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Chasing big air, gold on new stage

Shaun White turns his attention from the slopes to the skate park, and he's on top once again.

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published October 19, 2007

Shaun White is the only athlete to win medals at the Winter and Summer X Games. He also won Olympic gold in 2006.
	[ESPN]

ORLANDO - Shaun White stood before countless cameras Thursday at the Amway Arena and reveled in his status as skateboarding's new main attraction.

The redhead, whose locks earned him the nickname Flying Tomato, won acclaim in 2006 with an Olympic gold medal in halfpipe snowboarding.

Now, White is trying to dominate on the giant vert skate ramp the way he did in snowboarding.

So far, he's succeeding.

In August, White won an X Games gold medal in vert skateboarding for the first time. Last month, he clinched his first title on the AST Dew Tour.

"I'm really on a cloud," said White, who will be competing this weekend on the tour's final stop. "I've really hit it heavy in skateboarding this season. I feel like I'm finally matching both sports at the same level."

White, 21, is accustomed to being in the spotlight.

The Carlsbad, Calif., native dominated the amateur snowboarding circuit for seven years before turning pro at 13. He joined the pro skateboard tour at 16. He has won six gold medals in slopestyle and superslope at the Winter X Games.

But it was his performance at the 2006 Olympics that propelled him to stardom.

Since then, it has been a dizzying run.

He appeared on Jimmy Kimmel. He was Punk'd on MTV. He signed deals with American Express and Red Bull. Combined with other sponsorships, his annual income is in the $6-million range.

"MTV actually approached me to do a reality show," White said. "It could have worked. My family is fit for a straitjacket. But I didn't feel that was me.

"I'd rather express myself on the ramp."

White, however, struggled to maintain the competitive balance that earned him the acclaim in the first place. He finished last at the 2006 tour's season opener and was eighth out of 10 in vert skateboarding at the X Games.

"It's hard with both sports," White said. "It's a give and take. I spent a lot of time preparing for the Olympics and wasn't able to devote much time to anything else."

Determined to reach new heights in skateboarding, White limited himself to three snowboarding events this year. That allowed him to better prepare for skateboarding.

The work is paying off. This year, he earned the highest score ever at the Dew tour en route to winning his first overall title. Then he added an X Games gold medal after winning the skateboard vert event on the 13-foot halfpipe.

The X Games gold was validation for White, the only athlete to win medals in both the Winter and Summer X Games.

"I think Shaun finally has more time to skate," fellow vert skater Jean Postec said. "He's really motivated to push himself. He's learning more tricks and it shows.

"Everyone knew he would win X Games one day. Now he's done it and he's been real consistent. I hope he keeps it going."

After competing this weekend, White heads to Japan and Montreal for snowboarding tournaments.

"There's always planning when competing in two sports," White said. "I'm always having to look ahead for contests and trips.

"My work is never done."

[Last modified October 18, 2007, 22:31:10]