Jackson, WY (August 11,2009) - Even with all the growth and fame, the snowboarding community is still a tight one. So when one of our own goes down hard the impact reverberates throughout our scenes and circles. This was the case on Saturday, July 25th when longtime Jackson Hole local Dave Houlton was knocked unconscious after overshooting a large gap jump on his downhill bike on the Teton Pass Parallel Trail. As the Jackson Hole News and Guide reported on July 27th, Houlton was taken by helicopter to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls where he has been since the accident.

Houlton has been a big, tall, fixture in Jackson Hole's snowboard scene for over a decade and was a longtime employee of Hole in the Wall Snowboard Shop, which was one of frequency TSJ's first authorized dealers. Dave and his wife Sarah, a former snowboard instructor at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, also spent considerable riding time in Washington and Whistler over the past several seasons while Sarah attended Bastyr University and the couple was married this past September in Pemberton.

The good news is that after five days in a coma and two tough weeks, Dave Houlton has emerged from the ICU. As is the case in crisis and recovery, the support of community has been welcomed by Dave's friends, family and wife, Sarah, who has asked that positive thoughts and good energy continue to be sent Dave's way. Those who wish to track Dave Houlton's progress can do so at a blog established by his friend Scott Fitzgerald.

And, like many who experienced the nonstop stoke, positive energy and ridiculous dance moves of the Houltons over the years, we'd just like to say that our thoughts are with you during this tough recovery.

Keep the faith.