The late superpipe ski pioneer’s medical costs are not covered by Canadian Freestyle Ski association insurance
The family of freestyle ski phenomenon Sarah Burke, who died on Thursday after an accident sustained during practice for a superpipe event, may face bills exceeding $550,000 for medical care Burke received in the U.S., according to Postmedia. Burke was critically injured in Park City, Utah, and later died in a hospital in Salt Lake City. She was 29. While the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, of which Burke was a member, carries insurance for its athletes, it does not cover events outside its own progam. The event Burke was training for was sponsored by Monster Energy and not sanctioned by CFSA. Peter Judge, CEO of the CFSA, said Burke was widely seen as the face of freestyle skiing: “She was at the forefront of the sport all the way through.” He added that there may be “portals and avenues” for CFSA assistance, and that the Canadian and International Olympic Committees and the Russian Ski Federation had offered assistance. In the meantime, Burke’s publicity team has established a website, www.giveforward.com/sarahburke to raise funds to help cover the medical bills.