Burke Mountain Academy provides passionate ski racers the opportunity to pursue their limitless academic and athletic potential in a community based on trust. BMA embraces an ethos in which hard work is held in the highest esteem, and risking failure and learning from success provides exceptional preparation for life beyond Burke.
Founded when highly motivated young ski racers pleaded with their coach to provide an opportunity to pursue their passion for skiing while providing necessary academic support, BMA's purpose remains the same to this day: creating a unique environment that delivers an indelible experience for student-athletes who wish to dedicate themselves to being the best they can be, to carry their dedication to alpine or Nordic ski racing over into the classroom, and to do so with a commitment to character and values.
Members of the BMA community are called Burkes. We invite you to open our school's virtual doors to look at our student-athlete and alumni achievements, our program offerings, and the distinct traditions and principles that set us apart from other ski academies. In 1970, a young ski racer named 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. Witherell quickly agreed, and Burke Mountain Academy was born. The school was the first ski academy of its kind in the United States and established the model by which all others would follow.
More than 40 years later, BMA remains true to the ethos established at its inception. Enrolling no more than 70 students annually, the Burke philosophy emphasizes developing the whole individual — as a student, an athlete, and a person of character. BMA believes this approach is the cornerstone to success both at Burke and in life beyond high school and ski racing.
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