.S. Ski Team. Marilyn Cochran's son Roger Brown wins the NCAA slalom title.
• 2003 - Bob Cochran's son Jimmy Cochran is named to the U.S. Ski Team.
• 2004 - Jimmy Cochran wins U.S. National Championships in Slalom and giant slalom.
• 2005 - Ginny Cochran passes away. Roger Brown is named to the U.S. Ski Team.
• 2006 - Jimmy Cochran competes in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Lindy Cochran's son Tim Kelley is named to the U.S. Ski Team.
• 2008 - Jimmy Cochran wins two more U.S. national titles.
• 2010 - Jimmy Cochran competes in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Bobby is inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
• 2011 - Ryan Cochran-Siegle is named to the U.S. Ski Team. Tim Kelley wins the NCAA slalom title. Robby Kelley is named to the U.S. Ski Team.
• 2012 - Ryan Cochran-Siegle wins gold medals at the Alpine Junior World Ski Championships. Robby Kelley wins the U.S. National GS Title.
• 2018 - Ryan Cochran-Siegle competes at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.
• 2020 - Ryan Cochran-Siegle wins his first World Cup race.
• 2022 - Ryan Cochran-Siegle wins the silver medal in the Super-G event at the Beijing Olympics.

Cochran's Ski Area Today

Cochran's Ski Area is a special place. In 2006, they added snowmaking equipment to ensure good snow conditions. In 2010, lights were installed for night skiing, allowing people to ski even after the sun goes down. The ski area is mostly run by amazing volunteers who help keep it going for the community.

Video

• Vermont Public Television - Vermont Makers - Barbara Cochran - 2013