Burke Mountain Academy
Burke Mountain Academy is a full year private college-preparatory school that educates and trains alpine ski racing athletes on the slopes of Burke Mountain Ski Area and is located in East Burke, Vermont.[1][2][3]
Burke Mountain Academy | |
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Address | |
60 Alpine Lane, East Burke, Vermont 05832 | |
Information | |
Founded | 1970 |
Founder | Martha Coughlin and Warren Witherell |
Head of school | Willy Booker |
Grades | 7–12, PG |
Enrollment | 66 |
Overview
Burke Mountain Academy (BMA), located in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont,[4] is a full year private college-preparatory school that educates and trains alpine ski racing athletes on the slopes of nearby Burke Mountain Ski Area. The school has been called, “The premier ski racing school in the United States...”[5]
The school was founded when “... Martha Coughlin approached coach Warren Witherell seeking year-round training to help her achieve her dream of being named to the U.S. Ski Team.”[6]
BMA has, in addition to alpine ski racers, trained nordic skiers throughout the school’s 50 year history. As of 2020, the nordic ski program is currently on hold.[7]
In 1970, when the school was started, it was the first ski academy in North America.[8] In 2020 there are numerous ski academies in the U.S. and Canada.[9]
Alumni
BMA’s alumni include:
- 2014 & 2018 Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin
- 5 U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Inductees
- 118 U.S. Ski Team members
- 144 national team athletes
- 36 Olympians
- 5 alumni competitors at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games
- 6 alumni competitors at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games
Notable Alumni: Mikaela Shiffrin ‘13,[10] Shane McConkey ‘89,[11] Diann Roffe ‘85, Julie Parisien Nuce ‘89, Erik Schlopy ‘90, Ida Sargent ‘06 (Nordic), Nolan Kasper ’07, Liz Stephen ‘05 (Nordic), Thomas Biesemeyer ‘08, Nina O’Brien ’14, Warren Cummings Smith, Ronnie Berlack ’12, Jesse Hunt ‘83,[12] Fabio Igel ‘89, Chip Knight ‘93, Bryna McCarty ‘02, Thomas Grandi ‘90, Eric Villiard ‘89[13]
Gregg Brockway ’84 – Founder of Hotwire and TripIt • Alex Cranmer ’93 – Film and television actor • Billy Kawaja ’96 – President of Culinary Capers Beijing • Corinne Prevot ’09 – Founder and President of Skida Headwear
References
- Witherell, Warren (1988). How the Racers Ski. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-30344-5.
- Clarey, Christopher (February 13, 2019). "At Shiffrin's Alma Mater, Future Ski Champions for $58,000 a Year" – via NYTimes.com.
- "Behind Burke Mountain's rise to become the top U.S. Olympic ski racing school". sponsored.bostonglobe.com.
- "Northeast Kingdom - Wikipedia". en.m.wikipedia.org. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- doug-most (February 15, 2018). "Behind Burke Mountain's rise to become the top U.S. Olympic ski racing school". Sponsored. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- "History | Burke Mountain Academy". Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- "Over Before It Really Began: Burke and Sweetser Part Ways". FasterSkier.com.
- Looney, Douglas S. "IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE". Vault. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- "USSA's Tom Kelly inspires Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy student-athletes". Ski Racing Media. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- Jon M. Fishman (September 1, 2014). Mikaela Shiffrin. Lerner Publications. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-4677-5782-9.
- "Shane McConkey". U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- "Jesse Hunt Returns to US Ski & Snowboard as Alpine Director". Ski Racing Media. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- "Burke Mountain Academy". Ski Racing Media. Retrieved February 17, 2020.