Kevin Pearce to receive Victory Award

I've met a bunch of kids with similar injuries that haven't been doing that, and they're not doing well. You've got to be really strict and stick to your recovery plan if you want to come out anything like you were before the injury. I've been very strict about it and I feel like I'm doing well.

All the doctors told me if I hadn't had a helmet on I would have died. I want to help make kids aware of how important that helmet really is.

-- Kevin Pearce

How realistic is it for you to be back snowboarding? Obviously there's a lot of risk of re-injury involved.
That's been the heavy question, but it's one thing I've been so lucky about: I can get back on the board, and I will. That didn't even seem like a possibility a year and a half ago. Now I'm just taking the time to make sure it's the right time when I do. It's going to be a lot different than it was, obviously, but I'm psyched that it's even an option.

After seeing everyone I've met with these kinds of injuries and seeing firsthand how much worse it could have been, I've really just been making sure to stay positive. In some ways I've been very lucky.

This week at X Games we saw the return of Adam Taylor on the MegaRamp after his own recovery from a traumatic brain injury, and just last week at the Dew Tour Jay Eggleston had a brain injury in BMX Vert and is still in the hospital. It's great to see athletes bouncing back, but I understand you've also met a lot of people who have been completely debilitated by these injuries.

Morning/ESPN ImagesPearce is finding new ways to be involved in snowboarding while he waits to get back on his board.

I know if I hit my head again I'm at least four times more likely to get another brain injury than a person who hasn't already had one, and if that does happen my life could just be over. It could be so much worse than what I've been through this time around, and that's the huge reason why I've been so mellow and haven't been back snowboarding yet: I'm trying to really let it heal as much as possible before I get back on the board.

You've been working the mic at some of these events, and I understand you're now preparing to do some public speaking gigs. Has your injury and the whole recovery process somehow helped you find your voice?
Yeah, you know, I have found my voice this year and it's a whole new world now that I'm going into, with a whole new level of confidence. I know I can't be doing the snowboarding like I was, so I'm trying to switch it up in a cool, positive way. I think that I can really give a lot of people some inspiration and hope with my public speaking, and maybe help people learn about traumatic brain injuries and the rehabilitation process while I'm at it.

What is the message you want to take out there?
One of the main ones is to be careful. Be smart and, straight up, do everything you can to avoid hitting your head in the first place.

Another one is about wearing helmets: All the doctors told me if I hadn't had a helmet on I would have died. I want to help make kids aware of how important that helmet really is.

And last, if you do have one of these injuries, never lose hope and do everything possible to come back from it. There have been a lot of good people working to make recovery and rehabilitation possible. I'm very thankful for that.

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