Sarah Burke's extraordinary life and contributions to women's sport are being recognized by Canada Post in a new series of stamps that was released Oct. 31 to highlight the coming Olympic Winter Games.
The Squamish resident was one of the world's top freeskiers, a four-time X Games gold medallist and halfpipe specialist who successfully lobbied for the inclusion of freeskiing in the Olympics, while also inspiring a generation of girls to ski in her tracks. She landed the first 720, 900 and 1080 spins by a woman in competition, and always seemed to be one spin ahead of the rest of the field.
She would have been the favourite going into the Sochi Games in February when the sport of ski halfpipe makes its debut, but she crashed during training in January 2012 and suffered a brain injury that would claim her life nine days later.
Burke grew up skiing in Whistler with Momentum Ski Camps and was living in Squamish with husband Rory Bushfield at the time of her death.
Other stamps offered by Canada Post include Sandra Schmirler, a 1998 gold medallist in curling and 1948 Olympic figure skate champion Barbara Ann Scott.
