Shaun White

While snowboarding may still be relatively new to the Winter Olympics, it has attracted a wide audience in the United States behind impressive aerial displays, marquee superstars and an overall excitement factor that few other sports bring to the table. 

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi are quickly approaching, and the official U.S. snowboarding team still has to finish its qualifying events for half-pipe and slopestyle at the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix. The events have already kicked off, but here is a look at the schedule that will take place in three different locations.

Location	Dates
Copper Mountain, CO	Dec. 16-22, 2013
Breckenridge, CO	Jan. 6-12, 2014
Mammoth Mountain, CA	Jan. 14-19, 2014

While the events are exciting in and of themselves, the real stories at qualifying events are the names that emerge. Let’s dig into a few to keep an eye on before the Olympics officially kick off in Sochi.

Shaun White

It doesn’t get any bigger than Shaun White when it comes to Americans recognizing athletes heading into the Winter Olympics. 

The snowboarding superstar is plastered across television sets throughout the country via commercials, SportsCenter performances and amazing displays of athleticism. He is a major reason why snowboarding will be so popular when the Olympics actually kick off.

However, White is an aged veteran by snowboarding standards. The drive to compete in both the slopestyle and half-pipe in what will be his third Olympics has taken its toll. White shared how he has been feeling with Nick Zaccardi and NBC Sports:

I used to go up and ride all day long. I just don’t do it anymore. I really show up, I do a couple runs and that’s the best I’m going to be all day, and I slowly get worse.

White will look to rack up enough International Ski Federation points to qualify for the slopestyle event during the Grand Prix. Assuming he does that, White will be the main draw for both the half-pipe and slopestyle in the Olympics.

Kelly Clark

White may draw all the headlines, but Kelly Clark has won more snowboarding events than any competitor in history on the male or female side.

Fortunately for Clark, she will certainly be a member of the U.S. Olympic team and will look to put on a show during the Grand Prix. She won the gold medal in half-pipe in the 2002 Winter Olympics and the bronze medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics and could be on her way to a third medal in 2014. 

She has a variety of tricks that she deploys, including the 1080, which will thrill fans once the half-pipe in Sochi begins.

Charles Guldemond

If White doesn’t take home the gold in the slopestyle event, Charles “Chas” Guldemond may be the one who beats him out.

Guldemond counts two X-Games medals, three U.S. Grand Prix victories and a World Snowboarding Tour slopestyle championship title to his name and is a future superstar in the making in the snowboarding world.

Look for American teammates Guldemond and White to square off in Sochi with the gold medal on the line.

There are only so many questions that you can ask an athlete.

When your name is Jeff Gordon and you have been in the business for as long as he has, there aren't many uncovered topics. Recently, while visiting an elementary school, Gordon was posed with a very common question. However, in this case, it was a question that Gordon himself hadn't really been posed with before.

The gist of the question was quite simple. Gordon was asked which athlete he wished he could be if he wasn't himself. His answer might come across to some as surprising, Shaun White.

White is a professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He has won a combined 24 gold medals from competing in the X Games, Winter X Games and the Dew Tour. White has twice been named Transworld Snowboarding's Rider of the Year.

For some, the world of NASCAR and that of the X Games may seem miles apart. However, in their own right, both of these can be considered extreme sports.

According to a recent article by Bob Pockrass of SportingNews.com, "it's the fact that White can do things Gordon only wishes he could do that really has the Hendrick Motorsports driver admiring his skills." In the article, Gordon comments on his wish to be White.

Flying through the air on a skateboard or a snowboard is something I think would be pretty awesome to do. He's won gold medals, X-Games and I've met Shaun, and he is a great kid too.

Growing up as a kid, I used to ride a skateboard.

Tony Hawk is a guy that I always idolized, but I was never really on a half-pipe and things. Shaun is kind of the ultimate when you think of it now.

Gordon is a born and raised California kid. 

If you think about it, it kind of makes sense for him to have an interest in extreme sports. California is without question one of the better areas of the country to get involved in such activities. Ultimately though, Gordon's talents were in the world of auto racing.

It's always fun to hear who athletes admire or wish they could be like. In the case of Gordon, it's especially cool seeing as how he and White are in completely different sports.

Although Gordon will most likely never find the success that White has in snowboarding, it doesn't stop him from hitting the slopes.

In the article, Gordon makes mention of a recent snowboarding trip that he took during NASCAR's last off weekend. This of course brought up the question of whether or not such things were allowed by his NASCAR team.

I might (have it in my contract), but it doesn't stop me, Gordon said with a laugh.

I try to be smart in everything I do and not go do something that is going to get myself injured (or) push the limits.

