Burke still in critical condition

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SALT LAKE CITY -- Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke remains in critical condition two days after surgery to repair a tear to an artery that caused bleeding in her brain.

She is being closely monitored in the Neuro Critical Care Unit at University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City. Dr. Safdar Ansari is co-ordinating a team of doctors caring for the 29-year-old skier.

In a statement released by Burke's publicist, Ansari says doctors are focused on the "primary injury and preventing secondary brain damage," as well as managing other injuries from Tuesday's accident at the superpipe at Park City Mountain Resort.

He says more time is needed before any prognosis can be determined.

A press conference is scheduled for Monday at the University of Utah Clinical Neurosciences Center.

Burke, a native of Barrie, Ont., who grew up in nearby Midland before moving to Squamish, B.C., was training with a private group at the time of the accident.

A four-time Winter X Games champion, Burke is considered a halfpipe pioneer who lobbied tirelessly to get her sport included in the Winter Olympics. Halfpipe skiing will debut at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.