Ski Racing’s Winningest Family

Few families in sports history have chalked up as many wins as the Cochrans. In three generations, ten family members (names in bold)  have been named to the U.S. Ski Team. To learn more about the latest generation, read The Redneck Racers.

FIRST GENERATION Gordon T. “Mickey” Cochran (1924–1998) Virginia Davis “Ginny” Cochran (1928–2005)

The patriarchs of the Cochran ski racing dynasty, Mickey and Ginny set up Cochran’s Ski Area in their Richmond backyard along the Winooski River in 1961. Mickey was the alpine director of the U.S. Ski Team during the 1973-74 ski season and coach of the University of Vermont Ski Team throughout the 1970s. He led the UVM team to its longest regular-season undefeated streak in NCAA history.

2ND & 3Rd GENERATIONS All four of Mickey and Ginny Cochran’s children, and six of their grandchildren, have skied for or currently ski on the U.S. Ski Team.

Marilyn Cochran Brown was the 1969 World Cup giant slalom champion, the 1970 World Championship bronze medalist in the combined and a member of the 1972 US Olympic and 1974 World Championship teams (and a three-time U.S. national champion). Her son Roger Brown won the NCAA slalom championships in 2002 and was a U.S. Ski Team member from 2004-06. Her other son, Douglas Brown, raced for St. Lawrence and now helps make syrup from the more than 20,000 trees on the Cochran property.

Barbara Ann Cochran was on the U.S. Ski Team from 1967 to 1974. During that time she won the slalom gold at the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, and slalom silver at the 1970 World Championships. She was also the U.S. slalom and giant slalom champion. Her son, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, is a current member of the U.S. Ski Team and defending champion of the Nor-Am Overall Title. He was a five-time junior national champion and gold medalist in downhill and combined at the World Alpine Junior Championships in 2012. His sister Caitlin Brown also coached ski racing.

Lindy Cochran Kelley skied on the U.S. Ski Team from 1970-78. She won both the U.S. national slalom and giant slalom titles and was a NCAA All-American while at the University of Vermont. Her oldest son, Tim Kelley, is a former NCAA slalom champion and is currently on the U.S. Ski Team. Lindy’s daughter, Jessica Kelley, skied with the U.S. Ski Team from 2001-10. She has been a three-time NorAm champion and was the giant slalom silver medalist at the 2002 World Junior Championships. The youngest, Robby Kelley, was on the U.S. Ski Team from 2011-14. In 2012, he was the U.S. National Champion in giant slalom and North American Cup Champion in giant slalom. In 2015, he had six international slalom wins.

Robert “Bob” Cochran was the first American to ever take the gold in the legendary Hahnenkamm combined event in Kitzbuhel, Austria. That same year, 1973, he became the first American man to win a World Cup giant slalom. Bob Cochran was also a two-time U.S. national champion in slalom, giant slalom, and downhill. His son Jimmy Cochran was on the U.S. Ski Team from 2005-09 and on the U.S. Olympic Team in 2006 and 2010. He raced in three World Championships (2005, 2007, and 2009) and is a four-time U.S. national champion. Daughter Amy raced for the University of Vermont and other son, Tom, left ski racing to pursue a career as an emergency room physician.