Canadian freeskier Sarah Burkepassed away Jan. 19 at the age of 29, but none of her legacy or impact went with her. The 2012 Winter X Games started Thursday with a touching video tribute and a candlelight vigil of athletes slowly gliding down the superpipe. ESPN's Sal Masakela put it perfectly when he said everything she believed in and represented was on the mountain that night: Competition, excellence, and progression. "She was a superstar with the humility of a rookie," he said. Her smile, effortless athleticism, and leadership brought joy and inspiration to thousands upon thousands of people, and she will never be forgotten.
[via Larry Brown Sports]
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