The Crash Reel

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Rotten Tomatoes® Score
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In Theaters: December 13, 2013 (limited)

1h 48m | Documentary

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Following elite snowboarder Kevin Pearce as he was training to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Kevin was one of the top-ranked snowboarders in the world, often beating Shaun White in competitions leading up to the Olympics.

We learn how Kevin began training full time in his early teens, opting for home schooling via online courses. He spent long hours on the slopes, perfecting his moves and had a tight group of friends who were also similarly ranked snowboarders. In 2009, while training in Park City, Utah, he was left in critical condition following an accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury.

His tight-knit family flew to his side and began an intensive process of trying to rehabilitate him and help him rebuild his permanently damaged life. Kevin's determination and the tireless support of family and friends kept him focused on recovery. Kevin was unable to speak and wasn't fully aware of what was happening around him, but slowly, he began to talk and walk again.

A year later, although he was told he would never fully recover because of the damage to his brain, he insisted on returning to snowboarding competition, despite the fact that his skills were now impaired. He didn't want to listen to doctors who warned him that if he hit his head again, however lightly, it could kill him.