Shaun White calls for slopestyle's Olympic inclusion

Snowboarding Vancouver 2010 Post a comment

Posted: Saturday 20th February 2010 | 0:29

VANCOUVER 2010 halfpipe champion Shaun White has revealed he'll be back to bid for a third Olympic gold medal - as long as slopestyle is added to the Sochi 2014 programme.

PIONEER: Shaun White, arguably the best snowboarder in the world, wants to see slopstyle added to the Olympic programme in 2014 (Getty Images)

The 23-year-old captured his second consecutive Olympic gold medal with a stunning performance at Cypress Mountain, racking up an incredulous 48.4 points for his second run, after treating the crowd to his new secret weapon - the Double McTwist.

White is the marquee name of snowboarding - he made an estimated $8m in sponsorship last year, while according to Forbes magazine he tops the Winter Olympian rich list.

And he continues to pioneer new tricks and set standards, not only in halfpipe snowboarding, but also slopestyle - an event in which he is a five-time X-Games champion.

Slopestyle - where riders perform tricks while going down the mountain - along with halfpipe skiing - is among those sports being considered for inclusion at Sochi 2014 as the International Olympic Committee continue their bid to appeal to wider and younger audiences.

And White, whose Games were over after his success on Wednesday, as opposed to the likes of Lindsey Vonn or Bode Miller, who will have five outings in Vancouver, is in favour of slopstyle's inclusion.

"I think I'd love to compete in both," White said.

"It's a strange thing going to the Olympics, where so many people have four, five events and we just have the one big night.

"I'd love to compete in other things. It's kind of a heavy thing to have a one-hitter.

"It was an unbelievable, momentous occasion. That night will live in my mind forever."

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Jenny Jones will also be hoping for slopestyle's inclusion at Sochi 2014.

The 29-year-old is the two-time defending slopestyle X-Games champion.

AS IT HAPPENS: Day eight of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

Comments

Technically there is

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/20/2010 - 04:03.

Technically there is snowboardcross as well. So two moments - but agreed definitely not enough

I think that Slopestyle

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/20/2010 - 00:50.

I think that Slopestyle should definitely be added to the 2014 games. I am a snowboarder and have competed in both slopestyle and halfpipe. I agree with Shaun White when he says it should be added partly because I would LOVE to be a spectator of slopestyle and partly because snowboarders have just one single moment of glory...shouldn't they be allowed to have more like everyone else?