U18-U21 Alpine Team
Cochran's girls go undefeated in the State Championships for the last 2 years. Can you say powerhouse?
Updates:
The 2013 winter has been as successful as ever with the Cochran's team. The Cochran's girls picked up 6 of the top 10 spots at High School States yesterday in SL and are sending 7 girls to High School Easterns (that's more than 1/2 the state spots going to Cochrans girls) and a few kids headed to JO's the same weekend.
Team Training at Suicide Six during vacation week:
Camping adventure during break:
Camping Taft Lodge Feb 27th from Cochran's Ski Area on Vimeo.
The Story
Cochran's created it's first ever U18+ (formely J1/J2) team last winter with the intention of offering an alternative to academy programs as well as supplementing high-school racing. Before this, Cochran's athlete's were forced to leave or graduate Cochran's after the J3 age group. The team was created based on the clear need for skiers in the region to continue their pursuit of racing throughout high-school and into college, while attending their high-school. Most of the group has grown up racing through the VARA/USSA circuit, but this is not required for success.
(Cochran's Girls placing 1st,2nd, and 4th at HS Districts)
With a combination of training at Cochran's as well as freeskiing and training at other mountains, the inagural team achieved great success, despite the tough snow year. The group competed in a range of competitions from high-school races to FIS Eastern Cups. Although the U18 program does not discourage FIS racing, its primary objective is to faciltate success at the USSA level as well as improve skier fundamentals for success in high-school racing. The more time skiers are able to put into training, strength building, freeskiing, and racing, the faster they will advance.
Although the vast majority of races are close to the Richmond/Burlington area, the team has the opportunity to go on several trips to compete in New Hampshire, Maine, and Sothern Vermont (most skiers attend our fall training camp at Sunday River, the weekend before Thanksgiving, there is also a camp to Mt. Hood in June). All races are optional, as each athlete sets goals and actively communicates with his or her coach about whether or not each race is right for them considering their skiing as well as their course load.
(Tuning skis during a spring series in Sunday River)
Head Coach Elliot Wilkinson-Ray
Elliot started the program after realizing the large number of talented local skiers who were not in academies. Through conversations with skiers and parents, Elliot realized that many racers were falling through the cracks in the USSA system. Either a skier had to commit fully to a costly academy program or race in the laid-back, fun-focused high-school circuit, with unscored races. For athlete's who grew up racing and wanted to get better there was very little middle road, hence the Cochran's program was born.
Coach Lindy Kelley
Lindy is one of the most accomplished coaches in the state and country. She has coached countless individuals onto the US Ski Team and top college programs. Using her fun, light-hearted attitude. Lindy is great at communicating ski racing to all types of individuals. Lindy was Elliot's coach as a kid.
Success and Highlights from Last Season:
-Cody Putre podiums in the opening FIS races at Waterville Valley, starting last (130th) with no FIS points, competing against many of the regions top academy and college athlete's.
-Tom Licata an accomplished local freeride skier from Mad River, started ski racing in High-School. After encouragement from his high-school coach at Rice, Tom joined the inagural Cochrans program without a strong racing background. Cochran's coaches worked to get him in his first race-specific gear. His first race with race boots and skis at Suicide Six starting nearly last, Tom scored an 81 placing in the top 20 against the regions top academy skiers. He went on to win and podium many of the season's high school races.
-Cochran's sent 6 out 10 skiers from Vermont to the High School Eastern Championships. Ali Chivers, Lucy Harrington, Emma Putre, Katie Berhardt, Tom Licata, and Ryan Susslin.
-The Cochran's team won 3 out of 4 individual State Championships. WCAX coverage. 
-Ali Chivers won the High-School Eastern Slalom title as well as State Champinoships, as a sophmore.
-Lucy Harrington won the High-School State Championships in Giant-Slalom, starting 54th in soft snow.
-Other athlete's not racing High School Lowered their point profile dramatically.
-Most importantly, the group tranformed from individuals into a tightknit team by the end of the season and shared many fun memories.
Check out some slalom training filmed last winter. We had such thin snow cover on the Face that you can see the patches of dirt around the bases of the gate.
The U18+ program strives to find 15 of the regions most dedicated, mature, well-rounded individuals, with a genuine interest to get faster at ski racing as well as have fun. Cochran's Ski Club will work with each athlete at this level to be flexible with their academic schedules, high-school racing, and other sports and committments.That said each person can push themselves and this program as hard as they can handle.
Contact Elliot Wilkinson-Ray: 802-922-5891, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. The team will attend Sunday River fall training camp, leaving November 16th. This is not mandatory but suggested.
Program Cost is $1125. Athlete's then do not need to buy passes from High School teams to train at Cochrans. To secure your spot: Maximum of 16 spots! Please send your application in from the Forms and Fees page
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