Gordon may want to stop wishing to be White and start wishing for better luck.

Thus far in 2013, Gordon and his No. 24 team can't seem to buy themselves any god fortune. Gordon is currently 15th in the point standings, 35 points behind 10th place.

At Daytona this year, Gordon restarted the race in the top five with three laps to go. After not being able to find drafting help, he wound up finishing 20th. At Bristol, he cut a tire while leading late in the race causing him to finish 34th. Last week in Texas, Gordon was running third with less than 30 laps to go when he broke a right-front hub. He ended up coming home in 38th.

This weekend Gordon will look to rebound in Kansas. Maybe he should invite White to the race for luck. After all, they're both sponsored by Pepsi and at this point Gordon should be willing to try anything. 

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Shaun White leaves Aspen with just one gold around his neck this year. And while it was a somewhat disappointing finish, the fact remains that the Flying Tomato is still snowboarding's best.

White walked away from the 17th Winter X-Games with his eighth career gold in the men's superpipe, and his sixth in a row.

The Winter X-Games king sealed his victory with a 98.0 score, landing a record setting 24'1" backside air in the process.

The disappointing finish came in the men's slopestyle, where White ended the event in just seventh place.

He reached the slopestyle finals this year for the first time since 2009—the year in which he won his fifth slopestyle gold. A double gold would have tied White with Dave Mirra for most medals in X-Games history at 24. Instead, he pulls within one at 23.

After earning the superpipe's first perfect 100 at last year's games by nailing the first ever frontside double cork 1260, it was speculated that White could make a run at the slopestyle gold by landing the first ever triple cork.

While the triple cork was successfully landed in the finals, it was eventual gold medalist Mark McMorris—not White—that hit the trick.

The Flying Tomato did attempt the maneuver, but couldn't land it perfectly.

But just going for the triple cork is impressive, especially for a snowboarder whose been out of slopestyle for so long.

Not to mention White supposedly landed the trick during a practice run earlier in the week, just seven days after learning it (USA Today).

Even though he lost the slopestyle competition, it's obvious that White's desire and competitive edge towards the event is still there. Given a year of practice, it could be just a matter of time until we see White showing off the triple cork during the 18th Winter X-Games.

A double medal there would make him the most decorated athlete in X-Games history.

So while the 26-year-old has yet to make his full return to slopestyle, there's no doubt he's still snowboarding's best. He's still completely untouchable in the superpipe, and to climb back into the slopestyle so quickly is phenomenal.

Even though White leaves the Winter X-Games with just one gold, he still had a record-breaking performance in the superpipe—and a near record-breaking performance in the slopestyle.

His resume now overflowing with gold, there's no doubt Shaun White remains the finest snowboarder the X-Games has ever witnessed. 

Shaun White won his sixth-straight gold medal in the SuperPipe at the Winter X Games. After a perfect score of 100.0 last year, coming back and winning his 13th gold medal solidifies White's legacy.

It would seem that last year's historic score on the SuperPipe would have been enough, but coming back and delivering another incredible run showed a lot about White. 

Following his Winter X Games 15 success, White's presence in the media wasn't quite at the level of his snowboarding.   

Back in September, White was arrested and charged with vandalism and public intoxication after an incident in a Nashville hotel. The public relations nightmare put a scar on White's reputation that he's been trying to overcome since.  

Heading into this year's X Games, White cut his hair and had the charges dropped. He delivered some great runs in the SuperPipe, finishing with a 98.00 to earn him gold once again. 

Equally impressive as White's run was his renewed spirit (via XGames.ESPN.com):

I don't think I've ever been more focused and more in tune with what I'm doing physically as well as mentally. Six years, that's pretty heavy. It's going to be more uncomfortable next year when I'm going for the seventh. I like it; it's a pretty humbling title to hold. I'm proud.

White's ability to come back this year with a new attitude and dominate the SuperPipe was remarkable. He's turned the corner from the arrest and looks ready to hold on to being the world's best snowboarder. 

His snowboarding ability and records were never in question. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has brought more to snowboard than perhaps anybody ever has. That part of his legacy has been set in stone for quite some time. 

The resiliency White showed in earning this gold medal is a new facet of White's legacy. During his sparkling career, he hasn't faced a ton of adversity. This year he faced it and came out looking very strong.  

If it were scripted, we would blast it for being far too predictable. The X Games ended in much the same way it has recently, with Shaun White dominating the competition. 

On Sunday, Shaun White looked down on the SuperPipe and dropped in; the only difference was he had far less hair than in previous iterations. 

Everything else was pretty much the same, including the final outcome, which was White owning the competition. 

