Sarah Burke: Freestyle Skiing Loses An Ambassador

Canadian freeskier Sarah Burke died on Thursday after suffering brain injuries nine days earlier, when she crashed at the bottom of the superpipe while training in Utah.

Burke, a six-time Winter X-Games champion, was instrumental in getting the IOC to include superpipe skiing in the 2014 Olympics.

According to the Canadian Freestyle Association, Burke was not insured because she was participating in an unsanctioned event.  The skier's agent has begun an effort to raise $550,000 to cover her medical expenses.

Sarah Burke was 29 years old.