Ettala’s a good buddy of the Onboard crew so we were super bummed to hear that he’s bust his knee again. But as this video shows, he’s staying positive and we’ve got no doubts he’s gonna come back stronger.

Sending you positive vibes, Eero!

Local Vermontian news outlet WCAX.com posted a video showing Kevin Pearce making more progress after his traumatic brain injury at the end of last year. This is too good not to share it with you…

Keep your motivation, Kevin, you are truly inspiring!

Two weeks ago we reported that Norwegian rider Torgeir Berre sustained a severe back injury while filming in New Zealand. Since then he underwent surgery to stabilise his spine, which went well, and remains in hospital in New Zealand. Process Films went to visit him in Christchurch, and posted a thorough update on his condition.

Our best wishes go out to you, buddy! Get well soon!

In the meantime you might want to join the “I ride for Berre” campaign, started by some of his fellow riders!

Through the Norwegian website tacky.no we just learnt that yesterday Norwegian shred Torgeir Berre broke his back while riding a massive step-up kicker in Treble Cone, New Zealand. According to tacky.no his spine is seriously injured. Torgeir was rushed to the hospital and is expected to have spinal surgery performed on him soon. From what we know he was filming for the new Process movie. Apparently, Mikkel Bang also suffered minor injuries hitting that same kicker.

Get well soon, Torgeir! We wish you all the best! Our thoughts are with you and your family!

]]> http://onboard.mpora.com/news/torgeir-berre-sustains-injury.html/feed 0 http://onboard.mpora.com/featuredcontent/mariefrance-roy-talks-neck-injury.html http://onboard.mpora.com/featuredcontent/mariefrance-roy-talks-neck-injury.html#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:40:07 +0000 Tom Copsey http://onboard.mpora.com/?p=18248

Rome TM John Cavan checks in on Skype with Marie-France Roy to find out about her recent injury, how’s she’s doing, and what’s next for her.

This has been a gnarly year for serious snowboard injuries. Kevin Pearce, Danny Davis, Nick Dirks, LNP, Andreas Wiig, Chris Grenier, and Pat Moore all experienced major injuries, some season-ending and others life-threatening. Earlier this year when I got word that Laurent had broken his back, I got that sickening feeling in the gut and feared the worst for my friend. The hairy Canadian wonder is Ok now, but I got a few more grey hairs.

A couple weeks ago I got another one of those dreaded phone calls. Our favorite female snowboarder Marie-France Roy was seriously injured in a fall in the Whislter backcountry while filming for the new Absinthe film, resulting in a Heli evac and a fractured C2 vertebrate. Marie is one of the happiest, most positive people I know and she has been taking everything in stride with her typical sense of humor, and go-for-it attitude. We’ve spoken several times since the injury and it amazes me how positive she is. We did this little Skype interview the other day while I was in Big Bear so she could tell everyone how she’s doing – Cavan

John Cavan: yo hippy

Marie-France Roy: brah

JC: Laurent says hello

MFR: hello!! I miss the sweet Lou

JC: So this will be easy and painless

MFR: doubt it

JC: ha ha ha

MFR: ha

JC: So you had a little bit of a rough one recently in the Whislter Backcountry can you explain what happened?

MFR: Yep. I was up Brandywine with Absinthe. Me and Annie (Boulangier) and our filmer Paul and Chaloux went on a cruise while DCP and Romain built a jump to find stuff to do. We found this ice wall at the blowhole and I tried to wall ride it and the speed didn’t work so we were just gonna leave and then I said I could just drop from the top over a lil cornice and land on the ice wall. I dropped in and it was pow. The take off looked soft but as soon as I got on it, it was rock hard ice. I was already going a bit too fast but that made me go even faster. I went 45 feet down to an ice flat landing.

JC: Fuck, and so what ended up happening to you

MFR: As soon as I took off in the air and looked down, I knew I would most likely break something. If it was pow, I would have tried to land on my back a lil to absorb the impact but I knew if I did that on that ice, I would break my back so I landed on my feet and just crumbled down I think. My head hit the ground at one point. I didn’t pass out but that happened so fast, not sure how I twisted. I slid down a bit further and I could feel my arms and legs, thank God. My arms were really numb and tingly for about 30 seconds. I could hear the others asking if I was okay but I couldn’t breathe right away from the impact. Then I could feel something wrong in my neck. I laid there and breathed for a few minutes and Paul mentioned the heli, I was like, no maybe I’ll be fine to sled down, maybe I should just try to sit up. As soon as I tried I could feel a gnarly pinch in my neck and I just stayed down. They called the heli and it showed up 2 hours later. I was freezing. They brought me to whistler for X-Rays. They didn’t really know and said I needed better scans and an MRI, so they put me in an ambulance around 10 pm and drove me to Vancouver. I did all the scans that night, they said they’d tell me in the morning if I needed surgery. Luckily the next day they announced to me that I fractured my C2 but that it was the best way possible, and it didn’t require surgery. Just a brace for about 6 weeks (not the halo), and about a year to 100 % recovery. I’m SO lucky.

