Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

After a near-fatal run two years ago, Kevin Pearce gets set for his return to the slopes at Breckenridge on Tuesday. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post 

By Jason Blevins, The Denver Post

The crowd hollered his name. The cameras rolled. Kevin Pearce grinned, pumped his fist in the air and pulled his goggles down from his helmet brim. And he jetted away on the snowboard that has defined his life. It was like old times for the 24-year-old former professional snowboarder. Maybe even better.

"This was the ride of a lifetime," he said at the bottom of the Breckenridge slope. "That was really nice. Felt so good."

Tuesday was the first time Pearce had ridden his snowboard since suffering a traumatic brain injury while training two years ago for his life goal, an Olympic performance.

"Today was a monumental day for us all," said Pearce's older brother, Adam. "It's almost like a part of him was missing for so long and now he feels whole again. Snowboarding was so much of who he was, and now he's back."

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In the past 2 years, Kevin Pearce has had to learn to walk, talk and eat. Yet Tuesday he was hopping high-speed 180s at Breck. And hugging strangers. And appreciating every moment.  See photos and read more about that special day on the slopes in Jason Blevin's story.