Springfield College Welcomes Former Professional Snowboarder to Campus

Former professional snowboarder, inspirational public speaker, and co-founder of LoveYourBrain LLC, Kevin Pearce, was a guest speaker at Springfield College on Tuesday, March 29, at Blake Arena. The event was presented by Springfield College Office of Student Activities, Office of Athletics, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and School of Health Sciences and Rehabilitation Studies. 

While training for the 2010 Olympic trials, Pearce suffered a life-altering brain injury, effectively cutting his snowboarding career short. After a rigorous recovery, Pearce became an advocate for the prevention of brain injuries and the promotion of a brain-healthy lifestyle for all people.

Together with his brother, Adam, he co-founded LoveYourBrain LLC, which supports traumatic brain injury survivors and their caregivers to participate in gentle yoga and meditation classes tailored to their needs.

Pearce’s career began in 2005 when he became a professional snowboarder at just 18 years old, and he went on to earn numerous accolades, including a silver medal in the 2009 Winter X Games.

Pearce’s journey was recently chronicled in the HBO documentary The Crash Reel. Currently, Pearce is a sports ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society, as well as the founder of The Kevin Pearce Fund to support nonprofit organizations across the country that assist those affected by brain injuries, Down Syndrome, and other challenges. He also is the 2014 recipient of the Dana and Christopher Reeve Inspiration Award from Craig Hospital and the 2011 Victory Award from The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C.