Advertisement

Freeskiing star Sarah Burke seriously injured in crash

Share via

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Canadian freeskiing superstar Sarah Burke, a favorite to win the gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics, was seriously injured Tuesday during a crash in the halfpipe at Park City Mountain Resort in Utah.

The location of the accident is the same place where snowboarder Kevin Pearce suffered a serious head injury while training for the 2010 Olympics.

Advertisement

Burke, a four-time X Games champion, hit her head on impact and was airlifted to a hospital in Salt Lake City. Pete Thomas of grindtv.com reports she is in a coma.

‘We’re a bit shell-shocked right now,’ Peter Judge, chief executive of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Assn., told the Toronto Star. ‘The signs are dramatic and catastrophic, but it’s hard to gauge how dramatic and catastrophic. The same treatment and symptoms can be on a broad scale.’

Burke’s husband, Rory Bushfield, told the Vancouver Sun: ‘Sarah is a very, very strong human and she will be fine.’

Advertisement

Freeskiing involves tricks, jumps and terrain park features, such as rails, boxes, jibs or other obstacles. Think of it as a skateboard park in the snow.

ALSO:

The Dodgers and the dream that is Prince Fielder

Advertisement

USC football: Kyle Prater heading to Wisconsin or Northwestern

Ducks’ Teemu Selanne to play in 1,300th NHL game

-- Houston Mitchell

Advertisement