Mountains in Northern New York, Vermont help breed incredible Winter Olympic athletes
Do you believe it? We are less than *** week to go until the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and it’s safe to say that here on NBC 5 we’re, we’re carrying the games. We are very excited to watch the athletes on the world stage. We sure are. Here in the Northeast. Our mountains have produced some of the best athletes in the world, and *** few are now Olympians who will be watching in Milan Cortina. NBC 5’s Erica Love shows us why this regional pride runs so deep. It’s *** big part of who we are. Winter weather on the East Coast often provides beautiful bluebird days one minute and icy conditions the next. I mean, one of the biggest things is people say if you could ski on the East Coast, you can ski anywhere, um, because the, the conditions can be absolutely brutal at times, you know, uh, ice, freezing temperatures, um. Just tough conditions, but that brutality breeds athletes who are accustomed to the constant changes. The Adirondack Mountains are home to the four Lake Placid legacy sites, the Olympic Center, Olympic Jumping Complex, Mount Van Hoevenburg, and Whiteface Mountain have seen some of the best of the world’s winter sports athletes and served. As *** host to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games. If you’ve ever been to Whiteface, you drive in, you see the flags running right down. Those, those were installed for the 1980 Olympics and for us it’s an iconic place. You drive into Whiteface, you see these flags that really. Represents our history and our culture. Whiteface Mountain stands out on its own as the peak with the largest vertical drop on the East Coast at 3100 ft. Big fun mountain. Everybody has *** story about Whiteface from when they were coming here when they were younger, and that excitement extends all the way from the summits of the Adirondacks to the peaks of the Green Mountains. This region has contributed to many Olympic careers, whether you competed here, you grew up here, or just. Trained when you’re in these mountains, you crave the challenge and you seek out those thrills. Across Lake Champlain, those thrills continue fostered by Vermont’s most renowned family in winter sports. The Cochrane ski area has created *** space for many first experiences. It makes me cry, um, so proud. What do you like the most about skiing? Um, that, um, I get to have fun skiing and that, um, it’s fun being here. And Barbara Anne Cochran is *** former World Cup alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist. Her son Ryan Cochran Siegel is competing this year in the Winter Olympics in downhill and the Super G. She says even with her family’s Olympic success, the passion is what keeps each generation involved. I think that the, the beauty of it is the family values that have come. Come out through this this place and it it wasn’t about the money, it wasn’t about making sure you had the latest equipment, she says many people couldn’t afford the academies the region has grown to be known for, so it was important for her family to maintain *** legacy of not just success but accessibility. The beauty behind this place is that, um, mom and dad always wanted it to be. For the, the, the people that they were from, which is, you know, middle class America. I’m Erica Love, NBC 5 News.
Mountains in Northern New York, Vermont help breed incredible Winter Olympic athletes
Updated: 11:04 AM EST Feb 2, 2026
Long winters on the East Coast can feel relentless, but the conditions of the Northeastern United States have produced some of the best athletes in the world, many of them who have become Olympians.Those athletes often see beautiful bluebird days one minute and icy conditions the next, making for a dynamic environment.”One of the biggest things people say, ‘If you could ski on the East Coast, you can ski anywhere.’ Because the conditions can be absolutely brutal at times,” said Maggie Parker, a former collegiate ski racer. But that brutality breeds athletes who are accustomed to the constant changes of the terrain.The Adirondack Mountains are home to the four Lake Placid legacy sites. The Olympic Center, Olympic Jumping Complex, Mount Van Hoevenberg, and Whiteface Mountain have seen the best of the world’s winter sports athletes and served as host to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games.”If you’ve ever been to Whiteface, you drive and you see the flags running right down . Those were installed for the 1980 Olympics. And for us, it’s an iconic place. You drive into Whiteface, you see these flags that really represents our history and our culture,” said Aaron Kellet, the general manager at Whiteface Mountain.Whiteface Mountain stands out on its own as the peak with the largest vertical drop on the East Coast at 3,100 feet.”Everybody has a story about Whiteface from when they’re coming here, when they’re younger,” Kellet said.Across Lake Champlain, those thrills continue, fostered by Vermont’s most renowned family in winter sports. The Cochran’s Ski Area has created a space for many first experiences on the slopes.Barbara Ann Cochran is a former World Cup Alpine Ski Racer and Olympic Gold Medalist.Her son, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, is competing this year in the Winter Olympics in Downhill and the Super-G.”It’s kind of a magical place,” said Cochran, about the family’s ski area. “It makes me cry, so proud.” Barbara Ann Cochran said even with her family’s Olympic success, the passion is what keeps each generation involved.”I think that the beauty of it is the family values that have come out through this place,” she said. “Mom and Dad always wanted it to be for the people that they were from. You know, middle-class America.”
WILMINGTON, N.Y. —
Long winters on the East Coast can feel relentless, but the conditions of the Northeastern United States have produced some of the best athletes in the world, many of them who have become Olympians.
Those athletes often see beautiful bluebird days one minute and icy conditions the next, making for a dynamic environment.
“One of the biggest things people say, ‘If you could ski on the East Coast, you can ski anywhere.’ Because the conditions can be absolutely brutal at times,” said Maggie Parker, a former collegiate ski racer.
But that brutality breeds athletes who are accustomed to the constant changes of the terrain.
The Adirondack Mountains are home to the four Lake Placid legacy sites. The Olympic Center, Olympic Jumping Complex, Mount Van Hoevenberg, and Whiteface Mountain have seen the best of the world’s winter sports athletes and served as host to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games.
“If you’ve ever been to Whiteface, you drive and you see the flags running right down [the road]. Those were installed for the 1980 Olympics. And for us, it’s an iconic place. You drive into Whiteface, you see these flags that really represents our history and our culture,” said Aaron Kellet, the general manager at Whiteface Mountain.
Whiteface Mountain stands out on its own as the peak with the largest vertical drop on the East Coast at 3,100 feet.
“Everybody has a story about Whiteface from when they’re coming here, when they’re younger,” Kellet said.
Across Lake Champlain, those thrills continue, fostered by Vermont’s most renowned family in winter sports. The Cochran’s Ski Area has created a space for many first experiences on the slopes.
Barbara Ann Cochran is a former World Cup Alpine Ski Racer and Olympic Gold Medalist.
Her son, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, is competing this year in the Winter Olympics in Downhill and the Super-G.
“It’s kind of a magical place,” said Cochran, about the family’s ski area. “It makes me cry, [I’m] so proud.”
Barbara Ann Cochran said even with her family’s Olympic success, the passion is what keeps each generation involved.
“I think that the beauty of it is the family values that have come out through this place,” she said. “Mom and Dad always wanted it to be for the people that they were from. You know, middle-class America.”