ESPN reports on a 98-point run that secured the Flying Tomato his sixth consecutive X Games gold in this particular competition. 

The posted video was White's second run, and it all begins with a little bit of history. You can barely hear the announcers over the crowd, but the report assures we just saw a, "24-foot, one-inch backside air above the walls of the Buttermilk Mountain pipe."

That is nearly a foot better than White's previous best, a record. 

The famed snowboarder was just as shocked at the recent consistency of success. 

I don't think I've ever been more focused and more in tune with what I'm doing physically as well as mentally. Six years, that's pretty heavy. It's going to be more uncomfortable next year when I'm going for the seventh. I like it; it's a pretty humbling title to hold. I'm proud.

If there is anything certain in sports, it may just be White on his board at the top of a SuperPipe. He has 15 X Games gold medals between Winter and Summer Games and has eight total in this particular event alone. 

White continues to make the X Games fairly predictable, but far from boring. 

Hit me up on Twitter for more amazing. 

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There isn’t a more recognizable figure in the world of extreme winter sports than Shaun White. He hasn’t quite lived up to expectations this year, though.

White was expected to arrive at Aspen as he always has—with a new trick up his sleeve and several gold medals to be won. After failing to deliver in the snowboarding slopestyle competition en route to a fifth-place finish, he’ll have one more shot on Sunday in the superpipe final.

The Flying Tomato is in position to redeem his slopestyle performance. In the elimination round, White finished second behind Iouri Podladtchikov with a run of 87—just .33 points shy of the Swiss 24-year-old.

White highlighted his run with two double cork 1080s out of the gate, finishing with a backside method more than 19 feet above Buttermilk pipe. You can watch his entire run below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWFPSeLoStk

With another run like that on Sunday, White stands a good chance of repeating superpipe gold. His Thursday run looked crisp and relatively mistake-free, though he did land low on the pipe on his frontside 540.

White didn’t complete his second run, but he didn’t have to. Only four other challengers scored an 80 or better in the elimination round, and his 87 was 4.34 points higher than the next closest rider. He did fail to secure the final starting position in the finals by finishing second behind Iouri Podladtchikov, though.

While perfection isn’t easy, it is almost expected of the most decorated rider in snowboarding history. Fans want to see White go big, and that’s exactly what he’ll do on Sunday. He’s out to defend his title and the perfect score he recorded en route to superpipe gold last year.

White’s gold last year was already locked up when he completed his perfect run on a bad ankle, which he highlighted with a frontside double cork 1260. He didn’t throw anything quite as extreme in his elimination-round run, but fans should expect White to go just as big with a gold—and perfection—on the line.

The Flying Tomato has earned gold at the Winter X Games each of the last five years. If he doesn’t step up to the plate on Sunday, he’ll be in unfamiliar territory, leaving Aspen without a gold medal to defend for the first time more than half a decade.

He isn’t the type of competitor who takes days off, though. White has a desire to be the best, and he’ll prove it in the superpipe final. Given what’s at stake, White could be poised for another perfect run in defense of his title.

When X Games legend Shaun White hits the snow Sunday in the final event of the 16th installment of the annual games, the snowboard SuperPipe star will look to continue his dominance of the premier event in the sport.

White is a seven-time SuperPipe champion and has won the last five in a row, making him the most dominant performer in the history of the event and one of the most decorated X Games athletes in any sport.

Despite the stage being set for another year of domination for White, Swiss star and two-time runner-up Iouri Podladtchikov took the top spot in qualifying with a 87.33 score in his second run.

The second-place qualifying start to the finals has many fans and experts concerned about White’s ability to win his sixth straight gold medal in this event, but Podladtchikov told XGames.com that he knows the legend is holding back:

"He gave it to me. It's just qualifiers; it's never going to happen in finals. He just does it to make you media guys go crazy."

Podladtchikov is 100 percent correct about White holding most of his best tricks back for the finals, but it is abundantly clear from his run that the Swiss star that qualified first is also holding back.

Both White and Podladtchikov know that they will have to save their best tricks for the finals if they want to win the gold medal, so the fans should expect huge tricks that we haven’t seen yet during the X Games from both men.

Sunday’s event will be a slugfest for the top spot.

As great as Podladtchikov has become in the SuperPipe, this is White’s best event, and he is ready to show the world that he is far from being done as a winter sports athlete.

Add in the fact that the 2014 Winter Olympics are around the corner, and White wants to add another gold medal to his collection in hopes of earning his way back onto the United States team and defending his back-to-back gold-medal performances in the halfpipe.

