January 25, 2012

Burke died last week in Utah after succumbing to injuries she suffered after crashing during a training run just over a week earlier in Park City. She was 29. (REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)

The Winter X Games will open Thursday in Aspen, Col., with a tribute to late Canadian skiing pioneer Sarah Burke.

Burke died last week in Utah after succumbing to injuries she suffered after crashing during a training run just over a week earlier in Park City. She was 29.

The Midland, Ont., native was a four-time X Games gold medalist in the Women's Ski SuperPipe, an event that has been added to the Olympic program for the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. She was the 2011 X Games champion and a favourite for the gold medal in Sochi.

Funeral arrangements for Burke have not yet been announced.