Kevin Pearce almost died in superpipe crash (Viewer Discretion Is Advised)

On December 31, 2009, Pearce was critically injured during training in Park City, Utah. He struck his head above the left eye halfway down the pipe during a half-pipe training run trying a maneuver called a cab double cork. He was flown to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City.[4] On January 26, 2010, Pearce was transferred out of critical care and in early February was moved to Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado, a rehabilitation center that specializes in traumatic brain injuries.[5] By June, Pearce was back with his family in Vermont.[6] In an August 23, 2010 interview, Pearce said he was lucky to recover and "...excited to get back onto a snowboard."[7] However, in a December 2011 interview with NBC, he said he will not compete again.[8] Pearce won The Arctic Challenge in 2007 and completed back-to-back titles with victory in 2008. He was also the first man to earn two Air & Style rings in one season, winning the Nokia Air & Style in Munich in 2007 and the Billabong Air & Style in Innsbruck in 2008. In the 2007--08 season he won the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour, garnering the TTR World Tour Champion title. He won three medals at the 2008 Winter X Games XII in Aspen, Colorado. He was also the first athlete in X Games history to compete in three medal events in one day. [2] Pearce is a member of the Frends Crew (spelled without the "i" to emphasize the collective nature of the group) made up of snowboarders Mason Aguirre, Danny Davis, Scotty Lago, Keir Dillon, Mikkel Bang, Jack Mitrani and Luke Mitrani. Frends is a group of riders who turned their initial friendship into a formal alliance in 2007 to move the sport away from its recent competitive and business focus and return the sport to its grassroots, collegial beginnings.[3] The Crash Reel is a documentary film directed by Lucy Walker which premiered as the Opening Night Gala film on 19 January 2013 at the Sundance Film Festival. Lucy first met Kevin Pearce while mentoring at a retreat intended to inspire Nike's action sports athletes to use their platform for social change at the invitation of David Mayer de Rothschild who had created the event. Lucy was immediately struck by Kevin and wanted to make a documentary film about him, and the result is The Crash Reel, which premiered at Sundance on January 18, 2013 as the Opening Night Gala film in the Documentary Premieres section (out of competition). The film is described as a jaw-dropping story of one unforgettable athlete, Kevin Pearce; one eye-popping sport, snowboarding; and one explosive issue, traumatic brain injury.[citation needed] Through 20 years of sports and verite footage, The Crash Reel chronicles the epic rivalry between Kevin and Shaun White which culminates in Kevin's life-changing crash and a comeback story with a difference. The film also showcases the Pearce family, including Kevin's father glass-blower Simon Pearce and Kevin's brother David C. Pearce who describes his struggle to accept his Down Syndrome. The film also premiered at the X Games on January 23, 2013 in Aspen as the first ever movie to play as a featured part of the event.[citation needed]

Comments

1. That's a crazy trick...he should have practised it longer on the big cussion thing....way too dangerous. He hit the coping a few times while attempting it....wasn't ready at all. Shaun White hit the coping too...got an uppercut. They're hitting above their weight.
2. That PC pipe is so gnarly.
3. That was me earlier today but on a lot smaller jump got 3 stitches
4. Once I was going off court and I tripped with a rock hidden under the snow and fell into a tree well, it was so painful, but I was lucky and only twisted my knee and broke my arm when I crashed with the tree, getting out of there was hard but I wasn't buried so it was a bit easier. I was so lucky, since then I haven't skiied :v
5. I like the way he led with his face
6. "If you want the ultimate you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price." (Bodhi) point break.
7. Watched The Crash Reel and it was hard to not cry watching the before footage of this kid winning trophies and having a great time compared to after when he realizes he can't ride like he used to. He's a strong soul and it's damned heart breaking.
8. Rich white people problems.
9. Snowboarding can be really bad for people they need training before they do it for real
10. If you haven't watched the Crash Reel, you are missing out on one of the finest documentaries ever made. The Pearce family is an inspiring example for us all
11. Was he wearing a helmet? (doesn't look like it but can't tell)
12. The fall couldn't have been worse? Yeah, it's could've. He could've died. Idiot.
13. Byłem na tym w kinie
14. Noooooooo
15. I thought that was snow I thought it wouldn't hurt so much
16. at least he went to the hostpil
17. Get this nigga a band aid!
18. LOL that was sooooooooo funny
19. That is why you wear a helmet
20. dont ride half pipes, fucking gnarly shit !