White winning a gold medal to close X Games 16 would be the perfect way to start 2013 and the road to further domination at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

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Another year, another disappointing finish for Shaun White in the X Games Slopestyle competition.

White couldn't score himself a medal in the event this year and could only muster up a score of 70 in his three runs.

White is clearly the greatest athlete ever to strap a snowboard to his feet, but for some reason, the slopestyle event has not been his forte of late. Before failing to reach the finals in 2011, White had to pull out because of an ankle injury last year, and then this.

The last two runs of White's day were easily his worst. After scoring a 70 in his initial run, White would go on to fall in his last two runs, unable to land any significant tricks off the jumps or rails.

Watching White have issues in this event really makes you appreciate how great Mark McMorris is. White is so great, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that McMorris is one of the best in the business.

The 19-year-old landed a triple cork in his first run of the event, ultimately pulling in a score of 94.66. McMorris already had the gold medal wrapped up before his final run of the day, but pulled off another triple cork for good measure, which pleased both the fans and the judges, who gave him a 98.

It was the highest score in the event's history.

By comparison, White attempted the same trick in his first run, but was unable to pull it off cleanly to get credit for it.

With all the attention that is normally on White, sometimes McMorris doesn't get his due. But seeing as how McMorris has once again topped White handily in the slopestyle event, people should really start to take notice of the incredible ability and showmanship of the Canadian.

Shaun White is accustomed to dominating the action sports world in the SuperPipe, but a gold medal isn't going to come as easy in 2013.

White is looking to win his sixth consecutive SuperPipe gold medal on Sunday, but with the show louri Podladtchikov put on in Thursday's qualifiers, the 24-year-old Russian poses a real threat to White's title run.

White finished second on Thursday, posting an even 87.00 while seeing Podladtchikov surpass him with a score of 87.33.

It's definitely going to put White in a different position when he competes on Sunday, as he's accustomed to dropping into the pipe last and winning it all on his last run.

According to Devon O'Neil of ESPN, White had a chance to re-take the lead on Thursday but instead opted to forgo any jumps and sail into the finals in the second position.

While White is undoubtedly the favorite to win his seventh consecutive title, Podladtchikov's skill set and talent could be dangerous for White.

As O'Neil reports, the Russian snowboarder is saving a special trick for Sunday's finale:

"I feel like it's going to work. I think I'm going to try it Saturday. It's going to be dangerous."

If White loses, the action sports world would be completely turned upside down, as O'Neil notes:

If the Russian-born Podladtchikov, known around the snowboarding world as "I-Pod," can unseat White, it will be the first time anyone has beaten the two-time Olympic gold medalist in 12 contests, a stretch spanning three years. White is trying to win his ninth career X Games Aspen SuperPipe gold medal.

Also posing a threat to White is Scotty Lago, who qualified in third with a 82.66 mark.

And if you're looking for a sleeper, look no further than 14-year-old, 116-pound Ayumu Hirano, who qualified in the sixth spot.

You can catch the SuperPipe final on Sunday night starting at 7:45 p.m. MST 

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Shaun White is set to compete in both the slopestyle and superpipe finals over the weekend to close out the Winter X Games. The world's best-known snowboarder will be facing increasing pressure to perform once again. If he doesn't come up with two golds, White's X Games campaign will have to be considered a failure. 

White has set the bar incredibly high. He's won 17 medals at the Winter X Games and last year completed a superpipe run with a perfect score of 100.0. He's dominated snowboarding and has been the face of winter sports. 

While White has set his sights on Sochi and 2014 Winter Olympics, a fault at the Winter X Games can only harm White's reputation. As part of his standard he set, White simply can't afford to lose in either of his two events, but especially the superpipe. 

Newcomer and 19-year-old Mark McMorris will be gunning to take down White in the slopestyle. McMorris won gold in the event last year and finished first in qualifying with a score of 88.66. His run put him solidly ahead of White's best run, which was good for a score of 67.33.

As the dominant name in snowboarding over the last 10 years, White risks losing some of that ground to McMorris. The up-and-comer broke onto the scene last year by winning gold in the slopestyle and the big air. He features smooth runs and exciting tricks. 

In the slopestyle, the two competitors could attempt the triple cork. The trick has only been completed in a big-air competition (McMorris) and never in slopestyle. If McMorris lands the trick and White doesn't, that will be a huge disappointment for White.

In addition to fighting off newcomers, White needs to battle himself. He needs to one-up himself from last year when he delivered the perfect run in the superpipe. His fans, and snowboarding fans in general, will be expecting another great run. Much of the pressure that falls on White was created by him and his dominance of the sport.

To live up to expectations and take momentum into the rest of the year, White simply has to win gold in both events.