I’m not gonna pretend that I knew what a Double McTwist 1260 was until Friday night, or even that I could properly describe it to you now. But after watching snowboarder Shaun White muscle one out in his gold medal-winning run at Winter X Games 14 — an hour after he slammed his face into the lip of the pipe attempting the move in practice — I suddenly cannot wait to see him throw it again in Vancouver. Below, the clip of his run and the crash. I wish I could find the footage ESPN played of White watching the wreck. After the proper amount of “Whoa!”ing at the sight of his head snapping back and his helmet flying off, one of the people sitting with him joked that they knew he was okay because he did a hair flip. He noted that his hair did look good. The announcers, meanwhile, told us why we should actually be impressed: a reigning Olympic gold medalist headed to Vancouver in two weeks doesn’t need to risk doing that trick or competing at all after that. But was there any question that a man who had Red Bull, one of his sponsors, build him a top-secret halfpipe in the Colorado backcountry only accessible by helicopter, would be crazy/competitive enough to go for it?
White’s private pipe got some screentime during Bob Simon’s profile of him on last night’s 60 Minutes. Shockingly, CBS has yet to put the footage online of Simon looking like he was going to pee himself while riding shotgun in White’s Lamborghini. (In Bob’s defense, Shaun did admit it was his second Lamborghini — he’d wrapped his first one around a tree.) But CBS has put up a bonus clip of White and Tony Hawk jumping over a seated Simon on their skateboards, which is almost as enjoyable. That clip after the jump.
Who’s ready to watch White in Vancouver?
There is literally nothing in this world that could get me excited for the winter olympics.
I assume you don’t watch women’s Curling then? Forshame, Sir.
Are they even going to show curling? I personaly hope so
I don’t know if NBC will, but they certainly will up here in Canada. Its really popular, for who knows what reason. Hard to respect a sport where you don’t have to even be in athletic shape to play.
He looks like he’s slammed his face a few times.
he always reminded me of Eric Stoltz in ‘Mask.’
He reminds me Alan Alda.
For me, Shaun White is the spitting image of Ed Bagley Sr. Uncannily so.
I was surprised how unscathed he was… saw a picture of him on ESPN’s Page 2. That must have been a magic fleece mask
I’m up for luge/skeleton/bobsled, but that’s about it. I’m also super-bummed that I don’t live up in Michigan anymore and can watch coverage on CBC like I did during the last 2 olympiad.
CBC is not doing it this year unfortunately, its the competitor CTV. I’m bummed too, CBC was great at letting the sports speak for themselves, rather than have a bunch of touchy feely human interest stories.
here is the video of him watching his crash earlier. Good times. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13_NK3kGixE
I love him – he rocks! Can’t wait to see him compete at the Olympics!!
There is literally nothing in this world that could get me even more excited for the winter Olympics. Well, maybe a nekkid Lyndsey Vonn run…….
Oops! Lindsey Vonn, the only other Li(y)ndsey I’ve known was a Lyndsey. Anyway, allow me to add Gretchen Bleiler in the nekkid run event……
LOOOOOOOOVE Shaun!!! I have been following him since about 2004. His gold medal run in Turino was ILL! CAN NOT WAIT FOR VANCOVER!! GO ANIMAL!
PS Donovan McNab I LOVE CURLING! DONT know why, but I do! Sweep them stones B**ch*s!
I am totally excited for the Olympics, there are obviously some great athletes – the best in the world right? I will for sure watch as much as I can, including what Shaun White does, he is amazing
ahahaahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahhah
ya….
i think he deserved the medal
i gotta take a big dump!!!!!!!!
That double mctwist was sick, you gotta admit. Not to mention it was just an hour after he almost took his head off.
On the Shaun White Album him, TH, and another guy all jump over each other, its pretty sweet if you haven’t seen it, check it out.
Dirt Bike Goggles