WATERSKIER Sarah Teelow's "joyous" smile was remembered yesterday as she became an inspiration to a Dubbo school devastated by her death.
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The newest student leaders at St John's College were told the graduate who became a world champion had taken every "advantage in life to excel".
The tribute from the school was one of many offered yesterday in the hours after the 20-year-old's death on Monday night.
Ms Teelow came off her ski during the high-speed Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic on the Hawkesbury River on Sunday morning.
She sustained serious spinal and head injuries and was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital but died about 8pm Monday with her parents at her bedside.
Yesterday Ms Teelow's contribution was remembered at her former high school, where she was suggested as an ideal example during a leaders induction ceremony.
"(Sarah) was mentioned as someone who took every advantage in life to excel," St John's College year 12 co-ordinator Diane Quade told the Daily Liberal.
"Someone the school community could look up to."
Mrs Quade remembered the many strengths of the student who had become a house captain in 2010, a "reflection of her athletic contribution to the college".
"Sarah was a beautiful girl, highly athletic and in academic efforts she gave 100 per cent," she said.
"She was inclusive, she was able to see the positives in other people.
"She always had a smile on her face . . . a beautiful smile, so joyous."
Mrs Quade, who was also the year 12 co-ordinator for Ms Teelow's brother last year, said the school felt for the whole family.
Family friend and retired waterskier Tim Wray remembered the world champion as a warm person and a skilled athlete.
"Sarah was a pretty outgoing chick, she always had a smile on her face," he said.
"She was willing to help anyone who needed it.
"There was not a thing in the world she wasn't capable of skiing."
The young Dubbo man raced with Ms Teelow in a previous Bridge to Bridge, "the pinnacle of ski racing in Australia" and the event in which she would ultimately lose her life.
Mr Wray said the Teelow family was always together and skiers were "a tight little crowd".
Everyone would be devastated by the death of someone with so much talent, he said, trying himself to come to terms with the loss.
"She's done that race (so many times), it's just a freak accident," he said.
"Skiing beside her you could see how easy it was for her.
"You shake your head and don't know how it happened."
He predicted tough days ahead.
"It's going to be hard at races (without her) . . . a face you won't see anymore," he said.
