Cochran’s Ski Area in the spotlight

Despite being in a business where bigger is often considered better, cozy Cochran’s Ski Area in Richmond, Vermont, continues to thrive as it serves skiing families.

Just last week, The Boston Globe wrote about Cochran’s Ski Area. <link http: www.boston.com sports other_sports skiing articles cochran_family_always_well_groomed_for_success external-link-new-window globe>You can follow this link to the article.

Eight trails spill from the top of Cochran’s three surface lifts — many of them offering thrills for beginners.

The ski area staff reports that for this season, skiers will see improved snowmaking on all trails and on the T-bar lift-line, plus one additional trail from the T-bar. In the food department, they’ll offer an expanded menu with additional local food options.

The ski area was founded in 1961 and in 1998, it became a non-profit organization — reportedly the nation’s first tax-exempt ski area — with a mission “to provide area youth and families with affordable skiing and snowboarding, lessons and race training, in the Cochran tradition.”

Tradition, indeed. This hill and the Cochran family have produced an incredible number of US Ski Team skiers, coaches and Olympic skiers. Even now the skiing Cochran family is represented by cousins <link http: www.usskiteam.com alpine athletes external-link-new-window ski team athlete>Jimmy Cochran, Tim Kelley and Jessica Kelley on the US Team.

Cochran’s is living proof that small ski areas are an important part of making skiing accessible to many youngsters, some of whom become extremely talented racers.