Sarah Burke remembered as ski pioneer

Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke, who died Thursday at the age of 29 in a Utah hospital, was remembered by competitors and friends as a pioneer among freeskiers who "inspired them to do greater things."

Burke, who was born in Barrie, Ont., and grew up in nearby Midland, was considered a pioneer in her sport. She lobbied to add superpipe skiing to the Winter Games program and her arguments won over Olympic officials.

21 Photos

Star skier dead at 29 after accident

View the Full Gallery »

"Sarah was the one who, in a very positive way, stood in the face of adversity and asked, `Why not?"' said Peter Judge, the CEO of Canada's freestyle team. "What she would have wanted was for her teammates and others in her sport to stand up and also say, `Why not?' To benefit from the significant opportunities available to them, being able to compete in the Olympics and the X Games. Those were the things she wanted and cherished and fought for."

Star skier Sarah Burke dead at 29

News of Burke's death spread quickly through the action-sports world, where the Winter X Games are set to start next week in Aspen, Colo., without one of their biggest and most-beloved stars.

"She's probably one of the nicest people I've known in my life, and that's about the only thing I have to say about it," said American superpipe skier Simon Dumont, a multiple X Games medalist.

Jeremy Forster, the program director for U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding, said freeskiers would remember Burke "first, as a friend, and then as a competitor who constantly inspired them to

do greater things."

"She was a leader in her sport, and it's a huge loss for the freeskiing community," Forster said.

"I am eternally indebted to Sarah for what she has done for this sport," said American superpipe skier Jen Hudak. "Every turn I ever make will be for her."

A moment of silence for Burke was observed before Canada's women's soccer team played Haiti in an Olympic qualifying match in Vancouver on Thursday night.

Sarah Burke participates in the Women's Skiing Superpipe Final on her way to winning the gold during Winter X Games 13 January 23, 2009 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado.

(Credit: Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)

Meanwhile a fundraising website has been set up by Burke's family for the skier's medical costs and related expenses.

Burke crashed Jan. 10 in Park City, Utah, while training in a halfpipe. The Olympic gold-medal hopeful and four-time Winter X Games champion tore one of the major arteries supplying blood to her brain and went into cardiac arrest.

She underwent surgery and spent nine days on life support at the University of Utah Hospital. But Burke had suffered irreversible brain damage after the fall because of lack of oxygen and blood to the brain.

The website originally set up at www.giveforward.com/sarahburke was organized by her agent, Michael Spencer and has marked a goal for (Canadian) $550,000. Her husband Rory Bushfield, a fellow skier from Alberta whom she married in 2010, is listed as the beneficiary.

By early Friday afternoon, more than $100,000 had been donated, according to the website.

The website notes that, in accordance with her wishes, Burke's organs and tissues were donated to help save the lives of others.

In 2010, Burke and Bushfield were headliners in a documentary film project on the Ski Channel called "Winter." (See video excerpt below).

Tragic death of star skier

[posavea]

I am deeply sad.... Sarah Burke was an amazing athlete, and an inspiring human being. I just want to write letters to God asking, "Why her?"

[sandyob10]

Sad.
Condolences to her family and friends.
As for the American healthcare system. This American agrees with the criticism. All of it.

[tiredofeverything]

and you're still clueless

[posavea]

She was an amazing athlete, and an inspiring human being. RIP Sarah Burke!

[newsworthy8]

My comments are meant to be positive. First, this is a very tragic loss, my condolences to the family and friends.
Now, if you are Canadian and out of the country, (Canada) I thought a person was covered medically providing you pay for a policy from where you are from. She was from British Columbia, so did she have a policy. If not, she should have been forced by the Canadian Olympic commitee, or the Canadian Ski association. Someone needs to be responsible for her coverage.
I have many friends who winter in the USA and they purchased medical coverage, and then there are some who do not, and if something like this happens..it will bite you bad.
My American insurance policy covers me and my wife anyplace in the world. I suppose all athletes from other countries need to be sure they have coverage.
Again, very tragic, not right that a athlete has to lose his or life this way.

[tiredofeverything]

As far as I know, there is still some ambiguity as to whether she was properly insured and as to who was responsible for it, herself, her sponsors or the people holding the event.

[erasmus111]

"Now, if you are Canadian and out of the country, (Canada) I thought a person was covered medically providing you pay for a policy from where you are from."


Everyone has normal healthcare, but that wouldn't cover you out of the country. Some people have extended healthcare, which will cover you out of the country, but only so much. The problem is the prices in the U.S. are so out of control, that one day in the hospital would probably eat it up. Hell, a bandaid probably costs a hundred bucks. So if you were in a serious accident, you're in big trouble. No one should travel to the U.S. without purchasing a very good insurance policy.

The Canadian Ski Association pays for medical if there is a sanctioned event. This was not. She had to have known and chose to leave the country to do the EXTREME without medical. What would possess a person to do this? Surely she wasn't so stupid to think that an accident couldn't happen? How did she think that she or her family were going to pay for the medical costs?

And seriously, I have to wonder if any insurance company would cover her. What she was doing was EXTREMELY dangerous. Can you get insurance for suicide?


"Someone needs to be responsible for her coverage."


How about her being responsible for her own coverage? She had options and chose not to take them. Now her family has to come up with the money.

[peacefulperson]

What a tragic loss of a beautiful young woman. I am very sorry for her family's loss.

[tiredofeverything]

and now they want $550,000 for her medical care.
great system you have down there o.O

[Crewmax]

Oh, so your system would have let her die for free, eh?

[Canuck42]

Crewmax: Our system would have done exactly the same as your system did, but it would not cost the family $550,000 for dying. You don't get it do you. Your American system sucks big time. Your system is not the best in the world like you like to think.

[hemusbull]

Great Canadian woman, Sarah never give up!
RIP!

[Canuck42]

If this accident had happened in Canada, Sarah's parents would not have to pay a penny for medical expenses. So much for the the American health care system!!! You people just don't get it. All you cry about is the socialist system which you have no understanding about..just ignorant put downs.

[erasmus111]

You are right. Americans have no clue about our healthcare system, but are always putting it down. They shake in their boots at the mere mention of a "socialist" system. They have been so brainwashed, it's pathetic.

In conversations I've had with people on here, telling ME what our system is about and what we can't do, well, let's just say it's scary.

[rider1956]

She seemed as a very intelligent and having a wonderful personality. She will be missed.

There is a story about a homeless fella that walked up to the front door of a multi-billionaire and rung the doorbell. The billionaire answered the door and the fella said, "I am moving in with you today". What do you think the billionaire said?

I pray that Sarah had a friendship with the billionaire before she tried to enter their house after her passing.

[erasmus111]

"She seemed as a very intelligent...."


Not too intelligent or she wouldn't have been doing extreme sports in the United States without medical. No one with a brain goes into the U.S. without extended care or some kind of medical plan. She had to know that she wasn't covered because Canadian Freestyle Ski Association only insures it's athletes in sanctioned events.

If you are going to do this kind of stuff, and travel out of Canada, then you better make sure you have bought additional insurance. Of course, I don't know if you could get additional insurance for this because it's kinda like SUICIDE, isn't it?

[peacefulperson]

Amen.