A week after the death of Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke, the winter X Games opened with a touching tribute to the freeskiing icon, as her family, friends and former rivals held a candlelight ski-down vigil commemorating her life and legacy.
Christian Murdock / The Colorado Springs Gazette
Friends and family pay tribute to Sarah Burke on the superpipe in Aspen, Colo., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
Christian Murdock / The Colorado Springs Gazette
Fellow athletes show their support during a memorial for late skier Sarah Burke at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post
Friends and family pay tribute to Sarah Burke on the superpipe in Aspen, Colo., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
Christian Murdock / The Colorado Springs Gazette
Skier Jess Cummings wipes a tear away during a memorial for the late Canadian skier Sarah Burke, at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post
Fellow athletes show their support during a memorial for late skier Sarah Burke at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post
Athletes honor the late Canadian skier Sarah Burke during a memorial at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post
Sarah Burke's mother, Jan Phelan, watches a montage of her late daughter during a memorial at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post
Snowboarder Louie Vito hugs Jan Phelan, the mother of the late Canadian skier Sarah Burke, during a memorial at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post
Jan Phelan, watches a montage honoring her late daughter, Sarah Burke, during a memorial at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post
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