Ryan Cochran-Siegle was practically born on skis. He started sliding around Vermont snow at age 2 and grew up in one of the most storied families in American alpine racing. His grandparents built a nonprofit ski area in 1961, and his mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, won Olympic gold in Sapporo in 1972. When Cochran-Siegle made the US national alpine team in 2011, he joined his cousin, two-time Olympian Jimmy Cochran.
Welcome to Starter Pack, a gear-obsessed series that gives WIRED readers a peek into how notable personalities live, shop, and tinker.
But Cochran-Siegle’s career hasn’t been an inheritance story. It’s been shaped by catastrophic injuries, long rehabs, and a steady belief that his best skiing was still ahead of him.
Cochran-Siegle is no longer the wide-eyed rookie who debuted in Pyeongchang or the comeback story who won silver in the super-G at Beijing 2022 and was the only US alpine skier to medal at those Games. “I’m more established as a skier,” Cochran-Siegle tells WIRED. “There’s some confidence to take into it.”
Before a race, Cochran-Siegle looks for a warm-up slope, practicing movement patterns and “getting all the wheels greased.” He wants to feel like the skis talk back to him. “I’m just there, not thinking about what I want to do, but letting things happen.” Afterward, it’s important to wind down: sauna, relaxation, and a few days to decompress before the World Cup season rolls on. The Olympics may be the peak, but the grind doesn’t stop.
“It also depends on how things go,” he says. “Ideally, I ski the way I want to ski and feel accomplished for that, and then there’s something to celebrate.”
Ryan Cochran Siegle’s approach to Milano Cortina 2026 is calm, confident, and disciplined. His Starter Pack focuses on the everyday essentials that help him stay grounded while racing at the sport’s highest level.
Maple Syrup
When you’re from Vermont, carbs don’t come in flavored gels. They come from trees. Cochran-Siegle keeps Maple UnTapped packets on hand for fast refueling between runs, tearing one open and getting straight to the point: naturally occurring sugars, quick absorption, and no mystery ingredients. “A taste of home is good ol’ Vermont organic maple syrup,” he says. “My cousins produce it, and in the springtime, I’ll go home and help pull some of the taps.”
His Camera
Cochran-Siegle got his first camera in 2016. Sometimes it barely leaves his bag. Other times, it becomes essential. “But I try, because it brings me joy and helps take my mind off skiing,” he says. “It’s kind of a release valve.”
Today, that release valve is a compact, mirrorless Sony Alpha 7C. It’s small and lightweight to travel easily. At the last Olympics, it led to one of his favorite memories: hiking up a bobsled track in Beijing with athletes from the sliding sports and photographing a side of the Games most people never see. In Milan, he’s looking forward to documenting Bormio, a historic mountain town, and a familiar FIS Alpine Ski World Cup stop that will transform into an Olympic stage. “It’ll be interesting to see how similar it is to when we go in December versus how built up it’ll be for the Olympics,” he says.
An SPF Balm
This may come as no surprise, but cold weather (particularly snow, ice, and higher altitudes) can reflect UV rays, amplifying your exposure and the risk of sun damage. “Skin care is important,” Cochran-Siegle says, which is why he always keeps Dermatone Lips and Face Stick (SPF 30) on hand. He uses it even on overcast days to shield his face from windburn and UV exposure. It’s the kind of product you forget about until you don’t have it, and then everything hurts.
A Pair of Polarized Sunnies
Cochran-Siegle has owned these since the last Olympics, which is about as strong an endorsement as it gets. Smith’s Lowdown 2s are unfussy, featherlight, and tough enough to survive four years of constant travel. The medium-fit frame is made from recycled postconsumer water bottles, and the polarized lenses offer UV protection, cut glare, and resist oil and water. They’re what you wear when you’re not racing and enjoying your day off.
His Sleep Bundle
Among other variables, Cochran-Siegle’s sleep setup is one he won’t leave to chance. When your environment changes every few days, manufacturing familiarity becomes part of the training plan. Saatva’s Latex Pillow—like the one he has at home—is a nonnegotiable, but his sleep bundle includes the company’s Loom & Leaf Mattress, Signature Mattress Pad, Down Alternative Comforter, Organic Sateen Duvet Cover Set, and the Organic Sateen Sheet Set. “Having that similarity in what I sleep with on a consistent basis allows me to rest well, recover, and just be focused for the day itself,” he says.
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