Ontario freestyle athletes riding for Sarah at the Caledon Moguls and Mt St Louis Moonstone Halfpipe events Jan 21-22, 2012
TRIBUTE TO SARAH BURKE
Everyone that ever met Sarah is guaranteed never to forget her, never to forget her smile, her love of life, or her love for her sport.
Everyone will say she was super talented. That was obvious. Everyone will say she was a beautiful woman. That was obvious as well. What really set Sarah apart was that she was even more beautiful on the inside. Her smile was the portrait of who she really was inside. She was always happy, easy going, generous with her time. She made everyone feel at ease, feel just as important as everyone else.
As a coach, I found her to always be very attentive, always looking to be better, to learn. And she was obviously very intelligent as she would pick up on what she was being taught, immediately putting it in practice in her skiing.
It was evident very early on that she loved to jump, and more specifically loved to spin. When training on our aerial site and starting to over-spin 720’s, she asked me if she could try a 1080. With the proper adjustments she went for it. Although she did not make it all the way around on her first attempt, she was close enough to stay on her feet and skid the rest out. I think she actually landed her first complete 1080 on her second or third attempt. Typical Sarah. Just amazing!
Sarah, you are already missed.
Now the baton has been passed back to all of us to continue your work, your legacy.
We can all be better people by enjoying life the way you did.
Keep smiling on all of us!
Luc Champagne
Former coach, TD, Director of FSO and CFSA
By Stephanie Todd, Horseshoe Valley Freestyle Coach/Volunteer 1996-2009
Sarah began her freestyle mogul/aerial career at Horseshoe Valley Resort in Barrie back in 1998 or there about. We were a very close knit group of parents, coaches and athletes and formed the Horseshoe Freestyle Team/Club. We as a group prided ourselves on dedication and hard work to make the best of the best. Sarah out shone everyone, she would supply us with her great smile even in defeat and of course the TWIX bars! She was the apple of the male teammate’s eyes but was so totally respected that there was never a worry from the parents and coaches (well maybe her Dad, Gord and sometime s me).
Sarah set lofty goals and found the right mix of training and coaching and her determination and hard work along with her positive attitude is what got her to the top even back then. The guys tried to keep up with her and the females like Jess & Laura followed in her footsteps into realms not seen before by female athletes back then. It followed years later when I took Melanie Michener and Stephanie Borque to the Progression Camp at Blue Mountain which Sarah was coaching alongside Denise Jaworksi.
Sarah left a legacy at Horseshoe Freestyle when she moved on to the Southern Ontario Divisional (SOD) Team (now known as SOR) then quickly on to the Ontario team. There was not a person who did not love Sarah...never envied as she was helpful, fun to be around and humble all wrapped up in one beautiful package even back then. May her legacy continue on not only the sport of Freestyle but the participation by females to grow and aspire to what Sarah promoted all her short life?
She leaves us with the utmost respect for any person we shall, maybe, ever have ever known. May her husband Rory and her family find peace in the knowledge that she will continue to inspire the growth of and participation in the sport of Freestyle Skiing.
I, for one, can only say I miss you and am terribly sadden by losing you so early but we will continue what you started here where it began for you.
Here are some pictures of Sarah with the Horseshoe Valley Freestyle Ski Team during the 1998-99 ski season.
Sarah was a top competitor, compassionate coach and fun loving teammate
A Sarah Burke tribute video. from Downtofilm. on Vimeo.
