BIOGRAPHY:
As one of four skiing kids in a ski racing family, the path to the U.S. Ski Team was pretty clear for Julia Ford, who grew up ripping around Vermont's Okemo resort at 3. After three seasons on the U.S. Development Team, her age finally caught up with her ability to make the jump to the U.S. C Team in 2011.

After getting a small taste of the World Cup in both 2010 and 2011, Ford says she's ready to dive into a bit more of the big leagues. Her 2011 season is a good indicator that she's ready after screaming to the NorAm title for downhill, super G and super combined (plus finishing second in the overall standings behind teammate Kiley Staples).

In addition to owning speed events in the U.S. and Canada, Ford also locked her first senior U.S. title with the downhill victory in Aspen, CO.

JULIA SAYS:
"The NorAm series we had in Aspen this year was awesome. In six days, I took three NorAm podiums and the U.S. Championship for downhill. Linking things together like that gives you a ton of momentum and gets you stoked to keep training and racing hard."

"I've won a number of NorAm titles now and I scored more than 1000 points toward the NorAm overall title this season, so I'm pretty anxious to get more Europa Cup and World Cup starts. 2012 should be a great year to see where I stack up and what I need to do to be fast at the highest level."

FIRST TRACKS:
Ford attended Okemo Mountain School for her middle school years and then later 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:
Ford has always loved dogs, especially family friend Dr. Dan O’Neill’s pooches. Each summer she looks forward to her time at the Okemo Whistler Camp, coaching young skiers. She has a particular propensity for food of any kind will likely be the one smiling the biggest in any group photo.