Another golden chance for White

US snowboarding star welcomes the arrival of slopestyle at the Olympics

Winning the half-pipe at the Winter Olympics is not enough for US snowboarding star Shaun White.

Now, the superstar has set his sights on adding a gold medal in slopestyle to his collection at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

"I'm hoping to compete (at the Sochi Olympics). I'm hoping to do half-pipe and slopestyle," White told China Daily last week in Beijing while presenting the 2012 Air & Style event with eyewear maker Oakley.

"I probably have more medals in slopestyle than half-pipe, which is very cool, and I think I may have a good chance to do well there. This season is really exciting because everything that I do is preparing me for the next (Olympics), and hopefully to win both events (in Sochi)," he said.

Slopestyle was included in the Winter Olympic program in July 2011.

White claimed gold medals in half-pipe at the 2006 Turin and 2010 Vancouver Games, but appears to be just as interested in the new event as he is in completing a half-pipe hat-trick.

"There are only a few guys who can do both," said the 26-year-old. "It would be really cool if I can win in both."

White dominated the slopestyle event at the Winter X Games with four straight victories from 2003 to 2006 and another in 2009. He took a break in 2010 to focus on the half-pipe leading up to the Vancouver Games.

He returned to slopestyle at the Winter X Games in 2011, but missed the cut for the finals, finishing 13th.

White is learning new techniques and routines for the Sochi Games.

"I'm working on it right now. It's definitely challenging to be competing in both events," he said.

"Because I feel like I have a lot of tricks that I have to learn in slopestyle - but I haven't yet, while my half-pipe skill is kind of at the top.

"It's definitely the beginning of my season. So right now is when I get into a routine and then try to stick to it I think the idea for me is to get mentally prepared. I mean, to start building confidence and all it takes to go out and compete."

White did not appear to be destined to be an athlete after undergoing two open-heart surgeries before he was a one-year-old boy due to a congenital defect.

The California-born snowboarder entered his first amateur contest at the age of 7 - and won. It earned him a wild-card entry into the US nationals, where he finished just outside the top 10. He turned professional at 13, and by the time he celebrated his 16th birthday, he had already earned his first Winter X Games medal and has pretty much dominated the snowboarding scene since.

Despite claiming numerous titles, White said he still remains motivated.

"I just think each time is different. I mean, I have grown up with the sport, but the sport itself keeps growing too," he said.

"There are two events at the Olympics now. So, now I have the chance to do things that I've never done before. So I feel like every time I raise the bar (with a new trick or routine), the sport changes."

White declined to say if the Sochi Games, his third Olympics, will be his last.

"I don't know. I just assume I will stop when I am not motivated any more; when I stop learning," said White.

"The whole sport for me is about being inspired and learning new tricks. If I was no longer learning tricks or having a good time, I guess I would stop.

"I think that (retiring from snowboarding) would be pretty boring for me at first. But I do so much outside of this sport. I play music, I surf, I skateboard. I do so much. So I just assume when snowboarding stops, or takes a lesser role in my life, then something else will move up to fill that void. But for now I'm excited to still be competing."

White is a snowboarding icon, but claims he doesn't feel any pressure from his numerous fans around the world.

"I don't think anybody could put more pressure on me than I put on myself. I'm always thinking I can do better," he said.

"I'm always hard on myself about everything. That's something I just can't stop. So when other people are counting on you or look up to you or think I can do something (special), I use it as encouragement.

"If everyone in this room thinks I will go and win the next Olympics I use it as like, 'Really? You think I can do it? That's great!' I feel like right now everybody is behind me and supporting me instead of pushing me down.

"So, you know, it's a good way to look at it. Otherwise, it would be tough."

leilei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/12/2012 page22)