As one of four skiing siblings in a ski racing family, the path to the U.S. Ski Team was pretty clear for Julia Ford, who was ripping around Vermont's Okemo Mountain Resort at age three. She spent three seasons on the U.S. Development Team and a couple on the "Trench Tour” (AKA NorAm/Europa Cup) before she was able to score World Cup points during the 2012 season, which confirmed what coaches saw coming for a long time – Ford is ready to unleash.

Her unleashing might just be strategically timed for 2014, because a mid-December 2012 crash left "Lil Fordo" with a concussion that slowed her progress during the rest of the season. Coaches reported in late spring that she was back and totally focused on the 2014 prep period – so focused that she packed up shop in New Hampshire and headed to Park City to train fulltime at the Center of Excellence.

JULIA SAYS
It was a really good year of getting more experience on different hills and different downhills. My confidence has built up quite a bit because of that. I just feel really good when I'm in the start gate and that's a big part of it. For sure, I would love to go to the Olympics in 2014. I'm just working my way towards that now.

FIRST TRACKS
Ford attended Okemo Mountain School for her middle school years and then Holderness School before moving onto Westminster College in Utah. At Holderness School she served as the school’s president, the captain of both varsity soccer and varsity lacrosse while participating in her first year on the U.S. Development Team.

OFF THE SNOW
With a family of skiers (brother Willie is a marketing rep for POC), it's tough to get away from the sport, but her favorite escapes are fishing and mountain biking. To put it simply, this gal is all about smiling and bringing more fun to whomever she's hanging out with.