Sarah Burke is the standard by which female freeskiers are measured. From ripping the park to the pipe to the backcountry, she’s done it all. From numerous X Games medals (and countless other medals), to segments in MSP, PBP, and Roxy films over the years, Sarah’s accomplishments are too numerous to list. Most likely, you’ve seen her in an ad, or on a podium, so I took some time to get to know the personable Sarah by harassing her via text for a few days. Turns out she’s quite personable.
FS: Do you want to do an interview over the next few days? It’ll make me look good to my bosses. Check one of the following:
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Maybe
SB: I am gonna go ahead and check YES.
FS: I’m now in your debt. How’s being home in Canada? What’s Burke do to unwind? Sport fishing? Go-karting? Polishing your X Games medals?
SB: I do tend to polish my gold medals often… like every Tue. morning, Fri. evenings and Sat. mid day. And in my spare time…
5 minutes later…
SB: Actually there is no such thing as spare time. I am not at home in Canada, I am in Crested Butte Filming with MSP. I am about to go to bed though because it’s gonna be all-time tomorrow… can we continue this interview tomorrow? π
Next day…
FS: Is it epic in Crested Butte? Because it is epicly terrible weather in Boulder…
SB: Day is ok. Rory [Bushfield] and I are gonna build a jump. Weehoo!
FS: You should build a snow fort too.
SB: Nothing like a good snow fort! Rory is good at them too. He loves digging.
FS: Must have been all the summers on the glacier. What’s next for the Sarah Burke World Domination Tour?
SB: Hanging out here filming, then to Squaw on Thur. for 48Straight, then to Japan for three weeks, then hang with Rory while he gets his surgery for a couple days, then more filming with MSP and then things are up in the air. 48Straight or Euro Open. Then more filming, WSI, more filming. Then re-doing my house and vaca! Then we are all back to summer on the glacier at Momentum!
FS: Euro Open sounds fun, you can bring your famous dance moves to Switzerland.
SB: I don’t go anywhere without them! I thought you would know that by now! π
FS: Sounds like a busy ass season. Are there any Sarah Burke Pro skis in the works?
SB: Super busy. I plan to be completely done by mid-may. Gotta git’er done! I dunno about the skis… my fingers are crossed. I think it’s great to have a Sarah ski! I mean, how long have I been at this now?
FS: You’ve been around for a bit. Best rumor you’ve heard about yourself?
SB: I heard that Uncle E was claiming at the Open that I have never done a 1080 before…
FS: I’ve seen you do a 1080 before.
SB: I am gonna get back to you. I am totally slacking on digging right now!
FS: Wear a scarf, it’s cold out.
A while later…
SB: Luckily, I was wearing a scarf… Otherwise who knows what would have happened.
FS: Did you catch some big air?
SB: The big air catching will go down tomorrow evening!
FS: Sunset shoot. Choice. I’m at Whole Foods, any recommendations? Do you even like Whole Foods?
SB: Whole foods is my fav! I always get a big thing of pineapple and hit the dessert bar. I love the macaroni & cheese and salad bar.
FS: That’s a tall order. Did you watch the Super Bowl? You seem like a football girl.
SB: I definitely did. I actually placed my bet on the Giants. Booyaa!
FS: Where are you going to spend all your loot then?
SB: I will probably spend it all at the candy store…
FS: Canadian candy is way better. What’s your favorite?
SB: Oooohhhhhh man do we ever have better candy! No question! The gummies… so good. I like watermelon, cherry blasters, green apples, rainbow ropes, swedish berries… Oh gosh, look what you got me started on. And I haven’t even started on our chocolate!!
FS: Wow, I didn’t know you’d get so riled up. I’m off to a movie… any recommendations?
SB: I liked Juno but that’s kinda old news now… 27 Dresses?? π
FS: Come on now, Burke, I thought you’d have higher standards.
SB: I am a sucker for cheesy, girly movies.
FS: I’ll let it slide. Who is your pick for mens pipe in Tahoe?
SB: The Riddler… or Dorey… or Hayward. Gotta stick with the Canadians!!
SB: We’ll chat later. Enjoy the movie, or ‘show’ as we say in Canada.
Another day…
FS: Happy Mardi Gras.
SB: Oh and to you as well!! Quite the party!!
FS: I can imagine… How’d the sunset shoot go? You show Rory how to jump?
SB: Rory killed it. Me… not so much. But I’m going to keep trying! π
FS: Got all your beads ready to throw at the fine women of Crested Butte?
SB: You know it. Me, beads, and women. Look out!
FS: Sounds like the title to a movie.
SB: Haha! When do you get into Squaw?
FS: Thur morning. My logistics are a bit of a junk show. I guess all our budget went to the Freeskier Bus…
SB: Ha, it was a super nice bus though! Well worth it. π
FS: What’s something Sarah Burke fans don’t know about you?
Time passes….
FS: Maybe this interview is getting too long, eh?
SB: Sorry, just eating dinner. Ummmm something the average person doesn’t know… I am problematically addicted to sugar. I can’t live without candy! I am enjoying it actually… means I have a text buddy. How do you say ‘fun’ in french?
FS: My translator says, ‘amusement’. Speaking of fun, I’m doing my taxes. How are your quarterlies coming along?
SB: Ahhhh shit, don’t remind me! My most dreaded thing. Argh! I just got my quarterly receipts done for Roxy. Last day was the 31st… Sarah done at 9PM on the 31st. It’s my goal to get better though.
FS: You should get sponsored by an accountant, that would be useful. Should we bring it up with Tom Yaps [agent]?
SB: Ha, yes. Tom Yaps should be taking care of this! Make the call!!
FS: What other sponsors would be useful? Candy sponsor?
SB: Definitely. Microsoft… Mercedes… Bombardier… United… oh the list goes on and on!!
FS: Microsoft over Apple? That ski industry heresy. What’s a girl got rocking on the iPod these days?
SB: I am all about Apple. But think about it… Microsoft makes a lot of cool shit, like the XBox. iPod, hmmmm. Mainly hip hop because I am skiing a lot.
30 seconds later…
SB: Just so you know, my ultimate super power would be to be a shape shifter!
FS: Like the chick in the X-Men movies? I thinks he had blonde hair like yours…
SB: Yup… blondes do it better.
FS: I read that on a bumper sticker. How’s the filming?
SB: Pretty slowly, which is good because I needed rest. There is so much snow it’s ridiculous. We got busted on some jumps though.
FS: You got busted? I’m super gutted. That’s kiwi for bummed, but I’m sure you knew that.
SB: Yeah, I am hip with the lingo. Yeah, shut down. Big time gutted. It happens though. Don’t worry, I got a couple good crashes in. You should come to the MSP East Coast Tour.
FS: What’s your best story from that tour?
SB: It was last year in NYC. Dance party EXTREME! Yeah, that’s in capitals!! And the craziest urban rat buffet I have ever seen. All on one night. Plus insane shopping with Ingy [Ingrid Backstrom]!
FS: The power just went out.
SB: Oh oooh. Look out Norad. You guys are number 2! You should be scared.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.