Snowboarding/Skateboarding-Men of Experience: Shaun White-The unbeatable flying tomato

Birthdate: September 3, 1986Birthplace: San Diego, CAResidence: Carlsbad, CANickname: Flying Red TomatoHeight: 5’8"Weight: 140

Shaun at the '06 OlympicsGetty Images
Career HighlightsIn 2006, Shaun White was virtually unbeatable, winning every halfpipe competition he entered, including the Torino Olympics, X Games, and all five Chevrolet Grand Prix events (a feat unprecedented in the Grand Prix’s 10-year history). At the X Games, he won both the slopestyle and halfpipe and was named Jeep Outstanding Athlete, taking home a new Jeep Commander. Not limited to snowboarding, White is also pro skateboarder and became the first athlete to compete in both the Winter and Summer X Games.
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(MZ)The Olympics were...(SW) really awesome, but for some snowboarders, it's not the biggest thing in the world. So we were pretty lighthearted about the whole situation.
My mindset going into a contest is...that I don’t care. When I don’t really care about the contests, and I tell myself I don’t have to win, that’s the best. Just having the most fun helps me out so much. Because you can’t get stressed out on whether or not you think you are going to make the run. I guess I just like contests.

My perfect day...would just be learning a new trick. That just makes the day. You know how it is, you skate a lot, if you try that trick all day and you finally make it, then everything is sunshine after that. I hate walking away from a trick that you don’t make. You try it all day and you don’t make it. That’s just the worst feeling because it’s in the back of your mind, like everything is just not as good - dinner, and everything - it’s just awful. Learning a new trick makes it the perfect day.

The riders who push me include...well, if I’m at a halfpipe, Kass because he has got super good style. On rails, I love to hang out with Jeremy Jones or Eddie Wall because they are always pushing it. With jumps, I am a big fan of JP Solberg and Gigi Rüf. Those guys are super mellow and solid riders. There is also something that doesn’t get old about hanging out with Pat Moore and Mason Aguirre. The last thing I want to do is go to the mountain and just train or practice. I want to have fun and learn something new.

Skateboarding...like, being in really big ramps like that, just helps with snowboarding, because you know, they're starting to make a lot bigger halfpipes now. So it helps me to keep speed and just know how to ride the bigger ramps.

My family...have helped me out so much. They're the ones that would drive me to Mammoth or Mt. Hood in the summers so I could snowboard as much as possible. It's been a long road to get here, and they've been there the whole time.
My brother Jesse...is the one who inspires me the most. I'd just ride with my bro and get better and better. He's the best guy to be with. I learn so much.
I hope...skateboarding gives everyone else as much fun and happiness as it’s given me. Such a good time when I go skate and snowboarding, and kids should experience that instead of going out there and beating themselves just to get sponsored. Just skate and have fun. Snowboard and have fun, that’s what it’s all about.

Credit for story:heckler.com, transworldsnowboarding.com, snowboardermag.com, papermag.com, and Rollingstone.com