The New Zealand representative enjoyed some time at home in Wānaka recently after a busy three months travelling throughout Europe as part of the luge world cup circuit.
The 21-year-old competed at seven stops on the circuit throughout Germany, Latvia, Austria and Norway and was pleased with how his first season on the senior circuit panned out.
Burke, whose best finish was 23rd in Lillehammer, is ranked 35th overall, and felt he made big strides with a senior season now under his belt, which had stricter qualification standards than the junior grades.
"I’d say overall it went pretty well,’’ Burke said.
"I didn’t really have a specific place in mind, of where I wanted to be, because I didn’t know what to expect moving up to seniors.’’
Senior lugers start from the top of the track, compared to age-groups which start lower down on the track.
"That was always a bit of a challenge, but it wasn’t too bad.
"I always made qualifications and always made it down and that was kind of my main goal.
"It was a good starting point so now I know what to work on for the next season, where I’d like to be.’’
The European winter provided a great building block and there had been many fun experiences — including spending Christmas hiking around the Dolomites, in Northern Italy, with some friends.
Among his highlights on the circuit came a surprise, when Burke finished 26th in a German leg where he had virtually no preseason training on the course.
Heading into the race, Burke did not "have high hopes’’ considering the limited preparation.
"I ended up having a very clean run.
"I was quite happy with that one, even though it was nothing remarkable. I was quite happy that I kept a calm mind and just made it down on a clean run."
Burke, who competed at the Olympic Winter Youth Games in 2020, spent two seasons competing overseas until Covid put paid to his international travels for three years after the loss of much-needed funding.
He returned in the 2023-24 season, but felt he missed out on some key development and experience during those years.
He was also challenged by having no artificial luge track in the southern hemisphere — Naseby has a natural luge track — and had to be innovative in his training.
Heading into the rest of the 2025 season, Burke will return to Dunedin to study civil engineering — he put his studies on pause last year in order to work to support himself financially for the international season — and will be in the gym working on staying fit.
Burke, who is a double national champion, also has an artificial sled that he will use to practise his starts on the ice rink.
"Starts play a huge part in our sport.
"It’s not necessarily always the fastest starter always wins the race, but it certainly goes a long way to moving you up the field.’’
The 2026 Winter Olympics are in his sights, but with tougher qualifications, Burke said his "more realistic goal" was to make the 2030 Games.
"I’ll definitely give it a try make these ones."
Luge is not the only sport Burke has excelled in on the ice. He is a talented curler and has represented the New Zealand junior team several times.
He opted to withdraw from the team last season, due to his luge commitments.
However, he plans to be more involved in curling when he returns to Dunedin and will compete nationally.
He has not ruled out taking it up internationally again in the future but, for now, luge remains his top priority.
"The feeling of it, going down and going that speed ... there’s honestly nothing in everyday life you can equate it to, you know.
