In 2009, when the news broke that Shaun White was training in a private halfpipe in Silverton, Colorado, the snowboard world went crazy. The thought of training in a private ski area was unheard of, not to mention the fact that White was practicing game-changing tricks into a foam pit at the bottom of a superpipe.

During these sessions White learned and perfected his signature trick, the Double McTwist 1260, which has been an integral part of keeping the renowned rider atop the podium time and time again.

Three years later, private sessions with foam-pits and airbags are becoming the standard for competitive snowboarders. It's required to keep up with the ever-evolving sport and stay in podium contention. Sage Kotsenburg of the US Slopestyle Olympic Team and Silver medalist at this year's X-games said to ESPN, "Everyone's been on airbags, so if you haven't been on one, you probably don't have a couple tricks other people have. It's key to have one." By applying the new methods for training Kotsenburg stomped the first ever cab Double-Cork 1440.

Recently, while at Northstar-at-Tahoe in California, Danny Davis and Chas Guldemond held their own private airbag session on a massive park jump. Kevin Pearce was also on the scene, supporting his friends as they perfected a series of double-corks into a bag-jump.

Whether you love it or hate it, it seems that the airbag phenomenon is here to stay.

Less than two weeks ago, Kevin Pearce strapped in and rode his snowboard for the first time since suffering a traumatic brain, he sustained nearly two years ago. Pearce's injury garnered a lot of media attention and his return to boarding has captured the attention of mainstream outlets as well.

On Sunday, a story about Pearce and his triumphant return to the slopes appeared on People.com. Kevin tweeted about the Christmas-day story saying, "I have a real nice story on the home page of people.com under the latest headlines. Check it out, Merry Christmas!"

Here's an excerpt from the story.

The Vermont-based athlete - who says if it were up to him instead of the doctor, he would have been back at his craft a year ago - explains the difficult recovery he continues to undergo since his life-changing injury.

"I've been working hard at a lot of things, whether it's physical therapy or eye therapy," Pearce says. "I got eye surgery about a month and a half ago. Even though my eyes are a lot better now, they're not perfect, so I have been doing exercises with them. And I've been in the gym, working out. I've been getting everything together and working on my balance."

Still, he faces significant challenges that will never go away.

"A brain injury is always a brain injury, and unfortunately I'm always going to be a brain-injured kid," Pearce says. "The real issue I have is my memory. It's hard to explain, because everyone's always like, 'Oh, my memory sucks, too.' But nobody has any idea how much my memory affects me on a day-to-day basis."

Read the rest of the story at People.com

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 may have just been another day for anyone else. A day we wake up, head to work or whatever we've got planned for the morning, and continue about our business. Yes, this was the case for many people, however, this was certainly not the case for Kevin Pearce on this particular day. On Tuesday, pro snowboarder and survivor of a traumatic brain injury got back on his snowboard in Breckenridge one year and 11 months after his crash in the halfpipe in Park City, Utah.

Heaps of riders joined Pearce to live out the now well known phrase "I Ride for Kevin" that began while he was in the hospital and transformed it into "I Ride with Kevin". Friends, family, fans, and supporters headed to Breck to celebrate Kevin's accomplishment and witness this legendary day. Before heading up on the chairlift, KP announced that "all he wanted to do was have fun". The crowd then let out cheers, hoots, and hollers and followed him to the top.

Many in attendance posted photos throughout the day of Kevin on his board with a gigantic smile on his face and his arms up in the air. We think his mission of having an awesome time was accomplished. Congrats to KP for making it to this day and never doubting that he would. To catch a glimpse of the momentous day, watch the video following Kev through Breck below.

Jake Burton & Kevin Pearce Photo: Adam Moran

To say that it's been a long journey for Kevin Pearce wouldn't come close to describing what he's been through since his traumatic accident nearly two years ago. Pearce was near death after slamming his head in the halfpipe in Park City while training for the Olympic qualifier in 2010 and officially was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. The obstacles he's overcome to arrive at the state he is in today is difficult to comprehend. Kevin basically had to re-learn how to do most everything he knew prior to the accident. And that, he did. With gusto.

Now able to walk, talk, maintain memory, and for the most part live the life he was before, this kid who is known for always having a perma-grin across his face, will conquer the thought-to-be impossible and snowboard again. Talk about inspiration, Kevin's story inevitably affects anyone who hears it.

His friends and family have been a constant support system since the beginning and he's talked many times about his goal of snowboarding again with them. This week, he sits down to talk about making it a reality. In five days, Kevin Pearce will be back on the hill with his buddies, fully living his dream again.

Hear what KP has to say to FRENDS about his path to get to this amazing spot in his life.

For years there has been controversy over wearing helmets. Some shreds are totally for it and never ride any mountain without their brain buckets on. Then there's the others who play the "too cool card" and never wear one.

We just don't get it.

With the current level of shredding at an all-time high, there should be no question that you should always where a helmet. That's our opinion and apparently the opinion of Kevin Pearce.

Over the summer, KP was at High Cascade Snowboard Camp in Oregon and sat down with campers to talk about the importance of helmets. He talks about his tragic accident on December 31, 2009 and how his life is completely different now, and how it would be nonexistent if he wasn't wearing a helmet on that fateful day.

The fact of the matter is that helmets can save your life. KP is living proof of that, which is more than enough of a reason to strap one on for us.