This story originally appeared in issue 19 of Pop Magazine.
Interview by Jan Snarski, photos by Cole Barash.

Over the last couple of years there have been two stories that have captured, united and dominated above all others in snowboarding. Two serious accidents just prior to the Vancouver Olympics, taking out two medal hopes for the U.S. and the subsequent recovery of both those guys have been followed intensely. Kevin Pearce and Danny Davis have come to be more than just two pros – they’re a rallying point for the whole community. We talked to the guys about their progress and their path.

The accidents you guys had were very different and under very different circumstances but they did yield the one similarity; you both unfortunately missed the Olympic games. You were both a potential podium. Where were you guys when Shaun won gold? How was it knowing you should have been there and could have taken the gold?
DD: Well, talk about an opening question! Here is your knife back! [Laughs] I’m just kidding. I was in Utah, doing pool therapy and rehab out there. Just sitting on my couch either with my Mom or my girlfriend. I didn’t really feel I deserved it, because I messed up and deserved a lesson… And a little wake up call I suppose. Not a gold medal. So i just take it as, maybe i had the tricks and the talent to go and do well at the olympics. But i was lacking a lot of mindset and focus i guess. Although, one big thing that had just happened was that my best friend was just seriously hurt from snowboarding. So that was heavy on my mind.
KP: I was in my rehab hospital. It was in Denver, Colorado and it was hard. Man was it hard, I knew I could have been there; it’s what I had worked so hard for, for so long and yet I was sitting in a hospital bed. It was weird. It was brutal, yet I realized how lucky I was to even be able to be watching it.

The severity of both of your injuries had the entire snowboarding community pulling for you to be OK. Kevin, once you were finally able to comprehend your situation, what was your first thoughts? Was it about snowboarding or was it that you were just relieved to be still with us? Did the Olympics cross your mind at all?
KP: That’s what’s so weird for me. I have no recollection of what my first thoughts were. I keep wondering, was it that I couldn’t snowboard and go to the Olympics. Was it being so thankful to be alive. Or what I think it was, was just wondering what had happened to me. I don’t think I’ll ever know what that first thought was because I don’t even remember comprehending the situation.

Danny, your injuries occurred in a very different set of circumstances but once you were able to finally collect your thoughts in hospital, where was your head at? Were your thoughts based around self-reflection on the preceding events? Were they about not snowboarding?
DD: I guess a little bit of both. More so on how people were looking at my situation. I was worried about people being really bummed on me and then also getting back to 100%. Like, yeah, I got hurt. But I was okay. So lucky. But I was just wondering how much I would be able to come back. A lot of the stuff they were saying early on about recovery was pretty vague.

You guys are now a few months into recovery, I understand that the initial recovery process is a very mental one. You were both approaching the peak of your game, fine tuning your snowboarding and posting some of your personal best results of your careers. Now your handed the difficult task of rehab. For athletes of your caliber it would be a monumental task. Can you give us an insight into those early days and the work you guys have put in?
DD: Well, I know from visits and photos, Kevs was insane. The length that he has come this quickly is beyond words. Mine, was just annoying. Kevs was inspiring and that is really what kept me positive and kept me going so hard on mine. I was pissed at myself, because I couldn’t walk for so long or move my upper body. So I was just watching my muscle and everything atrophy and I knew it was going to be such a mission to get back to where I was in strength. I’m still getting there.
KP: I feel I’m lucky in that sense, that’s the type of person I am. I am able to deal with the toughest of situations. I didn’t understand for a long time how important rehab was, but like everything else, I always worked my hardest and gave it everything I had and I still do to this day. It’s a long, long road and I have come to terms with it and understand that my life has completely changed. Realizing that has taken a while but I’m ok with it.

We are coming up on two years since the accidents – what kind of progress have you made with rehab? Danny, I know your snowboarding again, how is it to be back? Kevin your road is a little more complex. As I understand your rehab involved re-learning to walk, how are you doing two years down the road, I heard you moved out in Carlsbad?
DD: I am snowboarding and since the spring started I finally feel like I can send it. Like I’m not scared of re- injuring something. Though I still need to get stronger. And I will.
KP: It’s crazy – the progress I have been able to make and the support I have had through this whole thing. I have had to learn everything over again and I feel I have done a pretty good job at it. Getting to move back out here to Carlsbad has been amazing. It’s so fun to be with all my frends and surfing and golfing and hanging with everyone. It’s amazing to know I will continue to make progress for the rest of my life and I just have to continue to keep working hard at it.

Danny, you have had some time off – did you reflect on yourself and snowboarding? What’s your plan; are you trying pick up right where you left off? It seemed your major priorities lay around the competitive circuit and making it to the Olympics. It may have just been that year, but a couple of seasons away from the circuit what do you think of the contest scene right now?
DD: Well yeah, no Olympics this year. Thank goodness. But I’m just gonna compete a little and try to film a lot. I got the contests I want to do and basically the rest of the time I want to just film and try to get a video part. Something people can remember.

