Olympic Hopeful Pipe Rider, Kevin Pearce in a Coma...

Bentley@DOSMedia

Active member
Sad sad new. Thoughts and prayers to him and his family...Here is the NY times article to explain...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/01/sports/olympics/01snowboard.html

The Olympic snowboarding hopeful Kevin Pearce was seriously injured Thursday during training in the half pipe in Park City, Utah.Keep up with the latest news as the 2010 Winter Games approach.Go to the Rings Blog »Pearce hit his head against the edge of the half pipe and was knocked unconscious. He was flown to theUniversity of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where doctors planned external ventricular drainage to relieve fluid buildup in the brain, according to Pearce’s mother, Pia.Pearce, a 22-year-old from Norwich, Vt., was among many of the world’s top half-pipe riders in Park City preparing to compete next week in a competition at Mammoth Mountain, Calif., an event that will serve as part of the Olympic trials for the American team.Pearce, a favorite to make the Olympic team, is the rare rider who has beaten 2006 Olympic gold medalist Shaun White in head-to-head competitions the past couple of years.Mike Jankowski, the Olympic half-pipe coach for the United States, said that Pearce was injured while trying a double cork, a supremely difficult trick — a twisting double back flip, basically — that most of the top male riders are trying to add to their repertory this season.“He did it a little too hard, put a little too much oomph into it, and over-rotated on his second flip,” Jankowski said.He said that Pearce seemed to strike the edge of the pipe just above his eye. He said that the preliminary diagnosis was for a “significant concussion” and characterized Pearce’s injuries as “serious, critical.” A team trainer and medical director were with Pearce at the hospital.Pearce’s father is Simon Pearce, one of the most renowned glass blowers in the world, whose Vermont-based company has retail outlets across the Northeast, including one on New York’s Park Avenue. Simon and Pia Pearce were headed to Utah on Thursday evening.
 
Let me correct myself..
Im not positive he is in a coma but an article does say, "They hoped to lessen the sedation after surgery, she said, hoping he would regain consciousness."
 
That is scary. I am surprised this doesn't happen more, to be honest. Pipe is super risky in my opinion. Imagine the force of throwing a double cork 12 feet out then hitting your head. I pray he is okay. Anytime they have to drain fluid from your head is a serious matter.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't " external ventricular drainage" when they have to open up your skull to realive pressure on the brain? I'm really not sure.
 
it really is sad, but I fear we will hear more and more of pros getting life threatening injuries as doubles become more and more commonplace in the competition world.

All it takes is one on live television (think X-Games), or even worse - a fatality on live television - and the whole thing is over. Let's just hope that it never comes down to that.
 
Do you remember in the summer X-Games maybe two summers ago when they did the combo event big air to quarter pipe? When that guy fell from about 25-30 feet to flat I thought that was it. As soon as he hit I thought to myself "Oh God, they just showed a fatality on live TV". The guy somehow walked away. Fortunately in competition they mandate helmet use which will hopefully prevent a fatality, but imagine a big double cork to hitting the middle of your face on the coping. Nose bone to brain would be death. It freaks me out even thinking about it to be honest.
 
Skiing and snowboarding are progressing so fast that for each new trick being thrown out there today, a life is being put on the line. Let's hope this sport can progress safely.

Best wishes to Kev Pearce and his family, recover soon.
 
Vibes+++ Hopefully he gets well soon!

And I'm not so sure that it would be all over. Unfortuneately, Stephen Murray broke his neck on live television attempting a dub back at the Baltimore stop of the Dew tour in 07 and is now paralized from the shoulders down ( http://staystrong.co.uk/ ) and last Feb, FMX star Jeremy Lusk crashed on a superman seat grab backflip on live television in Costa Rica and died 3 days later in hospital (considered FMX's first death). Even with these tradgedies in the sports all the major comps continue to run.
 
ooohhh man, ++vibes to pierce. i hope he pulls through ok.

today at keystone three people fucked themselves on the 2nd jump in the big line, two of them were within 10 or so minutes of each other. all of them were throwing sick shit. it sucks to see people fucked up because of
 
^^^ fuck you internet.

its a shame to see people fucked up because of their love of their sport. but its progressing so fast now, and all the riders are throwing down and going so much bigger to keep up, injuries are becoming more prevalent
 
well, the sport, at a professional level will continue. I was more referring to the grass roots that will fall apart. RCR (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) already took out their parks a few years back preemptively to ensure a "safer experience" for their guests. If a pro does (heaven forbid) die during a live televised competition the insurance companies that deal with ski resorts (in North America at least) will straight up refuse to insure any hill that has a park. I mean, I could be wrong, and I do believe that hills will always have at least the odd rail or two, but big jumps and pipes? No way man.

same shit happened back in the 70's, it very well could happen again. It's not a new story, it's just becoming ever more real due to the requisite of doubles to be a pro these days.

