Snowboarder Kevin Pearce to speak at Breckenridge Brain Injury Conference

In 2011, former Olympic hopeful and traumatic brain injury survivor Kevin Pearce visited the High Country to snowboard for the first time since the crash that nearly killed him.

Now, the 26-year-old, who spent a week and a half in a coma and four months at a Denver hospital relearning how to walk and talk, has returned.

Pearce will speak Friday, May 17, at the regions second annual Brain Injury Conference. He also will present The Crash Reel, a documentary about his accident and recovery.

Its really cool to come to mountain towns and ski communities where his story hits home for locals, Pearce said. It feels much more like my people.

The medical community, traumatic brain injury survivors and their family members and caregivers are encouraged to attend the conference. Hosted by the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado and St. Anthony Summit Medical Center, the event will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The conference and screening are sponsored by the alliance, the Summit Medical Center Health Foundations injury prevention programs (ThinkFirst, TBI and Safe Kids), High Country Health Care and Breckenridge residents Howard and Sue Carver.

The documentary screening will start at 7 p.m.

Though the movie revolves around his accident and recovery, Pearce said, really its more about the power of family and what family can do for you.

He hopes to teach people that recovery is possible and healing is possible no matter what hardships they face.

The film focuses on his successful, positive story, he said, and even if you have nothing to do with winter sports, I guarantee that youll be able to take something away from it.

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Snowboarder Kevin Pearce to speak at Breckenridge Brain Injury Conference