Shaun White

Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing two-time gold medalist Shaun White.

AT&T and the U.S. Olympic Committee sponsored the interview. AT&T is one of the official sponsors of the U.S. Olympic team and is responsible for the Team USA soundtrack, which is available on iTunes.

During the interview, White discussed a variety of topics including the appearance on Oprah he had filmed only hours earlier to his plans for topping his current trademark trick, the double McTwist 1260.

However, there was one topic Shaun White talked extensively and more enthusiastically about, the amazing experiences he had during his time in Vancouver.

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Shaun White described his experience at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy as being “a blur.”

He didn't even get the opportunity to savor the moment after winning his first gold medal. Immediately following the competition, Shaun was rushed by police escort to the bottom of the mountain, led to the podium, and had the gold medal placed around his neck. The next day he left Torino.

In 2006, Shaun missed out on what he calls the “whole Olympic vibe.”

This time around things were much different.

Shaun had the opportunity to see the beautiful city of Vancouver. He visited the U.S. Team house in the Olympic village, and got to know some of his fellow Olympians. He took the time to see some of the other events, including the women's halfpipe and men's figure skating. He did get to experience the “whole Olympic vibe.”

During his time in Vancouver, White also found some time to have fun hanging around with friends and family.

On the day before his gold medal performance, White and some family friends who live in the Vancouver area went on a kayaking trip around Horseshoe Bay.

Looking for something to do that would keep him off his feet, and prevent him from thinking too much about the next day's competition, a friend suggested taking out the kayaks. After initially being hesitant, White agreed to take the trip.

Always the showman, White said, “I had to be the guy who stood up on the kayak, obviously, and tried to pet the giant seal that came by and wanted to hang.”

White also shared with us what he did immediately after his historic gold medal run.

He said there was no time at all to unwind. He went straight from the competition to conduct two major press conferences, during which he was starving since he doesn't eat prior to his event. In his words, “I wish I had one [a cheeseburger]. I would have destroyed it!”

Instead of running to the nearest McDonald's, official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic team, to indulge in a cheeseburger after completing his press conferences, Shaun enjoyed dinner with his family. He described the family time as being his “big release from everything.”

White shared another insight into his Olympic experience when he discussed a close encounter his new gold medal had with a glob of ketchup.

Shaun said, “It's a dangerous place out there! We were eating last night [Thursday] and my friend was eating a burger and literally ketchup flew inches from the ribbon, and I made a vow not to wear it at dinner anymore.”

Shaun White's time in Vancouver was magical. Describing the experience he said, “I didn't really know what that meant to be on the U.S. Team. Obviously, I competed in Torino, but I popped in, did four days of practice, one event, and left. I didn't get the chance to take in the whole vibe down in the city and do everything. This time around was just unreal. I was proud to run around with the U.S.A. gear on and do the whole [Olympic] thing.”

Shaun White will always remember the Winter Olympic Games in Torino as the time he first became an Olympic gold medalist, but he will remember Vancouver as the time he became a true Olympian.

Click here to read more about my interview with Shaun White.

When the Bleacher Report team first approached me on Thursday evening about representing the site at a teleconference interview of Shaun White the next day, I was ecstatic.

It was about five minutes later when I realized I’ve never interviewed someone that famous before, and the nerves kicked in.

It was about two minutes after that when I realized I have never interviewed anyone at all before, and the nerves really kicked in.

I eventually calmed myself down enough to get a decent night’s sleep, but would you believe I dreamed about the interview? 

There I was in my dream, sitting on the phone, my chance to ask one of the most famous athletes in the world a question, and what do I come with? 

Why is your hair so red?

True story. 

However, the real interview was nothing like my dream. Yes, I did ask Shaun (first name basis, you like that?!) not one, but two questions, and no, they did not have anything to do with his hair.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect.  I kept getting images in my head of the press conferences on television when all the reporters shout their questions until one of them gets pointed at and is given the floor. Would I have to do that?  And how can you point at someone over the phone?

As the teleconference began, and I pressed record on my recording device a strange sense of excitement came over me.  We heard first from host Ann Wolf, who turned over the proceedings to representatives from AT&T and the United States Olympic Committee.

