The 2014 ‘Spirit of Sarah Scholarship’ has been awarded to 12-year-old Elena Gaskell from Vernon, BC.
Gaskell is the youngest skier to win the award and is a member of the Silverstar Freestyle Ski Club – she will enjoy a Free Full Package Ski Camp (worth $2300) with Momentum this summer in Whistler, where she will be trained and mentored by Olympians and X-Games competitors.
“I really learned a lot more about Sarah after watching the Olympics this year,” says Gaskell, “from her pioneering efforts to get the sport into the Olympics, to her on-snow achievements of raising the level and bar for women in the sport, and I was truly inspired to follow in her footsteps.”
Gaskell says she had heard that Sarah once said. ‘Failures do not exist… some things just take longer to master,’ which made a strong impression on her. This was Gaskell’s third year applying for the scholarship; her attitude of not giving up clearly shows her strength of character.
The Silverstar skier’s goal is to compete in the 2018 Olympics, as well as the X-Games. She is already showing great promise by winning the 2014 Junior National Big Air Championships and becoming the 2014 BC Slopestyle Champion.
The judging panel, which includes Sarah’s mother, Sarah’s husband Rory Bushfield, National Team Coach Trennon Paynter, and Momentum Camp Director John Smart, was impressed with the 12-year-old’s determination and passion for freestyle skiing, as well as her desire to promote Sarah’s ideals and help other girls in the sport.
On hearing about her win, Gaskell said: “I am very honoured to be the winner of this year’s Spirit of Sarah Scholarship. I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity and it means so much to be picked out of this group of girls. Sarah is just such a big inspiration and to be chosen to win a scholarship that is in memory of Sarah, means so much!”
Camp Director John Smart says, “Elena shows lots of promise. She is a strong and talented young athlete who loves the sport and shows great determination; she’s very much like I remember Sarah being at that age. It’s great to see that Elena has been inspired by Sarah and we are happy to help keep Sarah in the minds and hearts of these young skiers as they follow their own dreams.”
The ‘Spirit of Sarah Scholarship’ was created in honour and memory of long-time coach and former camper Sarah Burke, who died in a tragic ski accident in 2012. One of the causes dear to Sarah’s heart was encouraging young girls to follow their dreams and believe in their skiing abilities. She inspired so many young women through her incredible skiing talent and strength, but more importantly through her demonstration of modesty, kindness and her wonderful approach to life. Sarah was a camper with Momentum for four years and a coach for 11 years.
For more information on Momentum Camps, see www.MomentumCamps.com
Photo of Elena Gaskell with Kim Lamarre courtesy of www.FreestyleSki.com
SnowOnline Editor: Lori Knowles
