Mikaela Shiffrin Launches Legendary Career

Mikaela Shiffrin became a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the winningest alpine skier of all time.

At 11 years old, Shiffrin joined her family for a trip to Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont.

Her parents were visiting potential schools for her older brother Taylor, also a promising skier.

Shiffrin knew she’d share the same school and slopes as her brother.

And she badly wanted her parents to pick Burke.

Kirk Dwyer, the former headmaster at Burke Mountain Academy, became one of Shiffrin’s most instrumental coaches.

Dwyer helped Shiffrin understand the mechanics of movement and how to translate that to fast skiing.

He emphasized the importance of being fundamentally stable before being fast.

Shiffrin said Dwyer was like Dumbledore on skis.

Dwyer’s philosophy was to master the drill, which Shiffrin adopted and became enamored with.

She practiced drills with Dwyer at ski camps in Oregon, taking lap after lap to perfect her technique.

Dwyer would ask the kids, “Have you mastered the drill yet?”

Shiffrin credits Dwyer with helping her at a fundamental period in her growth as a skier.

Dwyer attended Johnson State College, where he developed into an elite skier by hanging around the team.

He did an internship at a ski academy and became a head coach at 25, working at the Green Mountain Valley School for 25 years.

In 2000, Dwyer joined Burke Mountain Academy, where he met Shiffrin and helped shape her legendary career.

As of 2026, Shiffrin remains the winningest alpine skier of all time, with a record **92 World Cup wins**.

Dwyer’s impact on Shiffrin’s career is still evident today, with her continued success in the alpine skiing world.