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Skiing Expert: Barbara Ann Cochran

Barbara Ann Cochran and son Ryan
Winner of the gold medal in women's slalom at the 1972 Winter Olympics, and two time national champion, Barbara Ann Cochran competed on the World Cup circuit for seven seasons, notching 3 wins, 18 podiums, and 45 top ten finishes.  She is a member of the famous "Skiing Cochrans" family, which has operated a small ski area in Vermont for more than fifty years, where she runs the pre-school ski school and trains junior ski racers.  Barbara Ann's son, Ryan Cochran-Siegel, is the current World Junior Downhill and Combined Champion. 

Footwear

Ski boots provide insulation, ankle and leg support, and transfer of energy from the skier to the skis. It is important that ski boots fit well and are warm, otherwise skiing will become much less fun, and possibly more dangerous. When buying ski boots, seek expert advice. Boot fitting is an engaging and sometimes time consuming practice. Please remember: Try boots on at the end of the day, (feet swell over the course of the day) this will provide a more accurate fit. Try boots on with the same socks you will be using while skiing, once again this will provide a better fit. Stiffer boots are best for experienced skiers. Don

Downhill Skiing: Fun but Dangerous

Downhill: Pronunciation: \?dau?n-?hil\

Downhill skiing is a fun recreational and competitive sport for all ages. Downhill racers are allowed comprehensive preparation before their races, such as a course inspection/tour and several practice runs before the race begins. This sport takes a lot of practice before one can start competing because it requires a lot of control and balance.

While practice builds speed, control, and balance, even skilled and professional downhill skiers are at risk: two downhill deaths in the World Cup in 1994 and 2001 gained international attention. Before your children sign up, make sure you talk to them about the importance of safety and control.

MomsTeam's goal is to provide comprehensive information on downhill skiing: advice on the equipment needed and how to buy it, a primer on the rules of the sport, and videos and advice from experts, parents, and manufacturers of downhill skiing gear.



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    Did you know that traumatic brain injury accounts for 50% to 88% of skiing and snowboarding fatalities and that the risk of head injury and of loss of consciousness increases for skiers and snowboarders not wearing a helmet when they fall.  Your child or teen may not think wearing a helmet is cool, but it could save their life.
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    Ever wonder if media exposure can have a positive effect on sports safety? One has to look no further than to what happened after the deaths of two celebrities in skiing accidents in Europe and North America during the winter of 2008-9, the first, a German politician, wearing a ski helmet, who suffered a traumatic brain injury but survived a collision with a helmet-less mother of four on a ski slope in Austria on New Year's Day 2009 in which the woman died; the second, involving actress Natasha Richardson, who died after a traumatic head injury while skiing without a helmet on a beginner's slope in Quebec in March 2009.
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  • Attention Parents: Wear Helmets Skiing and Snowboarding And Your Kids Will Do The Same
    Despite increased helmet use, the number of snow-sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) keeps rising, prompting calls by experts to implement a variety of targeted prevention strategies, with a special focus on educating parents about the protective value of helmets and the role modeling effect the parent's use has on their child's decision to wear a helmet.
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