They briefly discussed the partnership between AT&T and the U.S. Olympic Committee, and how AT&T has been monumental in sponsoring the U.S. Olympic team. AT&T is providing the soundtrack for the U.S. Olympic team, which you should check out on iTunes. 

Shaun himself, in Chicago for an appearance on Oprah, made a brief statement about his love of music and the role it plays in setting the mood for his runs.

Then, without warning, the question and answer session began.  Members of the media were informed to press *1 on their on their phones if they wanted to ask Shaun a question.

Without a thought of which question from my list I’d ask, I immediately pressed *1.  Thankfully, I wasn’t the fastest on the draw, because Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner was given first crack at asking the gold medalist a question.

I quickly decided on my question, and took notes on Shaun’s answer to Mr. Williams’s question, which included, to my surprise, as well as Shaun’s, that he enjoyed watching men’s figuring skating while in Vancouver.

Shaun wrapped up his answer, and the host announced, “Okay, we’re going to go to the line of Jon Schuman with BleacherReport.com, please go ahead.” With that, I was talking live to Shaun White.  My question was, “How does winning your second gold medal compare to your first?”

Shaun started by saying that it is hard to compare.  In Torino in 2006 he was only 19, and things went by in a blur.  Immediately after winning the competition he was rushed by a police escort to the bottom of the mountain, on to the podium, and had a gold medal thrown around his neck.

In Vancouver, Shaun said it was a completely different experience.  He had the opportunity to enjoy the city and the “whole Olympic vibe.” 

He concluded his answer by stating, “This time around was just unbelievable. I can’t even describe it. I think it was by far a better experience.”

Over the next 20 minutes, I listened to representatives from various major media outlets, such as ESPN, AOL.com, and US Weekly ask Shaun a variety of questions.

He discussed the kayaking trip he went on in Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver on a day off, and the giant seal that they spotted. 

He shared with us his pre-race ritual of playing music through the speakers of his iPhone, which he keeps in the pocket of his jacket. Why play the music aloud instead of wearing earphones?  Because he gets stopped by people to talk so often that he ends up spending the whole day taking his earphones in and out.

He talked about how he was surprised how much he liked Rascal Flatts after a friend tried to sell him on the band.

He chatted about his plans to spend time in Europe and Japan in the near future to see friends and do a media tour.

He joked about how he’ll rush to an In-N-Out Burger when he gets back home to California and his inability to tan because of his freckles, stating that exposure to the sun just becomes a “more freckles situation.”

He commented about his love of playing the guitar (favorite song to play, Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love") and his plans to go to the Coachella music festival this summer.

He described the close call the ribbon of his new gold medal had with a squirt of ketchup from a friend’s burger the night before.

He was so personable, friendly, and well-spoken.  A true class act.

As the questions died down, I decided to throw caution to the wind and ask Shaun the other question that was burning on my mind, so I pressed *1 a second time.

I asked, “When you were making your gold medal run, did you think you had the speed to pull off the McTwist at the end, because it looked like you didn’t have the speed you were probably hoping for?”

Shaun acknowledged that he lost a ton of speed due to the landing of the previous trick, but that, “I knew I had it in me...so I just launched it anyway.  Why not?” 

I responded to Shaun by telling him that I think the fans appreciate him going for the big trick even though he didn’t need to since he had already wrapped up the gold medal.

Shaun concluded by saying, “No biggie, I go out and ride for them [the fans] most of the time anyway.”

I was the last member of the media to ask Shaun a question, which in itself was pretty cool.

Getting the opportunity to interview Shaun White was truly a dream come true—a great dream, not the type where you ask someone famous why their hair is so red. 

I would like to thank the Bleacher Report team, especially Joe Yanarella and Aron Glatzer, for the opportunity to represent Bleacher Report.  It was truthfully one of the best experiences of my life. 

Like Shaun told me about his experience in Vancouver, “I can’t even describe it.”

Today I had the privilege of speaking with iconic American gold medalist Shaun White.