JC: Damn, how scared were you waiting for the heli? Were there all kinds of crazy things going through your head?

MFR: I was pretty relaxed. I knew I need to chill and wait and see and that there was no point of thinking of how bad it could be. Annie (Boulangier) was really nice. She kept me warmed and entertained, ha! It really hurt when the rescue guys put the neck brace on me and moved me in the heli, but I was already trying to stay positive. Just that I could feel my arms and legs was a really good sign for me.

JC: Yeah Annie was awesome she took care of letting us know back in VT and keepin us in the loop, man between you and Laurent you are giving me gray hairs…a back and a neck…..this has been a crazy season. So what’s the plan now? What will you be doing for the next few months while you recover?

MFR: It’s been 4 weeks already and I’m super positive and happy. I have such great peeps around me and time flies so quick. I’m not even bored one bit, and I’m not even watching movies and tv shows and reading… I can walk so that’s awesome. I’m at my house on Vancouver Island so I go walk on the beach almost every day. I started picking up plastic trash on the beach and make earrings out of it and will sell them for charity. Since I can’t surf, I started filming my friends in town here. They are trying to get a movie together for the surf shop team. There’s a few chicks here in town that rip at surfing and skating so we’ll probably do a lil chick flick as well. I’m gardening a bit, I want to get chickens! Can anybody help me build a chicken coop? haha!

JC: Awesome, by the way, while we are doing this I’m watching Laurent, Will and Paxson play scrabble…….you can only imagine how high level the word play that is going on here right now

MFR: haha! I’m guessing its pretty poor! I’ve been playing so much scrabble. I got an iPhone so I play “Words with Friends” a lot. Watch out next time! and remember last time you argued with me about one of the rules? I’m pretty sure I was right. Just sayin… ha! The other day I made the word squid for 117 point!

JC: Damn girl…….Laurent is a lot better than you’d think, apparently he played a lot while he was nursing his back…..I don’t play Words with Friends, it’s cheating and a big time waste…but anytime you’re ready for the real game I’m ready…..just saying HA

MFR: okokok well I’m sure Laurent kills it. I bet Paxson is pretty good too, he seems smart. It’s true that words with friends isn’t as legit as the real game but why don’t you stop hating so much for once? ha!

JC: So next year you can just ask to get out of doing Team Shootout, you don’t have to do something so drastic…….I kid I kid, Little Marie (Marie Hucal) killed it for you out here

MFR: I know it was perfect timing!! ha! I’m sure Marie killed it. I miss that lil nugget!

JC: Yeah she is awesome. She rode super strong. Well everyone out here wishes you the best, keep it easy style out there. Heal up strong, and keep working on your scrabble skills……although I wouldn’t be able to play you past a third grade level in French HA HA

MFR: Thanks a lot!!! I’ll be back strong on any kind of board, snow or scrabble!! ha! I can’t believe how supportive everyone has been. Thanks for all the flowers, the good vibes and messages, I feel so lucky to have such good friends and people around me. Thanks to Rome for all the presents and treats from the whole staff, 32 sent me flowers as well, so crazy. I love you all and it would have been a lot harder without everybody’s love. Thank you!!! Xoxox bye bye now

JC: Cool I’ll talk to you soon ma friend

Photo: Cole Barash.

Doctor believes KP will snowboard again.

Following shortly after a good article in the New York Times, where Kevin’s doctor asserted his confidence that he’d be riding again, comes the equally good news that he’s been released from Craig Hospital and will continue his therapy from now on as an outpatient.

This official update from the Well Wishes to our Frend Kevin Pearce Facebook page:

“Snowboarder Kevin Pearce was released from the inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program at Craig Hospital on April 14, 2010. Kevin will continue daily outpatient therapy with Craig Hospital while residing in the Denver-area home that has been generously loaned to the Pearce family for the last several months. Kevin’s outpatient treatment is expected to be the final step in Colorado before returning to his Norwich, VT home in the upcoming weeks, where he will continue to make strides toward a full recovery.”

The NY Times had earlier ran a piece detailing how his recovery from the serious brain injury sustained on New Year’s Eve has been progressing and, even more encouragingly, how his doctor believes he’ll be strapping in again:

“I don’t know that he’ll be doing halfpipes, because we don’t want him to hit his head,” said Dr. Alan Weintraub, medical director of the brain injury program at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo. “But he’s going to snowboard. I can pretty much guarantee it.”

His mum, Pia, also explains how much it means to Kevin and the whole family to have received so many messages of goodwill and support:

“I have nothing but gratitude for all the people in our lives, the people we know and the people we don’t know, that have been pulling for us this whole time.”

Check out the full piece HERE. All the best KP and co. from us in Europe and here’s hoping your recovery continues so positively so we can see you in the mountains again soon.

Photo: Cole Barash.

Really good to hear from the man himself. Keep strong, KP!

