Kevin Pearce – National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Nominee

Posted on February 12, 2014 by hydle

[YouTubeUlar] <— 9,119 Today Ashley Cooley and I purchased two tickets to the 2014 Craig Hospital PUSH Dinner where Snowboarding star Kevin Pearce will be the recipient of the Craig Hospital Inspiration Award. Pearce was recently selected as one of the National Geographic Adventurers of the Year amongst several other, and somewhat crazy adventurists... Adventure Educators - Amy and Dave Freeman
Alpinists – Raphael Slawinski and Ian Welsted
Big-Wave Surfer – Greg Long
Climber – Adam Ondra
Community Builders – Stacy Bare and Nick Watson
Explorer – Sarah Marquis
Long-Distance Swimmer – Diana Nyad
Skier – JP Auclair
Sky Runner – Kilian Jornet
Snowboarder – Kevin Pearce

KevinPearceCrashReel

If you haven’t taken the time to watch “The Crash Reel”, which documents Kevin Pearce’s recovery from a crash in Park City, Utah where Pearce sustained a traumatic brain injury, I would highly recommend you point your iTunes or Apple TV this direction.

Pearce was attempting a cab double cork while training in the halfpipe on December 31st, 2009 — only 49 days before the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Pearce spent 34 days in critical care at University Hospital before being transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado to begin his rehabilitation.

“The Crash Reel” documents Kevin Pearce’s remarkable recovery while educating about the effects of traumatic brain injuries specifically tied to Action Sports. Defining the art of snowboarding and tracking Kevin Pearce from childhood to a professional career as the only snowboarder with the ability to beat Shaun White, the dynamic story line of The Crash Reel brings together every emotion related to overcoming such incredible odds.

I personally can not recommend a better documentary film for anyone to watch and am excited to see what Jake Manley and the media team at Craig Hospital have created for the upcoming 2014 PUSH Dinner.

Hashtag – Love Your Brain – #LoveYourBrain

[2014 Craig Hospital PUSH Dinner]
[Love Your Brain Campaign]
[The Crash Reel Homepage]
[National Geographic Adventurers of the Year]
[National Geographic Interview of Kevin Pearce’s 2014 Running of the 2014 Sochi Olympics]

Doug Smith – I Am Craig Video

Posted on March 29, 2013 by hydle

[Vimeeeeeo] <— 1848 LinkedIn recently inquired me to write about some projects from my past, so I thought I would share this little write up on the 2011 Craig Hospital Push Dinner video with Doug Smith, the most amazing pianist (sorry doug) in the world.

The 2011 installment of the “I Am Craig” PUSH Dinner Video was a fun one. Getting the opportunity to interview Doug Smith, a true musical genius, was a treat for me to figure out where his creativity comes from. Tying his story into a live show was a first for the Craig Hospital PUSH dinner videos… something they have now copied three times since this 2011 showing.

If you could have only been there to feel this transition take place… to see my work presented on such a large scale to tell the story of Doug Smith and then have him revealed and play such a powerful song live — It was such an amazing feeling.

I shot, edited and directed this piece with a small team of Jake Manley, Mary Bonner and myself. We all had a fun working road trip to Lubbock, Texas were everyone on the team learned a lot about each other, the local watering holes, and the man Doug Smith!

After the 6:40 mark in the video… I had zero control of shooting and editing. I feel as if the impact could have been a bit better matched to my original work – but you still get the impression of how impacted the audience was. [raw video]

I can’t wait to actually tell this entire story in Hydle detail sometime in the near future for all of you loyal readers and newly Doug Smith fans :) But for now – it stays in the memory bank.

Don’t hesitate to pick up the most amazing Doug Smith album of all time. It was recorded live in 2000 before his injury. The stories behind the recording of this album are incredible, but Doug Smith’s playing is even better.

[iTunes – Live – Doug Smith]
[Doug Smith – The Amazing Piano Player – Homepage]
[Doug Smith – The Amazing Piano Player – On Hydle.com]
[Craig Hospital]

Colin Bane — Kevin Pearce Rides Again

Posted on December 14, 2011 by hydle

“Pearce said his injury and the intense recovery process have taught him more than he ever hoped to know about traumatic brain injuries. “I think the most important thing that I can share with folks about traumatic brain injuries is that your brain never stops healing,” he said. “You can heal as much as you want as long as you keep your mind to it and work hard. I think it’s really hard for a lot of kids because they think they’re in such bad shape that they just give up, and that’s been the most important lesson for me: It’s hard and it takes a lot of work but you can heal.”

Welcome back to the mountain Kevin Pearce. Great work on the article Colin Bane.

[ESPN – READ FULL]
[Dew Tour Video] <— 302 views [Burton Snowboards Video] <— 316 views

“I used to take this for granted… I used to be on this lift and be like — gosh why is this lift so slow, get me to the top — and now its just nice to be up here. Be up here hang in'”

[RED – Wear Your Helmet] <— 23,113

Project Montana

Image

I just returned from a week long project in Montana. Lets just say spirits are lifted again and it’s time to tell a new story. This year is all about family. To view this project in creation – I would suggest grabbing your tickets to the 11th annual Craig Hospital PUSH dinner on March 2nd, 2012 here.

HYDLE – 2011 Craig Hospital Push Dinner Video

Posted on July 15, 2011 by hydle

[Vimeo] <— 112 views Wow - What an amazing story and adventure it was getting to hang out with Doug Smith. He is an incredible piano player and if you have never heard him play before his accident… it will alarm you what his fingers can do.

Buy his Live album and prepare to be *blown* away.
Work to it… rock out to it… study to it — just listen to it.

