| As 2009 came to a close, on December 30th, one of | | | | sports support the athletes with out pushing them |
| snowboardings' best half pipe riders, Kevin Pearce, | | | | into danger? Well, that is challenging. It is scary |
| took a catastrophic fall in the Park City Half Pipe, | | | | sometimes. In the effort to create a safe |
| while training for upcoming competition and the | | | | environment for progress and development, we |
| Olympic Qualifying Series that is currently underway. | | | | focus on step by step progression and confidence |
| He was attempting a double cork trick when he | | | | building. Moving past crashes and setbacks towards |
| came down just a little off balance and caught an | | | | ever rising levels of achievement and performance. |
| edge that sent him straight to his face against the | | | | Of coarse it is dangerous, but we must not express |
| firm wall of the pipe. He sustained damage to his eye | | | | that to the athlete, because as soon as they |
| socket and a concussion with serious head trauma. | | | | become scared, they are in more danger. As fear |
| He is currently in critical care after effort to repair his | | | | creeps in, so does hesitation and a breaks in the |
| eye and get the head injury under control. | | | | precise timing required for these kinds of activities. |
| His crash sent shock waves through the field of | | | | I hope Kevin's crash does not upset to many people, |
| competitors and fans that have watched him rise to | | | | because Kevin knows what he does is "crazy", and |
| stardom in the world of snowboarding. Over the past | | | | he loves doing it. He would not want us to back |
| couple seasons the athletic level of the riders has | | | | down and stop the progression because we are |
| been rising at an amazing rate with the introduction | | | | afraid of the possibilities of injury. I mean at least we |
| of 22 foot half pipes and the more and more | | | | are doing something like snowboarding, not fighting |
| common double flips that the best riders are sticking | | | | foreign enemies or being destroyed by a virus. |
| on a regular basis. | | | | The riders and their support groups love this activity |
| Among the field of riders and the support groups | | | | and will not stop. The sport is a driving force in their |
| involved including team managers, coaches, parents, | | | | lives and they will continue to push themselves |
| sponsors and event organizers, Kevin's crash is a sad | | | | towards more and more amazing feats of athletic skill |
| and untimely reminder of the dangers of the sport. It | | | | and bravery. |
| calls attention to the fact that every competitor out | | | | Kevin's fall may slow some, and even scare a few |
| there pushing hard for a bigger trick or a better | | | | away from the amplitude and double flipping antics of |
| result, runs the risk of serious bodily injury. Of course | | | | the best of the best. But, riders like Shaun White, |
| the riders know it is dangerous as well as we all do. | | | | Louie Vito, Kazu Kokubo, and many other will |
| It is often difficult for coaches, the riders parents, | | | | continue to ride at higher and higher levels. |
| friends and support to continue to encourage a rider | | | | Life is too short to hold back from our passions and |
| to do things that we all know are very dangerous. | | | | personal progression due to fear. I support these |
| However, how is it different that other dangerous | | | | riders in their sport and hope that we can all just |
| sports? Sports like car racing, bull riding, ski racing, | | | | stop for a moment, appreciate the love Kevin Pearce |
| airplane racing, motocross, even football and rugby, | | | | has shown in his character and in his riding for the life |
| and the list goes on. In all these dangerous sports, | | | | he has been given, and go back out and land a sick |
| there are athletes who know the dangers and | | | | run for him. |
| choose to participate, because they love it. | | | | Good Luck Kevin. |
| How do we as parents, coaches and fans of these | | | | We are all rooting for you. |