“Mar 15th, 5:30pm: Hey everybody, i’m here with my brother Adam. I am so stoked by how much support and love you have all shown for me and my family. Thanks for reaching out in so many different ways. I am getting better every day although still have a long way to go. -Kevin”

This is, obviously, great news. Earlier this month, the Pearce family posted another update on the Well Wishes to our Frend Kevin Pearce Facebook page, detailing the positive progress KP’s been making since being transferred to Craig Hospital and going through their Traumatic Brain Injury program.

“Kevin Pearce, Snowboarder and Norwich, VT native continues to improve and impress his Craig Hospital therapy team and his family.

Alan H. Weintraub, MD, Kevin’s rehabilitation physician at Craig Hospital, and the Medical Director of Craig’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program and the TBI Rocky Mt. Regional System of Care said, “We could not be more delighted and inspired by Kevin’s progress. Kevin’s treatment team has completed our comprehensive neuro-rehabilitation evaluation, and Kevin is actively engaged in a TBI treatment program, specially tailored to his needs. Kevin is in many therapeutic activities, including occupational therapy, speech/language, physical therapy, counseling, and aquatics therapy. Due to his consistent hard work, his walking, short-term memory, and stamina are all improving. Kevin’s progress is very encouraging.”

Kevin’s parents are also very pleased with Kevin’s progress and the treatment he is receiving at Craig. Kevin’s mother Pia states, “We are very grateful to have the opportunity to be at Craig Hospital. Kevin’s rehab is our family’s highest priority right now. We are confident that he is in excellent hands here at Craig. We appreciate being able to be so involved and are thrilled to experience Kevin’s remarkable progress.”

Kevin’s Facebook Fan page, Well Wishes to our Frend Kevin Pearce, is still the preferred site for people posting their get-well wishes and sharing their stories. All cards and letters for Kevin can now be sent to him at Craig Hospital:

Kevin Pearce
Craig Hospital
3425 S Clarkson St
Englewood, CO. 80113”

Again, if you’ve got any love you want to share with Kevin, either join the Facebook group or send your letters and cards to the address above. All the very best and hoping your recovery continues as positively as it has been so far, dude!

Kevin Pearce. Photo: Cole Barash

Almost two months after Kevin Pearce’s tragic accident NBC did a moving piece on him. It includes some photos showing him smiling at the camera and discusses the long way to recovery in front of him. Due to copyright restrictions and whatnot readers from outside the US cannot view the clip on the NBC Olympics website. However, someone filmed the whole thing off the TV screen and posted it on youtube.

The clip includes short interviews with Kevin’s parents and his brothers, and even though the sound is weak at times it is definitely worth watching. Keep sending your good vibes to KP, his family and friends on the Well Wishes to our Frend Kevin Pearce Facebook page.

Kevin Pearce. Photo: Cole Barash.

Some good news to report  - KP continues to make great strides in his recovery.

Just one month after he sustained a serious head injury, Kevin’s been moved from the University of Utah Hospital to Craig Hospital where he’ll begin taking the next steps in his path to recovery.

Holly Ledyard MD of University of Utah Hospital, who was one of the doctors attending to Kevin, said “Kevin has made tremendous progress since being admitted to University of Utah Hospital on December 31. He is able to walk and do many daily activities with some assistance. I asked him how he felt about being discharged from the hospital and he said, ‘Excited! I’m ready to keep on going!’ His positive attitude and determination will certainly serve him well as he moves on to the next phase of his rehabilitation.”

Craig Hospital is well-known for its specialisation in rehabilitation and research for people with traumatic brain injury and Alan H. Weintraub MD, who’ll be leading Kevin’s team, is keen to help him continue his rehab, as he explains: “Craig Hospital’s specialized TBI treatment program has begun a comprehensive evaluation of Kevin’s neurological injury and his rehabilitation needs. Our goal is to assist Kevin and his family through this challenging journey and help them reach their fullest potential in every phase of recovery. I also want to acknowledge the excellent work since Kevin’s injury by our acute care colleagues at the University of Utah.

Kevin’s parents gave a special thank you to all of the doctors, nurses and staff at the University of Utah Hospital who have helped Kevin and the Pearce family though this difficult time. The Pearce family would also like to thank all of the friends and fans of Kevin for their outpouring of support, thoughts and prayers; they have helped Kevin get through his day. With Kevin embarking on a new level of rehabilitation the Pearce family look forward to the experience at Craig Hospital with great optimism.

Photo: Nixon.

Some more bad news to report.

Details are sketchy but Danny Davis, who laid down one of the hands down nuts pipe runs of all time a couple weeks ago at the US Grand Prix not to mention having one of the best styles in the game, has been admitted to a Utah hospital to treat a back injury he sustained in an accident on Sunday.

It seems he was riding an ATV when he crashed and broke a vertebra that requires surgery, and he will miss the rest of the competitive season. Danny was on fire recently and looked a shoe-in for an Olympic spot, but screw all that… let’s just hope he’s doing well and will heal up quick.

We wish you the speediest and fullest of recoveries, Danny. Leave your good will and positive vibes on Danny’s Facebook fan page.

When more is confirmed, we’ll let you know.