Cochran's Ski Area was established in 1961 by Mickey and Ginny Cochran on an old hillside farm along the Winooski River in Richmond, Vermont.   Transforming the land with hard work and Mickey's gifts as a mechanical engineer, the ski area consisted of a couple of backyard trails and a short rope tow installed so that their children and neighbors could enjoy skiing and race training.   In the next decade, the ski area helped put all four of the :"Skiing Cochrans" on the road to Olympic and World Cup success as members of the United States Ski Team, which Mickey coached during the 1973/74 ski season.  Not long after Barbara Ann captured the Olympic gold medal in slalom in 1972, the small facility grew into a local winter recreation area with four lifts and eight slopes attracting a loyal contingent of children and families from around Vermont.   Since the Cochran's ruled the slopes, scores of other Vermont skiers and racers have emerged to take their place at home and abroad - many of them grounded in the Cochran's technique and love for the sport of skiing.  Today, Cochran's Ski Area is a nonprofit enterprise and home to a junior race team, hundreds of school children and a host of learn-to-ski and snowboard programs.   A Nonprofit Mission:  In the summer of 1998, Cochran’s Ski Area became a nonprofit corporation with the goal of providing area youth and families with affordable skiing and snowboarding, lessons and race training, in the Cochran tradition.  "No child will be denied the opportunity to ski or ride."

People and Programs   Ski Tots:   A Cochran’s original designed to teach parents how to teach their own child to ski.  Directed by Olympic gold medalist, Barbara Ann Cochran, this unique program matches a Cochran’s instructor with a small group of parents and children (aged 3 to 5) for a morning of instruction and practice.   Ski and Snowboard Instruction:  Learn to ski or ride the Cochran Way!  Beginners to advanced intermediates learn the same proven techniques that have put two generations of Cochrans on the road to the U.S. Ski Team.   Ski Racing:  From the free Sunday Lollipop races to the Cochran’s Ski Club, the spirit of our mentor - Mickey Cochran - lives in the gates at Cochran’s.  Guided by the philosophy that training and competition in an enjoyable atmosphere are the keys to success and improvement, race training is always available and open to the public.

Pride and Praise   “If you haven’t been to Cochran’s, you owe it to yourself to ski the hill that Mickey built.  If you’ve got young kids, you owe it to them.” Joe Cutts, Burlington Free Press   “Cochran’s Ski Area is the best place I know to learn to ski or ride.” Dick Farrell, Physical Education Teacher,Williston Central School   “When it comes to ski resorts, bigger is not always better.  Take Cochran’s Ski Area in Richmond, Vt.” Barbara Lloyd, The New York Times   “It becomes like a second home.” Karl Johnson, Cochran’s Ski Club Member, NCAA Slalom Champion   “Cochran’s isn’t just a little gem, it’s a Vermont state treasure.” Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.   “When you go to Cochran’s and see all the old racing bibs hanging in the lodge, you know that this is a special place…and a special family.” Doug Lewis, Olympian