Marilyn Cochran was trained to ski by her dad, Mickey, along with her siblings on their backyard rope tow in Richmond, Vermont.

Marilyn Cochran, born in 1951, is the oldest member of what has become a famous racing family from Richmond, Vermont. Two sisters, Barbara and Lindy, along with a brother, Bobby, all made the U.S. Ski Team and raced in international competition.

A member of the Madonna Mt. Ski Club of Vermont, Marilyn studied liberal arts at the University of Vermont. During the 1970-71 season, she was first in the World Cup Slalom held at Mont. Ste. Anne in Quebec.

She placed first in the slalom, first in the giant slalom and first in the combined during the 58th French Alpine Championships held in La Plagne, France to become the first foreign competitor ever to take the French Championships away from France. President Nixon then honored Marilyn, her sisters and brother with an invitation to the White House. Another high placing during that year was a second in the World Cup Giant Slalom held in Are, Sweden.

In February, 1970 at the F.I.S. games in Val Gardena, Italy, Marilyn’s overall performance placed her third in the combined among the top women skiers of the world. (A note of further interest regarding this ski racing family: Marilyn’s sister Barbara, while placing second in the slalom in the same games, placed immediately behind Marilyn as 4th in the combined.

Some of Marilyn’s accomplishments follow:

• U.S. Ski Team – member 1965-74, “A” Team 1968-74
• March, 1966 – VT Co-athlete of the Month (with sister, Barbara)
• 1968-69 – VT Athlete of the Year presented by VT Sportscasters and Sportswriters’ Association
• 1968 and 1974 – U.S. National Giant Slalom Champion (women’s)
• 1969 – World Cup Giant Slalom Champion
• February, 1969 – VT Athlete of the Month
• April 13, 1970 – Governor’s Award for achievement – VT Ski Champions Day
• 1970 – 3rd place combined F.I.S. World Championships
• 1970 – and 1974 F.I.S. World Championship Team
• 1971 – French National Alpine Ski Champion (women’s)
• 1971 – Beck International Trophy presented by U.S. Ski Association
• 1971 – The Bill Kidd Cup – for outstanding competitive contribution to the sport of Alpine Skiing – New England Committee for the U.S. Ski Team
• 1972 – U.S. Olympic Team (alpine skiing)
• 1972 – U.S. National Slalom Champion (women’s) and Sally Deaver Award
• 1974 – Wallace “Bud” Werner Award – presented by USSA for sportsmanship

Marilyn Cochran was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1978.