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Burke Mountain Academy

HISTORY

Since 1970, BMA has championed ski racers chasing greatness. 

In 1970, a young ski racer named Martha Coughlin '71 approached coach Warren Witherell seeking year-round training to help her achieve her dream of being named to the U.S. Ski Team.

Witherell quickly agreed, and Burke Mountain Academy was established. The school was the first ski academy of its kind in the United States and created the model that all others would follow. 

More than 55 years after its founding, Burke Mountain Academy remains true to its mission to champion ski racers chasing greatness. Enrolling fewer than 70 students, Burke is intentionally small, creating a community where every student is known, challenged, and supported. We believe exceptional ski racers are developed through trust, responsibility, hard work, humility, and a commitment to continual growth, qualities that prepare our graduates for success far beyond ski racing.

A Legacy of Athlete Development

For more than 55 years, Burke Mountain Academy has helped student athletes pursue excellence at every level of alpine ski racing. While every athlete's path is different, generations of Burkies have gone on to compete for collegiate programs, national teams, World Cup circuits, and the Olympic Games.

Burke by the Numbers

  • 120 U.S. Ski Team athletes
  • 166 National Team athletes
  • 40 Olympians

Olympic Representation

  • 2014 Sochi: 5 alumni
  • 2018 PyeongChang: 6 alumni
  • 2022 Beijing: 2 alumni
  • 2026 Cortina: 6 alumni and 1 E Team athlete

Burke alumni include some of the most accomplished athletes in alpine ski racing, including Olympic champions Mikaela Shiffrin ’13 and Diann Roffe ’85, World Championship medalists Erik Schlopy ’90 and Julie Parisien ’89, and Canadian World Cup winner Thomas Grandi ’90.

Burke Mountain Academy is proud to partner with the U.S. Ski Team as a High Performance Center and has been recognized as a Gold Certified Club by U.S. Ski & Snowboard since 2014. 

QUICK FACTS

To learn more about the history of BMA, read the Sports Illustrated's 1978 feature It's All Downhill From Here on the school. While we've come a long way since then, we are proud of our roots and how it all began. 

THE MAKING OF BMA SERIES