Snowboarder Louie Vito lands Toyota sponsorship for Winter Dew Tour

Toyota has announced its official sponsorship of snowboarder Louie Vito for the 2011 Winter Dew Tour. Vito joins U.S. Women’s Olympic team snowboarder Elena Hight and top freeskier Simon Dumont on Toyota’s roster of sponsored Winter Dew athletes this season.

Vito, 22, won in the first event of this season's Winter Dew Tour, the Nike 6.0 Open, at Breckenridge, Colo., in December. While Vito also represented the U.S. in the halfpipe competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where he finished fifth, he may be most recognized by some for participating on Season 9 of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in 2009.

Hight, Dumont, and Vito will be signing autographs in the Toyota tent in Festival Village at the remaining two stops of the tour --  Killington, Vt., taking place Thursday through Sunday, and the Toyota Championships,  Feb. 10-13 in Ogden, Utah.

In its fourth season as a founding partner of the Winter Dew Tour, Toyota also announced it will be offering athletes and fans free rides from shuttle stops in and around the Winter Dew Tour host resorts to any desired location, within a set distance, helping to keep fans from trekking in the snow.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Louie Vito competes in the men's snowboarding finals at the Winter Dew Tour 6.0 Open. Credit: Alli Sports

Winter X Games 15 announces competition schedule

The Winter X Games 15 competition schedule has been announced. 

All events will take place Thurs., Jan. 27, through Sun., Jan. 30, on Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colo. 

Times listed are Pacific Standard Time and subject to change.

 

Thursday, Jan. 27
Event	Time
Skiing Slopestyle Men's Elimination	9 - 11 a.m.
Snowmobile Freestyle Elimination	10:30 a.m. - Noon
Skiing Slopestyle Women's Final	Noon - 1 p.m.
Snowmobile Freestyle Round One	6 - 7 p.m.
Snowboard SuperPipe Men's Elimination	6 - 7:30 p.m.
Snowmobile Freestyle Final	7:30 - 8 p.m.
Skiing SuperPipe Women's Final	8 - 8:40 p.m.

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce taking part in New York Buddy Walk this Saturday

Pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce, along with his brother David, will be making a guest appearance  Saturday at the 2010 New York City Buddy Walk.

To kick off the festivities, Kevin, David and the Pearce family will participate in the National Down Syndrome Society annual Times Square video presentation. Kevin will then address the walkers in Central Park about the importance of advocacy and will be available for autograph signings immediately following the walk. 

Kevin, an NDSS Sports Ambassador and Team Captain for the Buddy Walk, has set a fund-raising goal of $10,000 this year for NDSS. Those interested in supporting Kevin may join his team as a walker or by sponsoring Kevin, David and their team. 

All donations will benefit local area programs and the national advocacy efforts of the National Down Syndrome Society.

The Buddy Walk was established in 1995 by the NDSS to celebrate October's Down Syndrome Awareness Month and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Both the cause and the organization are extremely important to Kevin and the Pearce family.

Kevin was in the news earlier this year after suffering a traumatic brain injury from an accident while training in the halfpipe at Park City, Utah, for the Winter Olympics qualifier at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

He was completing a cab double cork -- a twisting double back-flip maneuver he's landed before -- when he caught his toe-side edge while landing.

Though wearing a helmet, Kevin hit his head above one of his eyes and was knocked unconscious. He underwent a four-month recovery and physical rehabilitation program in Salt Lake City and Englewood, Colo. and returned home to Vermont in May.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Kevin Pearce, left, and his brother David. Credit: Pearce family

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce returns home to Vermont

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce returned home to Vermont on Saturday, following a four-month recovery and physical rehabilitation program in Salt Lake City and Englewood, Colo. He will be living in his family’s Norwich home while continuing outpatient therapy.

"It's so great to be back in my hometown with my whole family. I can’t thank everyone I met in Utah and Colorado enough. It's been a long road, and I know I still have a ways to go, but the support I have had from my family and friends, my sponsors, the Frends Crew, as well as so many fans has been amazing," Pearce said in a statement issued Tuesday.

His parents, Simon and Pia Pearce, are very grateful their son has been able to return home.

"Over the past four months our family has embarked on an unexpected yet very rewarding journey with Kevin. We are incredibly proud of how hard he has worked to recover from his injury and take joy in all of the milestones Kevin has reached so far. We have nothing but optimism and excitement about his continuing recovery and his future."

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce released from hospital

A quick and positive update on snowboarder Kevin Pearce: According to a news release issued Thursday, Pearce was released from the inpatient traumatic brain injury program at Craig Hospital on April 14 and has moved to a Denver-area home where his family has been staying.

