Chris McGrath, Getty Images2002: Shaun White of the USA in action in the Men's Snowboard Big Air event during day 3 of the Planet X Winter Extreme games held at Perisher Valley Resort in New South Wales, Australia on September 6, 2002.
Vince Bucci, Getty Images2003: Athlete Shaun White attends the 2003 ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre July 16, 2003 in Hollywood, Calif.
Donald Miralle, Getty Images2003: Shaun White gets some big air over the spectators en route to winning the gold medal in the Men's Snowboard Superpipe Competition during the Winter X-Games VII at Buttermilk Mountain on January 31, 2003 in Aspen.
Brian Bahr, Getty Images2003: Shaun White of Carlsbad, California makes a move with big air during the Snowboard Superpipe competition of the Winter X Games VII at Buttermilk Mountain on Jan. 31, 2003 in Aspen. White took the gold.
Scott Gries, Getty Images2004: Kate Bosworth, Pro snowboarder Shaun White, Fefe Dobson, and Lindsay Lohan pose for a photo backstage during "TRL BreakOut Stars Week" on MTV's Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios Jan. 12, 2004 in New York City.
Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images2004: Shaun White of the USA jumps in the Snowboard Slopestyle portion of the VIII Winter X Games on January 24, 2004 at the Buttermilk resort in Aspen.
Jamie Squire, Getty Images2005: Shaun White competes in the Snowboard Slopestyle Men's finals during day 1 of the Winter X Games at Buttermilk Mountain on Jan. 29, 2005 in Aspen.
Ezra Shaw, Getty Images2005: Mason Aguirre (L-R) of the USA, who came in second; Shaun White of the USA, who placed first; and Jan Michaelis of Germany, who came in third, celebrate with champagne on the podium after the Men's Half-pipe Finals in the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup on March 5, 2005 at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, New York.
Elsa, Getty Images2006: Men's Halfpipe gold medalist Shaun White celebrates during the Medal Ceremony on Day 2 of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games at the Medals Plaza on Feb. 12, 2006 at the Medal Plaza in Turin, Italy.
Joe Klamar, AFP/Getty Images2006: U.S. halfpipe snowboarder Shaun White competes during the second run of the Men's snowboard Halfpipe qualifying on the second day of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics 12 February 2006 in Bardonecchia, Italy.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images2006: Shaun White of Carlsbad, Calif., takes his second run during qualifying for the Men's Snowboard Slopestyle during Winter X Games 10 on Jan. 27, 2006 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen. (Photo by
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images2007: Shaun White signs autographs for some young fans after he won the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix in the Freeway Half Pipe on Dec. 15, 2007 in Breckenridge.
Charley Gallay, Getty Images2007: Olympic snowboarding champion Shaun White arrives at the 7th Annual Taurus World Stunt Awards at Paramount Pictures on May 20, 2007 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images2007: Shaun White of Carlsbad, Calif., goes airborne above the superpipe during practice before winning the silver medal in the men's Snowboard Superpipe at the ESPN Winter X Games 11 January 28, 2007 in Aspen.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images2008: Shaun White of Carlsbad, California greets the spectators after he finished third in the Men's Snowboard Slopestyle at the Winter X Games Twelve at Buttermilk Mountain on January 26, 2008 in Aspen.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images2008: Shaun White of Carlsbad, Calif. launches over the heads of the spectators enroute to a third place finish in the Men's Snowboard Slopestyle at the Winter X Games Twelve at Buttermilk Mountain on Jan. 26, 2008 in Aspen.
Jonathan Moore, Getty Images2009: Shaun White of Carlsbad, Calif. celebrates as he takes the podium for the gold medal in the Men's Snowboard Superpipe Final at Winter X Games 13 on Buttermilk Mountain on January 25, 2009 in Aspen. White became the first to earn back to back Men's Snowboard Superpipe gold medals.
Cameron Spencer, Getty Images2009: Shaun White of the United States of America poses after winning the Men's Snowboard Halfpipe final during day five of the Winter Games NZ at Cardrona Alpine Resort on August 26, 2009 in Wanaka, New Zealand.
Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images2010: Shaun White of United States celebrates his gold medal during the medal ceremony for the Men's Halfpipe on day 7 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at BC Place on February 18, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.
Streeter Lecka, Getty Images2010: Shaun White of the United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Snowboard Men's Halfpipe final on day six of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Cypress Snowboard & Ski-Cross Stadium on February 17, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. White won the gold medal with a score in his previous run.
Streeter Lecka, Getty Images2010: Shaun White of the United States competes in the Snowboard Men's Halfpipe on day six of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Cypress Snowboard & Ski-Cross Stadium on February 17, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post2011: Shaun White jumps over a gap, Friday, January 28, 2011, during Snowboard Slopestyle practice at the Winter X Games in Aspen.
Jemal Countess, Getty Images2011: Professional snowboarder and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White attends the "Friends with Benefits" premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater on July 18, 2011 in New York City.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post2011: Shaun White's face appears on the big screen before his encore run during the Winter X Games men's superpipe final on Saturday, January 30, 2011. White captured his fourth consecutive gold medal.
Jean-Pierre Clatot, AFP/Getty Images)2012: Shaun White performs during the Men's Snowboard Slopestyle qualification as part of the European Winter X-Games on March 15, 2012 in the ski resort of Tignes, French Alps.
Jason Merritt, Getty Images2012: Olympic gold medalists Shaun White (L) and Lindsey Vonn in the audience during the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Sean Gallup, Getty Images for GQ2012: Shaun White presents his GQ award at the GQ Men of the Year Award at the Komische Oper on October 26, 2012 in Berlin, Germany.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images2013: Shaun White of the USA addresses the media after winning the gold medal in the Men's Snowboard Superpipe Final at Winter X Games Aspen 2013 at Buttermilk Mountain on Jan. 27, 2013 in Aspen. It was the sixth consecutive Winter X Games Snowboard Superpipe gold medal for White.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images2013: Shaun White of the USA competes in the Men's Snowboard Slopestyle Final during Winter X Games Aspen 2013 at Buttermilk Mountain on Jan. 26, 2013 in Aspen.
Ryan Pierse, Getty Images2014: Shaun White of the United States practices during training for Snowboard Slopestyle at the Extreme Park at Rosa Khutor Mountain on Feb. 3, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Al Bello, Getty Images2014: Snowboarder Shaun White of the United States answers questions after training during day 1 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on Feb. 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post2015: Shaun White after failing to medal after his second run during the men's snowboard halfpipe final during the Winter X Games 2015 at Buttermilk Mountain on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015.
Daniel Petty, The Denver Post2015: Shaun White of the United States reacts after his third and final run of the men's snowboard superpipe final Winter X Games 2015 Aspen at Buttermilk Mountain on Jan. 22, 2015, in Aspen.
Jonathan Leibson, Getty Images for Macy's2016: Shaun White attends the Shaun White Celebrates His WHT SPACE Menswear Line Exclusively Sold at Macy's on Dec. 1, 2016 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Chris McGrath, Getty Images
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2002: Shaun White of the USA in action in the Men's Snowboard Big Air event during day 3 of the Planet X Winter Extreme games held at Perisher Valley Resort in New South Wales, Australia on September 6, 2002.
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By The Denver Post | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
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Getting your player ready...
, 30, has been competing in the Winter X Games since he was 13, only missing last year’s event because of a quarrel with organizers. He returns in 2017 and is looking ahead to the 2018 Winter Olympics.