ASPEN — Shaun White showed his first sign of mortality Friday at Winter X 15 when he failed to qualify for Sunday’s final round of the snowboard slopestyle.
White, a five-time X Games slopestyle champion who skipped the event last year to focus on Olympic halfpipe competition, finished 13th among an invited field of 16. His score of 66.33 was well off the high mark of 97.00 set by top qualifier Sebastien Toutant of Montreal.
After a lackluster first run that lacked attempts at his hardest tricks, White seemed content to focus on Sunday’s superpipe finals, for which he qualified first. As one of the few competitors to compete in halfpipe and slopestyle, White’s final pass was uninspired. He did just four 360s, and his biggest trick was one switch rodeo 540.
White did not seem too upset that he did not advance. The slopestyle finals Sunday end just three hours before the halfpipe.
“I love the fact that I’m being challenged. It’s the best feeling in the world. I’ve finally gotten that boost of ‘Wow, this is what’s to come, and this is where I need to be,’ ” White said. “I’m so inspired right now to go learn things. I definitely amped up to go and ride the halfpipe, which I’m feeling geared up for. I’m just happy that I was able to show up and do my best. That’s why I’m here.”
It was White’s 10th X Games slopestyle qualifier and the first time he didn’t advance. He had won medals in eight of nine prior slopestyle appearances.