Pearce will continue daily outpatient therapy with the hospital, which is expected to be his final step in Colorado before returning to his Norwich, Vt., home.

The Facebook Fan page created by Pearce's family is still active, and the preferred site for people posting their get-well wishes.

Pearce suffered a traumatic brain injury in January while training in the halfpipe at Park City, Utah, for the Winter Olympics qualifier at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

Pearce was completing a cab double cork -- a twisting double back flip maneuver he's landed before -- when he caught his toe-side edge while landing.

Though Pearce, 22, was wearing a helmet, he hit his head above one of his eyes and was knocked unconscious.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Kevin Pearce competes in the men's snowboard superpipe final at Winter X Games 13 last year in Aspen, Colo. Credit: Eric Lars Bakke / Shazamm / ESPN Images

RELATED:

More positive news on snowboarder Kevin Pearce

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce moved from critical care unit and continues to progress in his recovery

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce continues to recover and improve at Utah hospital

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce is regaining consciousness; has been upgraded from critical to serious condition

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce remains in critical condition with traumatic brain injury

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce in critical condition after halfpipe accident

To follow this blog on Twitter, please visit @latimesoutposts.

More positive news on snowboarder Kevin Pearce

The news on snowboarder Kevin Pearce continues to be positive. An update posted this morning on the Facebook fan page created by Pearce's family said that, just one month after his accident, Pearce has been transferred from the University of Utah Hospital to Craig Hospital in Denver, a world-renowned rehabilitation center for people with traumatic brain injury.

Elaine Skalabrin, the Utah hospital's neuro-critical care medical director and one of Pearce’s doctors while he was there, is optimistic about his progress.

"Kevin has made tremendous progress since being admitted to University of Utah Hospital on Dec. 31. He is able to walk and do many daily activities with some assistance," she said. "I asked him how he felt about being discharged from the hospital, and he said, 'Excited! I'm ready to keep on going!' His positive attitude and determination will certainly serve him well as he moves on to the next phase of his rehabilitation."

The next phase will be an evaluation of Pearce's injury, sustained while training in the halfpipe at Park City, Utah.

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce moved from critical care unit and continues to progress in his recovery

Pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce has been moved out of the critical care unit at the University of Utah Hospital, and continues to make progress in his recovery from a head injury sustained Dec. 31.

"Kevin is making excellent progress and will move from the Critical Care to Neuro Acute care unit at the University of Utah Hospital today. He is working very hard to make daily progress in therapy, and his sense of humor and optimism are apparent as he begins his rehabilitation,” Elaine Skalabrin, medical director of neuro critical care and one of Pearce’s doctors, stated in the official update released today.

Pearce, 22, of Norwich, Vt., was training in the halfpipe at Park City, Utah, and was completing a cab double cork -- a twisting double back flip maneuver he's landed before -- when he caught his toe-side edge while landing.

Though he was wearing a helmet, he hit his head above one of his eyes and was knocked unconscious.

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce continues to recover and improve at Utah hospital

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce is continuing to recover at the University of Utah Hospital, making great strides in his improvement, which is encouraging to his doctors as well as to his family.

“Kevin continues to improve and is actively participating in his therapies. He is making progress on a daily basis,” one of Pearce’s doctors, Neuro-Critical Care Medical Director Elaine Skalabrin, states in the most recent update posted on the Facebook fan page that Pearce's family created.

Kevin’s parents, Simon and Pia Pearce, have been by his side at the hospital since his arrival. They had nothing but praise for those at the hospital involved in their son's care.

"We cannot say enough good things about the doctors, nurses and support staff here at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. They have shown Kevin and our family the best of what modern medicine can offer and have been completely caring and supportive throughout this entire process. We extend our heartfelt appreciation and admiration to everyone involved Kevin’s recovery.”

The Facebook fan page is still the preferred method for people wanting to extend get-well wishes.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Kevin Pearce competes during the qualification run at last year's men's Snowboard Halfpipe FIS World Cup competition in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Credit: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty Images

Related:

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce is regaining consciousness; has been upgraded from critical to serious condition

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce remains in critical condition with traumatic brain injury

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce in critical condition after halfpipe accident

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce is regaining consciousness; has been upgraded from critical to serious condition

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce has been upgraded from critical to serious condition, according to his doctors at the University of Utah Hospital. Although Pearce still faces a long recovery, this is a very big step and his doctors are "cautiously" optimistic, given his current progress.

Pearce had been training in the halfpipe at Park City, Utah, for this week's Olympics qualifier at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, and was knocked unconscious when he caught his toe-side edge while landing a cab double cork -- a twisting double back flip maneuver he's landed before.

One of Pearce's doctors, Holly Ledyard, a neurointensivist (a physician with specialized education and training in critical neurological conditions), remains positive about his condition.

