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Accomplished skier Mikayla Martin remembered for her life

B.C. skier remembered

Eating fondue amid the snow in Elfin Lakes. Making plays and puppet shows as a child. Baking cinnamon buns for friends and family. Getting nearly submerged in a kayak adventure. Being the first arriving at the ski hill with the biggest smile.

These are just a few collections of moments that Mikayla Martin left with people throughout Squamish before she died in a mountain biking accident Oct. 1.

Mikayla was widely known throughout town as an accomplished skier who was a prospective 2022 Olympian. By 22 years old, she had already had a distinguished athletic career.

But what stands out to many at least as much was her love for life and people. Her parents say they hope this passion stays with everyone she’s met.

“There’s a lot of people out there who are hurting at this loss. And we feel their pain. But Mikayla wouldn’t want them to be sad. She’d want them to miss her, and to love her, but she’d want them to be out living their lives and enjoying their lives to the fullest,” said James Martin, her father.

“She wouldn’t want you to be sitting around the house crying. She’d want you to be out there doing something fun and being with your friends and loving your life and making the world a better place.”

Mikayla debated between skiing or her other love, mountain biking, but eventually decided the slopes would be her focus.

A memorial fund has been set up to honour Mikayla’s memory. It will provide financial assistance to other young female athletes and is intended to help people who embody Mikayla’s spirit. Beneficiaries need not be Olympic-calibre.

“We’re doing okay — we really appreciate it — but what really makes us feel really happy and fulfilled is seeing people find something creative that they can do to express their appreciation for Mikayla,” said her father, James.

“We don’t want it to be directed towards us, we want it to be directed towards the rest of the world.”

A celebration of life for Mikayla will take place at 2 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. All are invited.



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