Kiwissa Remembers Sarah Burke

Written by admin on 24 January 2012

On the Main Run (left of lift), a moment of silence was dedicated to Canadian Freestyle Skier Sarah Burke during the Memorial Run in her honour at Kiwissa Sunday; here we see the second half of the group as they stop a second time to 'make some noise' in celebration of Burke's accomplishments. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com

The 2nd half of skiers and snowboarders participating in the Sarah Burke Memorial Run at Kiwissa on Sunday stop a second time to cheer and rattle cow bells, 'making some noise' in honour of Burke's many accomplishments including her successes representing Canada as an olympian. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com

MANITOUWADGE, ON – Approximately 60 skiers and snowboarders participated in a Memorial Run at Kiwissa Ski Centre on Sunday (January 22, 2012) in honour of Canadian Freestyle Skier Sarah Burke.

We spoke with Kiwissa Ski Club President Ed Hedderson after the Sarah Burke Memorial Run Sunday, “It was important to us to take the time to remember this great Canadian, she has done so much not only for Freestyle Skiing but for our sport in general. We had a moment of silence about 1/2 way through the run and then [with cow bells] made a ton of noise in celebration of Sarah’s life, her accomplishments and all she did for Canadian Freestyle Skiing”. We asked Hedderson about how younger skiers and snowboarders interpreted the Memorial Run “It is giving them an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about Sarah’s long list of accomplishments. It’s hard for kids to understand when they are reminded one of the heroes is human and this [Memorial Run] really opened up communication about the entire situation”. Hedderson was very pleased with the overwhelming support of the Memorial Run, on a day with record attendance at the hill, it was heatwarming to see nearly 3/4 of those on the hill participate in the Run.

Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com

Thursday, January 19th, Canadian Freestyle skier Sarah Burke died in Salt Lake City hospital more than a week after the tragic accident in which the artery that supplies blood to the brainstem was torn during a fall while the athlete was training in the superpipe at Park City Mountain Resort in Utah. Across the country people have been deeply touched and sadned by the loss of the young Canadian and Northshore skiers and snowboarders are among those remembering her talent, spirit and impact on the sport of Freestyle Skiing. “Sarah Burke was a pioneer for female skiing. If it wasn’t for her, female freestyle skiing would not be involved in X-games and even the Olympics. This is an insane loss for action sports” said Manitouwadge snowboarder Devan Pelletier, organizer of the Annual Big Air Rail Jam a freestyle jumping event for skiers and snowboarders in Northern Ontario.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Sarah Burke at the website created to raise funds for her medical bills which surpassed that goal within approximately one day and is now collecting moneys to support programs which Burke rallied behind during her carreer as a Freestyle Skier.