Winter X Games pays tribute to Sarah Burke [Video]

One week after the tragic death of the 29-year-old freeskiing icon Sarah Burke, the skier’s friends took a slow trip down a darkened halfpipe, white glowsticks in hand, to pay tribute to Burke at the 2012 Winter X Games.

At the end of their walk, Burke’s friends embraced the late skier’s parents and husband, still grieving after she died due to injuries resulting from a training accident in Park City, Utah.

The tribute to Burke started off with a few words from Winter X games host Sal Maskela, who highlighted the skier’s many accomplishments throughout her career. Burke’s accomplishments and passion for her sport were once again highlighted in a tribute video shown to those in attendance.

Burke was one of the most well-known and accomplished freeskiers of all time, having won six X Games gold medals. She was highly passionate about her sport, and lobbied heavily to have halfpipe skiing included in the Winter Olympics. Burke was ultimately successful–halfpipe skiing will make its debut in 2014.

You can watch a short version of the 2012 Winter X Games tribute to Sarah Burke below, or you can catch the full thing directly below that.

Winter X Games Sarah Burke tribute: Short version

Winter X Games Sarah Burke tribute: Full version

via Washington Post

[Image credit: Joshua Duplechian/ESPN]