“Kevin is in serious condition and remains in intensive care. We’ve been able to remove his breathing tube, and he is slowly regaining consciousness and able to follow commands," Ledyard said in an update posted on the Facebook Fan page that Pearce's family created for fans who want to offer wishes and support.

"While we’re pleased that he’s improving faster than anticipated, he still has a long recovery ahead of him,” added Ledyard.

Close friend Danny Davis must have been channeling Pearce, Pete Thomas reports on his blog. Davis landed a monumental second run that included three double corks to best fellow competitor Shaun White and take the top spot in the halfpipe competition Wednesday at the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix. It was the first time Davis had ever landed three double corks in one run.

"I had Kev on my mind and right before every run I was making sure I had him in spirit. I know we're sending vibes back to each other and it was good," Davis said. "I asked Kev to help me through that one. He's not up, but we're mentally on the same wavelength now. He's helped me through my runs and it's been nice to have him."

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Kevin Pearce competes during the final of the men's Snowboard Halfpipe FIS World Cup 2009 event on the Allalin glacier in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Credit: Jean-Christophe Bott / Associated Press / Keystone

Related:

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce remains in critical condition with traumatic brain injury

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce in critical condition after halfpipe accident

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce remains in critical condition with traumatic brain injury

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce remains in critical condition at the University of Utah Hospital after a head injury sustained while training in the halfpipe at Park City, Utah, for this week's Olympics qualifier at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

Pearce was completing a cab double cork -- a twisting double back flip maneuver he's landed before -- when he caught his toe-side edge while landing.

Though Pearce, 22, was wearing a helmet, he hit his head above one of his eyes and was knocked unconscious.

“Kevin sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. He is currently in intensive care and in critical condition, but stable and has not needed to undergo surgery at this time. He is intubated and being kept sedated," Holly Ledyard, a neurointensivist who is one of Pearce's doctors, said in a statement issued Saturday and posted on the Facebook page family members created.

"The focus over the next week will be watching for any swelling in his brain and keeping his brain pressure normal. Kevin has a long recovery ahead of him,” said Ledyard.

Outposts will post updates on Pearce as information becomes available.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Kevin Pearce competes in the men's snowboard superpipe final at Winter X Games 13 last year in Aspen, Colo. Credit: Eric Lars Bakke / Shazamm/ESPN Images

Related:

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce in critical condition after halfpipe accident

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce in critical condition after halfpipe accident

Top Olympic snowboarding hopeful Kevin Pearce is in critical condition, injured while training in Park City, Utah, for next week's Olympics qualifier at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

Pearce, 22, hit his head above one of his eyes on an icy halfpipe wall and was knocked unconscious, reports Pete Thomas on his blog.

Pearce was airlifted to the University of Utah Hospital, where he had surgery Thursday evening to relieve fluid buildup on his brain. He remains in critical but stable condition.

Pearce, of Norwich, Vt., has been considered a favorite to make the U.S. Olympic Team. He is one of the few competitors to challenge snowboarder Shaun White, besting him at the Burton European Open in 2008 and 2009 and taking the silver medal at last winter's X Games, losing the gold medal to White by one point.

Family members have set up a Facebook page, where fans can offer their support and well wishes.

"We would like to thank everyone for their support at this time and ask that you keep Kevin in your thoughts and prayers during his recovery," his parents, Simon and Pia Pearce, said in a statement issued Friday.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Snowboarder Kevin Pearce poses for a portrait during the USOC Media Summit in Chicago last year. Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts

'Snowboarding With Shaun White' auction open on EBay; proceeds go to charity

Shaun White is up for auction on EBay -- well, the opportunity to snowboard with the Olympic gold medalist is.

Bidding is open through Friday for the chance to win a snowboarding session with Shaun and one-day VIP passes to the Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships on March 16-21 at Stratton Mountain in Vermont.

The auction winner will also enjoy lunch with Shaun; a complete set-up from "The White Collection" by Burton including board, boots, bindings and outerwear; and one night's accommodation at a four-star hotel on March 20. Plus, the auction winner can bring a friend (but all travel to and from Stratton Mountain is the responsibility of the winning bidder and his or her guest).

Bidding closes at 7 p.m. PST Friday and is restricted to preapproved buyers only, which means those interested must e-mail the seller to be placed on the preapproved list.

All auction proceeds will benefit Right to Play, an organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health and develop life skills for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

The video above shows Shaun teaching children how to skateboard at Right to Play programs in Rwanda. Their smiles and cheers speak volumes about the value of Shaun's involvement with the charity.

-- Kelly Burgess

Video credit: auctioncause via YouTube

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter, please visit @latimesoutposts.