VIDEO: Step Into the Mind of Michael “Bird” Shaffer

We’ve seen a lot from steep skiing and speed flying superstar Michael Bird Shaffer over the last few years – whether it’s exploits high in the mountains of Chamonix, or skiing scary lines in the North Cascades. But his story is pretty different from most who roam this earth. 

From Black Crows: Born into an atypical family, a fighter pilot father who left everything behind to follow his wife to a hippie project in the hills of Washington, Michael Shaffer was raised free and happy, close to nature. Those were also hard and frugal years, which forged an iconoclastic character but above all one of unlimited freedom. Whether he skis, flies or speaks, Bird radiates this independence, this quiet sovereignty, of one who has no ties and is content with little. He is happy to sleep on a sofa if the skiing is good and to drink water as long as the party goes on.