Ski Racing - March 29, 2010

OUT OF THE GATE FORERUNNER 9 // WAXROOM 12 // GALLERY 14
COCHRAN’S DRAWS TOP NAMES TO THANK GOD FOR SNOWMAKING RACE BY BILL MCCOLLOM
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS The Other

RICHMOND, VT. — Cars were parked alongside a back road northern Vermont in seemingly endless rows on this midweek day of March 24. Some observers noted that this was arguably one of the largest crowds they’d ever seen assembled in the state — at least since a Phish concert a few years back. One thing is indisputable, however, and that is the fact that the Thank God for Snowmaking (TGFS) ski race at Cochran’s Ski Area certainly draws a crowd.

Started last year to help cover the costs of a new snowmaking system, this season’s edition included more than 250 racers from J3s to collegians. They were competing on a strip of snow covering a tiny race hill, which boasts 350 feet of vertical drop — all for the chance to race with 20 members of the U.S. Ski Team. Adding to the wow factor for the multitudes of racers and fans was the lineup of 2010 Olympians, which included Jimmy Cochran, Ted Ligety, Nolan Kasper, Tommy Ford, Sarah Schleper, Kaylin Richardson, Leanne Smith, Megan McJames, Hailey Duke, and Chelsea Marshall. They not only put on a show on the race hill, but also contributed to bringing the race penalties to less than six. Socializing and signing autographs for the many young fans was also high on their agendas. Despite the heavy USST presence, the winning runs came from two non-USST skiers: Dave Chodounsky and Katie Hitchcock. Chodounsky, a Dartmouth grad and NCAA championship slalom winner, held off Nolan Kasper and veteran Scott Venus for a narrow win, while the resurgent Hitchcock showed no mercy with a decisive, one-second victory over USST members Julia Ford and Sarah Schleper.

Some might wonder why so many U.S. Ski Team members would venture to this molehill of a rural Vermont ski area. They had already endured a long competitive season and then several waterlogged days of racing at the National Alpine Championships at Whiteface Mountain, N.Y., which concluded only the previous day. According to Warner Nickerson, it’s most assuredly not about the points. “It’s all about giving back,” said Nickerson, who climbed two podiums at the Nationals. “This area represents where it all starts — the kids, getting started in racing. This is what it’s all about.” World Cup giant slalom champion Ted Ligety said: “It’s just so much fun to do. It’s like going back in time to the essence of ski racing.”

At Cochran’s, everybody slips the course.

Cochran’s Ski Area is like traveling into a time
warp. Modifications have been few since patri-
arch Mickey Cochran built the original rope tow
above his farmhouse in the 1960s. A T-bar has
replaced the rope tow; the original warming hut
has been upgraded to a slightly larger warming
hut; and snowmaking was added in time for last
season. But don’t be fooled by its humble stat-
ure. The area has produced five Olympians and
seven USST members, including current racers
Jessica Kelley, Tim Kelley and Jimmy Cochran.
Furthermore, several more Cochran family
members are waiting in the wings, as are more
than 100 potential Olympians participating in a
bustling junior program. This is the allure that
makes recruiting national team members an
easy sell.
“It’s so important to all the kids for us to be
here to help maintain this tradition,” said Kay-
lin Richardson, who would retire from a fruitful
USST career after the race. “Having the family
still so involved is so cool.”
“It’s a rare treat for racers to be able to put on
their boots, inspect the courses and then race
with so many Olympians,” said Steve Kelley,
race organizer and father of Jessica Kelley and
up-and-comer Rob Kelley. “There’s no other
time they’ll get that opportunity. That’s what
makes this race special.”
It could also be argued, however, that the per-
manent trophy, constructed by Jimmy Cochran
and consisting of a replica of a Cochran’s Ski
Area T-bar tower mounted on a wooden base,
is also pretty special. At least Dave Chodounsky
and Katie Hitchcock feel that way.