Abrielle “Abby” Beverley Wunsch, was a high spirited 9 year old not unlike any other grade 4 kid. She loved to have fun. She was constantly laughing, and had a HUGE smile that infected anyone around her. Some of her favorite things to do were to play with her friends, play with her brother, play with stuffed animals, dress up, perform, sing, go camping, ride her bike, going to school and ski.
Abby started skiing when she was almost 3 years old. She loved her first day on snow and she quickly learned the sport and loved being on the ski hill. In 2014, when she was 8, Abby started with a race club, in a Racing Program at the U-10 level. She loved the club. She loved her coaches; she loved the other kids; she loved the winter out at Nakiska and loved the sport. She excelled so much in her first year.
No turning back after that! She was always laughing and smiling when on the hill. She made a lot of friends that first year and loved to hang out with them and carve up the mountain with them. There was never a day on the snow that Abby wasn’t cracking jokes with her coach, laughing with her teammates, and skiing around the mountain with the biggest smile on her face. Almost 40 days on snow that year.
The 2015/16 ski season started early with dryland training in September. This year Abby started in a higher level and a new team: U-10+. There she was with a lot of old friends, but also met new friends, new coaches and continued her love for skiing. She was super excited about the new challenges this season would bring.
But on December 6, 2015, our lives changed forever; Abby had an accident that would instantly take the life from her. She was off with her group and took a wrong turn into a tree. The great team of ski patrollers, EMTs, and STARS Air ambulance group work extensively to keep her with us, and from their remarkable efforts, we were allowed a few last hours to stay with Abby and say good bye.
Although Abby isn’t with us any longer, we want her name, her happiness, her loving spirit, and love for skiing to be remembered forever. To do this we are going to start “Abby Award”. It is our dream to see Abby’s Award given out annually to one U10 ski racer in every club across the country who brings their happiness, high spirit and fun loving attitude to their ski team.