Danny, what about filming? I noticed you started to appear in Absinthe Films. To me it was refreshing to see a ‘competitive’ snowboarder filming, and doing a fine job of it. To me you have a style that people want to watch in the backcountry, would you ever consider devoting your whole season to getting a video part?
DD: Totally, I would love to do that. But I also like to do competitions, so I’m just going to do the ones I like, and do them well. And film the rest of the time

Kevin, surly by the time this interview runs your doctor would have cleared you to ride your board again. I bet you can’t wait. I can only assume snowboarding is your everything as it is to most pro riders. How intense is the need to be riding again, what’s your first day going to be like? If its already happened tell us all about it.
KP: My first day has not happened yet but I’m so excited.  The day the Doc clears me is going to be amazing. It’s insane after what I have been through. The fact that I even have any interest in getting on a snowboard again after what I have been through may sound crazy.  But I do, I am so excited, it’s unreal. My dream is to have it be a powder day. A sunny day with lots of pow and I wanna be with all my frends! I try not to stress about when it will happen. I know the day will come and I know I will need to be very careful.

Lets talk about support crews. I bet both of you guys have incredible support around you now and when you were both at your worst. Tell us about the key people who have been helping you on this journey and have kept you strong and on track.
DD: Family, all my family. My Mom and Dad were there in the first two weeks with the hospital and after that even. And when my Mom needed to get back to work in Michigan my girlfriend came and filled in. But as far as support, everyone was great. My Ma, my Dad and Mickey, Hayley, Sue, Jake and Donna, Preston, Nick, and of course my FRENDS. Everybody was great… Really helpful and supportive.
KP: My support crew has been beyond belief. I cannot even begin to explain what my family, my frends, my fans, sponsors, the entire snowboard community and so many people around the world have done for me. Everyone has helped me stay on track and make the right decisions. My older brother Adam has been the most important part of this journey for me. He was with me through everything from the critical care hospital, to being there for every day of rehab. He is a huge, huge reason I am where I am today.

Kevin, I understand doctors say competitive snowboarding is out of the question for you. I am sure as you rehabilitate you are constantly reminded of things that you are no longer able to do, how is it dealing with that day in day out?
KP: I have been able to come to terms and be ok with it. It’s not easy I’ll tell you that. I wish for and dream of contests because it’s part of the world of snowboarding I loved so much. But they say if I hit my head again its game over and I may not be as lucky the second time. So I’m gonna be smart and safe and make sure I do all the right stuff. Things are different now and that’s how it is, being bummed and sad doesn’t help me.

Danny, you had some major injuries. You fractured your spine; doctors after your surgery were confidant you were going to make a full recovery. I here you have filmed a little and competed a bit too. Were the doctors right? Did you make that full recovery? Are there any noticeable differences in your body, how long till your back at your peak?
DD: Lots of noticeable differences but I’m getting back to it. Im really happy about what i can do and I’m only getting healthier and stronger.

How were your sponsors around the time of your rehab? I mean you were not riding your boards. Your circumstances were different but how was their reaction? Kevin, what role do they play in your life now?
DD: Everyone was cool, way cool. Almost too cool… That it confused me. But everyone was sure to tell me ‘your in idiot, but thank goodness your okay. now get better!’ I remember Jake coming to the hospital and Donna, and the whole Burton crew. That was nice.
KP: Along with everyone else through this whole thing my sponsors have been insane. They are all still supporting me 100% and helping me get through these crazy times. They still play a huge role roll and give me support on so many different levels. I am very, very lucky young man to have the sponsors I do on my side. I am a very, very lucky young man to have these amazing sponsors on my side: FRENDS, Burton, AMP, Nike, Volcom and Oakley.

Kevin, your world now must be totally different, where do you see yourself going now? It seems you are taking on a role as an ambassador in the snowboarding community – for a long time, a rallying point for everyone. Everyone who has ever snowboarded got behind you when you were down and they are still behind you now. What do you want to do with this role in the snowboard world? Do you have any goals you wish to achieve?
KP: That’s a great question. I really want to stay involved with the sport and I’m trying to figure out the best way to do that. I want to give back to all these people who have given me so much. I feel confident that I will figure out what’s next for me in the sport but like everything else right now, I’m not rushing into it.

Both of you got hurt, both of you are on the road to recovery, both of you have inspirational stories but there are very different messages to be heard from each incident. Is there anything you have learned either about life or yourselves you wish to pass on to kids and your fans at this point in your recovery?
DD: Shit happens and a lot of the time for no reason at all. And then sometimes shit happens for a reason. So I have no damn clue, I’m still tying to figure out how life works and destinies and all that crap.
KP: Yes, I have learned a lot through this but the most important thing and what I want to share with the entire world is the importance of helmets. I have been told by my doctors that I would be dead if I hadn’t been wearing a helmet. It’s crazy to me that a lot of kids don’t wear helmets. They are so important and so comfortable now and that’s a huge mission of mine – To make helmets COOL.

So finally, lets look back over the last two years. Say I asked you each, the day before your accidents, where do you think you would be two years from now what do you think you would have said?
DD: Just the way I am now. I would have said happy and just living life.
KP: I would have said I have no idea where I would be today but my hope would have been to be here in California with a gold medal around my neck and living the life of a happy young man. I am a happy young man but don’t have the gold medal. Things could be worse!