As I said, yes, slope/pipe will still exist at a pro level, but it will be a club thing, much like ariels... if you want to hit park jumps or ride a halfpipe, you have to join a club, pay your membership fees, train with them, be certified for certain tricks before being allowed to do them on snow, or in competition, the specs for jumps will be precise, etc...

As far as halfpipes go, it's almost already a reality, at least in Canada. I was told that this year Big White will not be cutting their superpipe, so that now leaves one superpipe in the entire province (that being at Blackcomb - which is still free to use without a park pass, for now). COP also has a superpipe, but I believe they're the only ones in Alberta. so two pipes in all over western Canada. Oh wait, I guess Cypress has one as well, but not sure how much they maintain it outside of the obvious upcoming Olympics.
 
that sucks, i couldn't imagine being so close to the olympics and then this happening. +++++++++ vibes to him, the team, the family. Hope he gets better fast and is ready for the next Olympics.
 
Pretty much, small drainage pipe inserted to drain the cerebral spinal fluid build up that can be cause by head injuries.

+++vibes to his family
 
...I saw the headline scrolling across the screen on ESPN last night. Really tragic news, KP is the fucking man and is absurdly talented. I hope he recovers well
 
++ vibes. Comas are a scary thing to deal with, it's good to know he's got a huge following to help him through this
 
Fuck this is awful news. KP is such a talented rider and seems like hes got a real good head on his shoulders. Our sports are getting intense, a good friend and insane snowboarder, Scott See took a brutal crash yesterday. He was wearing a helmet but apparently he had 2 seizures and he had no pulse for a bit, Keystone Ski Patrol saved his life. Keep in mind this is someone that was stomping perfect dub 10's all day on the 2nd jump. Be careful folks. Vibes to KP and Scott!
 
so sad to hear about this. such a awesome kid. he really would have given shaun white a run for his money this season. hope he pulls through! :(
 
Crazy that he is from Norwich VT, i actually go to norwich university.

+VIBES to him, and hope he recovers and gets back on snow quickly
 
your right I think this will become more common place...

in order to be a TOp super pro in 2010,.. you need to push it at every comp and shoot.. the level was ebing pushed hard before but never at sucha consistantly high level..

kevin pierce fukin kills it I prey hes ok..

but i think as the level gets even higher than it it at now this will happen more an more..

as you said the corce of hitting you head spinning that hard and going big in the pipe would be incredable..
 
Nah, Shawn has Danny Davis as competition now. I dont think they have went head to head yet. My prays go out to Kevin Pearces and his family, its a shame less than 2 weeks ago we saw him competing at dew tour and now, we are hoping he will return.

Accidents happen in every sport, its the risk we take in doing what we love. It just happens to be more dangerous when your doing gymnastic type tricks to a possible ice landing that feels like concrete. I just hope this is an example it better to progress slow than to go to quick and hurt yourself.
 
university of utahs hospital is one of the best in the country and they have lots of experience with sports injuries. vibes++
 
Damn, a hard reminder about the danger of our sports
good vibes, heres an update
A publicist for Kevin Pearce says the snowboarder remains in critical condition at University Hospital after sustaining a head injury while training in Park City.Danielle Burch said Friday that Pearce's condition hadn't changed since Thursday night.Pearce, a top-ranked halfpipe rider with a good chance of making the U.S. Olympic team, was knocked unconscious when he hit his head during a training run on Thursday.He was taken to University Hospital, where he underwent surgery.The 22-year-old from Norwich, Vt., was preparing for next week's Olympic qualifying events in Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
 
olympic qualifying is next week so he wont be able to be in the olympics. thats sucks for him, with all the training hes done. ++++++++++++vibes for him
 
damn :( thats terrible.definitely hope he makes a full recovery soon. stuff like this is so scary once it actually happens to a good rider.
 
Forgot to mention just in case people don't click on the link, that according to the New York Times "Pearce's condition hasn't changed since undergoing surgery to relieve fluid buildup in his brain after the incident."
 
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