Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Julia Ford have been recognized by the Eastern Ski Writers Association as the top junior skiers in the Eastern region and will be presented with the Don A Metivier Golden Ski Award during ceremonies at the New England Ski Museum at Franconia, NH in June.

It is a record third consecutive season Ford has been presented with the award, the first for Cochran-Siegle.

The award is named for Don Metivier, a former president of the ESWA and Publisher of Ski Racing Magazine.

A graduate of Holderness and a three-year member of the U.S. Development Team, Ford was the top women’s junior in slalom (9th) and giant slalom (13th) at the 2010 U.S. Alpine National Championships at Whiteface Mountain, NY. She was also the top junior in downhill during the U.S. title race in Aspen, Colorado (7th). At the 2010 World Junior Championships in France, she was the top American woman in every event but giant slalom.

Ski racing is in Cochran-Siegle’s blood. His mother is 1972 Olympic slalom gold medalist, Barbara Ann Cochran. His uncle Bobby Cochran and two aunts Marilyn Cochran-Brown and Lindy Cochran-Kelley are also alpine Olympians and his three cousins — Jimmy Cochran, Jessica Kelley, and Tim Kelley — are currently on the U.S. Ski Team.

En route to the Golden Ski Award, Cochran-Siegle captured the Junior National super G title at the U.S. Championships. He also took the overall Eastern Cup title with six top two finishes a FIS races, including wins in downhill and giant slalom.

“The Golden Ski Award is the oldest and most unique junior skier prize in existence,” said Golden Ski chairman Jim Gregory.  Among the unique characteristics of the Award is the fact it was misplaced and not awarded for 33 seasons. Although started in 1969, the annual award has only been presented nine times.

Photo of Julia Ford by Walt Evans