The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, are only weeks away with team selections expected by the end of January. Among those vying for spots to compete in the Winter Games are nearly two dozen Tahoe and Truckee area athletes.
Olympic sport: Snowboarding halfpipe & slopestyle
Hometown: Carlsbad
Resort team: Northstar California
Shaun White is no rookie when it comes to the Olympics. As part of Team USA, White took home the gold in the men’s snowboard halfpipe at the Torino, Italy, 2006 Olympic Games and again at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.
But, to compete in the snowboarding slopestyle at this year’s Sochi games would be a first for White. In fact, it will be a first for all the athletes since it has never before been included as an Olympic event. White is currently in the running to make the slopestyle team, and his previous medals in the halfpipe indicate he is a serious contender for one of those spots, as well. Up to four athletes can be named to the team for each event.
At 27, White has been a professional snowboarder for more than half of his life. Despite being born with a heart defect that required two surgeries before he was even a year old, White took to sports at a young age. He skateboarded, played soccer and went on family ski outings. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, White traded in his skis for a snowboard at the age of 6. Before long, he was entering competitions and gaining sponsors.
In the off-season, White also was getting noticed for his skateboarding skills. By 17, he had turned pro in that sport, as well. This unique combination of skills resulted in White being the first athlete to bring home gold medals from both the Summer and Winter X Games in the same year, a feat he accomplished in 2011. The following year, White returned to win the snowboarding halfpipe competition again, this time with an unprecedented perfect score.
In all, White has 15 X Games gold medals under his belt. Eight of those, like his Olympic medals, are for the halfpipe. Five are for slopestyle. White has been competing in both events at the X Games for more than a decade. However, the 2014 Olympic teams for these events are not based on overall experience. Athletes will be chosen according to the outcome of five qualifying competitions taking place throughout December and January, the last of which will be held at Mammoth Mountain in mid-January.
If named to the team, White would have the opportunity to become the first, three-time gold medal holder in Olympic snowboard halfpipe. He also would be defending his record high score of 48.4 out of 50 earned at the 2010 games in Vancouver. The teams are expected to be announced around Jan. 22.
When he’s not at competitions or riding in his own private halfpipes, White trains in a halfpipe specially designed for him at Northstar. He named Northstar his home resort in 2011.
