It seemed fitting that women’s ski halfpipe was the final freeski contest in the sport’s Olympic debut. It was the event in which Sarah Burke competed and a wonderful way to draw close to the action sports events in Sochi. It was an emotional night.

Jan, Nicole, me and Gord at the start of women’s ski halfpipe finals. What a special night.

I watched the contest with Sarah’s parents, Gord and Jan, and my dear friend Nicole, who was Sarah’s publicist. It was wonderful to watch them  witness the love and outpouring of support and admiration and respect for Sarah. And although they weren’t able to watch their own daughter compete in Sochi, in many ways, they watched many of their children do so.

Through Sarah, Gord and Jan have connections and personal relationships with several of the women who competed tonight. “I know I should be rooting for Canada,” Gord said. “But it’s too hard. I have warm feelings and fond memories of so many of them.”

I wrote about the night for ESPN.com HERE and then took a chairlift to a gondola down to Rosa Khutor and we all had a beer to celebrate the night and celebrate Sarah.

My friend Deb is writing for The Hollywood Reporter and wrote this piece about the night. Definitely the only time my name is going to appear in THR! You can check out her piece HERE.

The US and France unite! The women of freeskiing – and their families – were all one big nation Thursday night.

At the end of the contest, 21 skiers slipped the pipe in the shape of a heart in honor of Sarah.