Meet Aaron Smiley, a veteran of the mountains whose story is the definition of “grit.” At 39 years old, Aaron competes in the high-stakes world of Big Mountain Snowboarding (Freeride), a discipline that takes place on the most technical, unforgiving terrain in the Americas.
In Aaron’s world, there are no “practice runs.” Competitors drop into steep, gnarly lines—often exceeding 40-degree pitches—on hardpack snow where precision is everything. It is the purest form of the sport: just the rider, the mountain, and the line.
Aaron’s journey on the snow began at the age of 2. He spent his early years as a competitive downhill and cross-country ski racer throughout high school. However, at 15, the allure of freedom drew him to snowboarding. After years of competing in slopestyle and rail jams, he found his true calling 12 years ago in Freeride—where big cliffs and big tricks meet the steepest terrain imaginable.
When the snow melts, Aaron keeps his competitive edge sharp on the soccer field and spends countless hours on his bike exploring the Colorado trails.
Aaron’s path has been marked by a series of injuries that would have sidelined most athletes for good. Over a span of four years, he underwent five separate surgeries, including tearing both patellar tendons and shattering his kneecap into five pieces following a car accident.
Most recently, in 2024, Aaron faced his toughest challenge yet: a broken neck from a moto accident that nearly resulted in a severed spinal cord—an injury identical to the one suffered by Christopher Reeve. Against all odds, Aaron has made a near-full recovery, driven by a relentless desire to return to the mountains he loves.
For Aaron, “just getting back on his feet” was never the goal. He chose Axis Sports Medicine because he needed a team that understood the mindset of a high-level athlete. While other clinics might suggest “slowing down” or “trying a safer sport,” the team at Axis leaned into Aaron’s goals.
“Axis never told me I was getting too old for this,” Aaron says. “They always pushed me and supported my goals to keep playing sports at a high level. They understood that I didn’t just want to recover; I wanted to come back stronger and with more confidence than before.”
Whether he is dropping into a technical face or recovering from a major milestone, Aaron remains a vital part of the #AxisAmbassador family, proving that with the right physical therapy and a “never quit” attitude, no peak is out of reach.
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A Note from Aaron: “I chose Axis because I knew they understood my goals of coming back better and stronger than before. They are the reason I can still do what I love at 100%.
After much thought and evaluation by our team, we have decided to consolidate our Edwards clinic into our Avon clinic location.
Our staff and resources from our Edwards location will be moved into our Avon clinic on October 31, 2023.
We are excited to be able to offer a wider option of appointment times to accommodate patient needs in one location.
Our Avon location is 142 E Beaver Creek Blvd, Suite 109, next door to Doctors on Call and Kiwi International Delights.