Girl On: Sarah Burke - 2007 Update
Aug 16 2007 / Los Angeles, CA
|
We first talked with freeskier Sarah Burke last November when the freeskier was entering the season after a very successful and exciting 2006. But if it can be believed, 2007 has been even more kind to her, so we'd revisit this previous "Girl On" and give you a look at what has happened this year.
The year started off well for Sarah in January at Winter X in Aspen, where she brought home her first gold medal in the event after many battles..
“This is my eighth X Games. I’ve been chasing gold forever at this event,” she said at the time. “Finally having that gold medal has allowed me to complete my journey.”
|
||||||||||
Making the victory perhaps a little sweeter was that she edged Grete Eliassen, the two-time defending gold medalist, for the top spot. A year before she lost the gold to Eliassen in a tight battle.
The win came the same month in which she joined Roxy as one of the first freeskiers in its new unified snow team -- a nice honor as Roxy has quickly become one of the top brands in women's sports.
|
||||||||||||||||
After the season ended Sarah joined the rest of the Roxy team to start filming "Labor of Love," the first-ever all-women's combined snow film. Along with Torah Bright, Amber Stackhouse, Alexis Waite, Erin Comstock and Jessica Cumming, Sarah traveled to Japan, Sweden and all through the southern hemisphere.
Then in June Sarah received an invitation to go to Los Angeles for the ESPYs.
"I knew it was a big event, but it was way bigger than I ever thought possible,” Sarah told Powder magazine about the event, which spanned two days and was held at Hollywood’s Kodak Theater. “When I got the invitation I thought, ‘Gosh, what an honor just to be invited as a guest.’”
But she wasn't just invited -- Sarah was was nominated for Best Female Action Sports Athlete alongside snowboarders Bright and Jamie Anderson, skateboarder Elissa Steamer and surfer Layne Beachley. A nomination that turned into a win.
"I really thought that Layne or Torah had the advantage because surfing and snowboarding are so much more popular,” Sarah said. “Then when I won I couldn’t believe it—for both skiing and being Canadian. I was amazed.”
After winning the award, though, Sarah was already on her way back to Whistler to train. In addition to her work on "Love," which is currently being prepped for a fall release, Sarah is continuing to work with Matchstick Productions, which is prepping "Seven Sunny Days" for release. The special edition of the DVD will include a book with interviews, stories and photos with the athletes (who include Simon Dumont, Sammy Carlson, Ingrid Backstrom,Jon Olsson, TJ Schiller and more).
Sarah's got a lot to look forward to for the rest of the year, including her 25th birthday and the kick-off of the new season. But one thing is for sure -- with her recent honor, the big wins and the film parts, Sarah Burke isn't a young newcomer any longer -- she's one of the best on the scene.
More Sarah