He spoke about everything from his next big trick to upstage the show-stopping Double McTwist and his experiences in Vancouver, to his love of music and the moment his friend almost squirted ketchup on his medal at dinner.

I hope you enjoy this insight into the life of a champion.

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Two-time Olympic gold medallist Shaun White put the rest of the snowboard world on notice today when he said the one thing his fellow halfpipe competitors didn’t want to hear: He still has room to improve.

In an exclusive interview with the snowboarding legend on Friday afternoon, White said there is definitely the potential to get better and to throw down bigger tricks than ever before.

For those who watched him celebrate his gold medal on Wednesday with his much-hyped Double McTwist 1260 (two board-over-head flips with three-and-a-half turns), it’s mind blowing to imagine just what could be next in line.

“I’ve got to turn some more music on and get inspired,” White said. “Whenever I’m relaxed and I can turn on some music and think about what I’m doing and what I want to do, it usually comes out.

“It happens at the randomest times. I’ve had dreams about tricks. I’m hoping to do more double corks, obviously—it’s a trick that wins events these days—and I think the possibilities there are somewhat new and not tapped in to yet. I definitely think that I’ve got some more improving to do there. So I’m excited about it.”

The 23-year-old, who flew overnight to Chicago to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show today, is a keen music lover, as well as an ambassador for AT&T’s Team USA Soundtrack, an initiative that allows music and sports fans to download exclusive songs, videos, and ringtones with proceeds benefiting Team USA.

“I actually competed in a competition where I won a guitar," White added. "It just gave me a whole new love for music and appreciation, and it really turned me on to different bands and different groups. And from there I just got more inspired and more motivated.

“I think everybody can agree that you can hear a certain song and it will put you in a certain mood, and that’s just the beauty of music and I am so inspired by that.

“Music has been a thing which really defines the moods and situations that I’m in. I actually have my iPhone in my pocket playing through the speaker, and everybody’s like ‘What is that? A boombox thing going?’ You know, speakerbox action.

“I like all kind of rock and roll songs, and that’s like the really cool thing for me that I’ve just started playing guitars so any kind of guitars in the whole deal has been great.”

Unfortunately for White, there were no guitars handed out in Vancouver, just solid gold medals. As much as he enjoys rocking out to AC/DC and strumming along to The Darkness’ I Believe in a Thing Called Love , I’m sure he’s more than happy with his most recent prize.

But last night, for the second straight time after an Olympic victory, the posterboy of U.S. snowboarding almost ruined his medal.

After winning gold in Torino, White misplaced his medal several times, including losing it in a dresser under a book in his house. His mom even had to take it in to be dry cleaned because he had got the ribbon dirty during a night out celebrating.

In Vancouver, it was nearly déjà vu.

“It’s a dangerous place out there,” White joked. “We were eating last night and my friend was eating a burger and ketchup flew literally inches from the ribbon. I made a vow not to wear it at dinner any more, which is tough. I don’t want to take it off.

“It was just a funny scenario to have my mom send the ribbon and the actual medal to the dry cleaner. I was absolutely dying when I found out she did that, but this time around I think I’m going to take a little more care.”

With the medal stored in a safe place, White can now look forward to the rest of the Games, the summer’s skateboarding season, and some much-needed relaxation time back home with family and friends.

He said with the bedlam surrounding his victory on Wednesday night, he had little time to stop and take stock of what he had achieved. He didn't even get a chance to eat.

He said, “I went straight from the event and I did two giant press conferences and then after that I ran to the nearest place to get some food because I hadn’t eaten anything.

“I don’t like to eat before my event. We’re trying to get out of the pipe and I think it might weight me down. I wish I had a cheeseburger. I would have destroyed it."

The Olympic champion, also the first to three-peat in SuperPipe at the Winter X Games, said he now plans to do a media tour of Europe, visit friends and fans in Japan, and get back home to the west coast to eat Mexican food and enjoy the summer.

There may even be a chance for White to learn some more stunts on his skateboard.

“I’d love to put down some new tricks. I’ve always wanted to land a 1080, it’s been a beast of a burden for me," he said.

