Sarah Burke

From: http://www.powdermag.com/files/2012/01/pw-sarah-burke-portrait.jpg

I will have a proper Anth 392 blog in a bit when I get some resources for an original funerary practice. But I had just been told that Sarah Burke passed away a couple hours ago.

For all of you who have not heard, she sustained a massive injury to one of the main arteries. The hospital was able to repair it, however she was left with serious irreversible brain damage. After a induced coma, she passed away.

Sarah Burke was a huge inspiration for many girls who where getting into any freestyle riding. Although I don't ski, I was in awe every time I watched her in videos, on TV, and live while I was living in Whistler. She was such an inspiration for girls getting into the park scene to push themselves to keep up with the boys (who are crazy). She threw down the most ridiculous tricks anyone could do, stomp them, then ride away like it was no big deal. She actually made skiing cool again.

With such a huge celebrity for the snowboard/ski scene, it makes me wonder what sort of memorial will be created in her honour? Sarah has been to so many resorts and implanted herself into the life of each town they resided in, it will definitely be world wide. As with tradition in ski videos, most of this seasons snowboard and ski videos will be dedicated to her with some of her progression throughout her career shown for public display.

Sarah was also involved in many volunteer/fundraising for those who are less privileged or in need to help, any donations in her honour have been asked to be made out to www.giveforward.com/sarahburke. This is an example common in our society, where monetary donations are given to a foundation that is supported by a celebrity, or the creation of a foundation in support of whatever ailment the deceased succumbed to.

Either way, thanks Sarah for being an inspiration to push for what you want. You'll be throwing it down in the big puffy pow clouds in heaven...