Artist: Doug Smith
Album: Doug Smith — Live
Songs: West Texas and Passion — give them 5 stars.

I can’t wait for your new album Doug!

[Craig Hospital Link]
[Previous Hydle + Doug Smith]

Ballyneal 155 Holes – For a Cause

Posted on June 30, 2011 by hydle

[Just Read This]
[Denver Post Article]

Talk about a surprise story of the day revolving around a client of mine (Craig Hospital) an unfortunate skiing accident (At Monarch on March 17th, 2011) golfing an amazing course I’ve wanted to play (Ballyneal in Holyoke, CO) and playing 155 holes (walking) for a cause (Ben Cox’s personal patient assistance fund) and a completely random and honest stranger (Jim Colton)…

“If you’re a Golf World subscriber, check out the most recent version of Golf World Monday, the publication’s weekly digital version. #10 features a familiar face. If I had known my composite scorecard was going to be shared with the world, I might have tried a little harder on those four-footers. I also hit this drive on #12 way right into the native.”

Although I wish there was some actual video of this happening… the recap below is ok – but I still want to see more. Don’t hesitate to click through the links and get involved. There is a remarkable lineup of 74 raffle items for every $50 you donate… and if your a serious golfer you do not want to miss this list.

Total Raised to Date: $82,115
What: A 108-golf marathon to raise money for Ben Cox, a Ballyneal caddie who was paralyzed from a severe skiing accident in March.
When: June 22, 2011 (update)
Where: Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club – Holyoke, CO

How to Give:
Send a check payable to: Prairie Home Baptist Church (memo: Ballyneal fundraiser)

Prairie Home Baptist Church
P.O. Box 271
Haxtun, CO 80731

[YouTube] <— 82 views

HYDLE – The Doug Smith Show

Posted on March 16, 2011 by hydle

I have a gift for you regarding a recent completion to a very inspiring project.

Don’t click the links unless you have time to consume…
[HERE] <— is written proof. [HERE] <— is Hydle RAW proof.

HYDLE – It’s Story Time

Posted on February 15, 2011 by hydle

[iDevice Link] <— 21,510 In November of 2010 I had the opportunity to road trip to Lubbock, Texas to tell a story about a west texas piano player who goes by the name of Doug Smith. My only introduction to Doug prior to engaging with him at his home in Petersburg, Texas was this video above... and a minor tour through his music library from the iPod on the road trip down. Doug was injured in a car accident in 2007 while driving home from his studio late one evening on a two lane rural Texas road. Hey lay upside down for 3 hours with a broken neck before he was found and ultimately transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado to continue his rehabilitation back to the piano. As you will see in these future posts about this life changing trip to the cotton fields of west Texas, Doug Smith has since returned to the studio in a new musical form.

“You don’t need hands to play a piano… you don’t need legs either. You just need a will in your heart.”

Look for the release of Doug Smith’s first post injury album to be hit the shelves shortly after the 10th annual Craig Hospital PUSH Dinner on March 3rd, 2011 – where you will also get to view this completed video project.

For more information and tickets to the 10th annual PUSH Dinner – follow this (yet to be found) link.

Kevin Pearce – Leaves Craig Hospital

Posted on May 14, 2010 by hydle

Update on Kevin Pearce leaving Craig Hospital. Congratulations and good luck on your goal of riding again.

Kevin Pearce at Craig Hospital

Posted on February 25, 2010 by hydle

I’m not a fan of Microsoft or Silverlight – but this olympic video is worth the install. Mac’ers – don’t be scared. Windows’lugers – you probably already are.

Kevin Pearce who was an olympic hopeful and one of the only athletes that could give Shaun White a run for his money suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) on December 31st, 2009 at Park City. In early February Kevin was moved from the University of Utah Hospital to Craig Hospital in Denver, CO where he began a comprehensive TBI rehabilitation program led by Alan Weintraub, MD.

His Facebook Fan Page is now 44,000 strong and includes daily updates and an amazing amount of activity.

It is good to see such a nice production coming from NBC during the Olympics about Kevin Pearce, his family and his injury. People don’t typically understand what an amazing piece of machinery the human brain is and how complex a full recovery can be. Thanks to Tom Brokaw for getting the facts straight on this one.

This time last year I was tracking progress coming from Riley Poor during his spinal cord injury rehabilitation at Craig. I have currently been working very closely with with Craig Hopspital on a project that will go live on March 4th at their 9th annual Push Dinner.

Being associated with such an amazing place like Craig is something I can take for granted because my parents actually met working here in the 1970s. I grew up around this place and now – after taking Craig on as a client – I have found a new respect for the roots from which I have grown. It is hard to explain what Craig Hospital does. To give you an example … you will have to wait until March 5th.

Riley Poor – Transitions

Posted on December 7, 2009 by hydle

On December 4th I was lucky enough to attend a special premiere of Riley Poor’s latest creation … Transitions down at Craig Hospital.

I was truly blown away by this film not only because it goes back to the era of skiing I thrived and grew up in … which brings amazing memories. But also because it is such a beautiful documentary about one of the greatest pipe throbs of all time, Simon Dumont.

Now – I just can’t wait for Riley’s next project and to possibly get deeper into the real meaning behind Transitions. After all, out of everyone I know (minus my dad) there isn’t anyone who has taken a larger transition in their lives in this past year other then Riley Poor. I still wear his sticker on the back of my phone and think daily about what a true inspiration he is has become … from day one.

Riley – congratulations on the engagement to your amazing Katrina. Jake and Sara – screw the black hole of 2009? Jeremy Sweeney – What would Joel be doing now? Hoodlum – keep up the good work. Maddy – Your adorable.