Cochran is the youngest of four siblings of the "Skiing Cochrans" family of Richmond, Vermont, whose parents built and operated a ski hill in their back yard. Named to the U.S. Ski Team in 1970, Cochran competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck and finished sixth in the slalom and 12th in the giant slalom. She finished 14th in slalom at the World Championships in 1974 at St. Moritz, Switzerland. Cochran competed on the World Cup circuit in the mid-1970s, then attended the University of Vermont in Burlington and raced for the Catamounts. In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Cochran's name and picture.