“Usually the thing that signifies that I’m done with the winter and all that is that I start skateboarding. I have freckles you know, so I don’t really tan, it’s like a ‘more freckles’ situation and red, just like rock lobster, so I’m looking forward to getting a nice sun burn."

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White was speaking as a representative for AT&T, who has team up with world-renowned recording artists such as 3 Doors Down, The All-American Rejects, Mariah Carey, Gloriana, Green River Ordinance, Hoobastank, Puddle Of Mudd, and Sugarland to create the exclusive soundtrack for athletes as they pursue their dream of competing in the Olympic Games.

Shine, by 3 Doors Down is currently No. 11 in iTunes' rock chart, The Finish Line by Train is No. 38 in the pop chart, and Rascal Flatts' Unstoppable is No. 3 in the country chart.

Watching Shaun White shred the competition two nights ago was quite enjoyable for me. Judging by the reaction of many friends and co-workers, I was not alone in that enjoyment.

I don't know what it is about a dominating athlete that makes people go "oohh" and "ahhh" but it sure happens.

Watching White do what he did as compared to the rest of the field was amazing.

It was like Barry Bonds, in his prime, battling Omar Vizquel for the Home Run Derby title. Or maybe like Shaq vs. John Stockton in a Free Throw competition.

What I'm saying is, it wasn't even close.

Shaun White had two nearly flawless runs on the half-pipe. The rest of the competition felt the pressure, went for big air, and stumbled.

To be quite honest, it reminded me of a time when another stellar athlete took his sport by storm.

Eldrick "Tiger" Woods had the pedigree.

Tiger won his first Junior Amateur title at the age of 15, the youngest ever to win that tournament. He followed that up by winning it the next year as well.

He went on to win the U.S. Amateur at age 18.

So it should have been no surprise when he took over the PGA just a couple years later, right?

When Tiger won the sports most prestigious tournament, the Masters, by 12 strokes at age 21, there was clearly a reason for young people to start watching an old person's game.

Golf was an established sport. It was a tradition-rich competition between professionals who had played most of their life.

There was it's revered past; the historic courses; the major tournaments; and one guy comes on the scene and introduces the masses to one of the finer sports that has ever been played.

Not to say that no one watched golf, but many young people were simply disinterested.

Now there are people who wont watch unless Tiger is in a tournament.

Tiger Woods transcended his sport. He became an international icon. Some say Nike had a lot to do with that, and yes, I would have to agree. But Tiger's worldwide fame brought many new eyes to the grand old competition of golf.

There was a boom in kids signing up for golf lessons. High Schools added golf teams to their athletic departments. All because of this kid who took the sport to another level.

I was 15 when Tiger won that first Masters in '97. I've been watching golf ever since that display.

Tiger has gone on to become a larger than life figure. He's on the verge of becoming the greatest golfer ever when he breaks Jack Nicklaus's majors record. Personal problems aside, Tiger Woods is simply the best.

Shaun White hit the snowboarding scene in the early 2000s.

Granted snowboarding was no where near the competition that golf had been for so many years, but a relatively unwatched, niche sport was introduced to the masses via the X-Games.

The X-Games were counter-culture when they first began. The games were geared toward my age group at the time and to say it was an acquired taste would be an understatement.

However, as the X-Games grew in popularity and more young people started watching, the ESPN brainchild became a very relevant competition featuring great athletes from across the globe.

When Shaun White hit the Winter X-Games scene in '01, fresh off five national amateur championships, the competition was never the same.

White has an unprecedented 10 gold medals in 10 years of competing.

Of course, snowboarding was not all this kid could do. He took up skateboarding and became the top Action Sports athlete in the world.

Video games and certain fame followed for the young red-head.

Simply put, Shaun White owns his sport. He owns that X-Games/Action Sports competition. And as we saw in the Olympics two nights ago, there's no one even close.

White's worldwide celebrity is growing by leaps and bounds.

A niche sport has become must see TV for the masses when White is competing.

I can't help but believe we've seen all of this before with Tiger.

I know the sports aren't as comparable, but Shaun White's effect on the sport and on those who watch sports are undeniable.

Shaun White is this generation's Tiger Woods. I cannot wait to see it continue.