The Winter X Games are considered as somewhat of a precursor to the Winter Olympics. That is why they are often overlooked. In the past few years, however, that has not been the case thanks to the snowboard phenom known as Shaun White.

Shaun White and his fiery red hair burst onto the scene in the 2002 Winter X Games, and he has been going strong ever since. He has medaled every year he has participated in the Winter X Games and has even received a Gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

In addition to being an amazing snowboarder, White has also been making some noise in the Summer X Games with his skateboarding skills. He is currently the only skater to attempt a 1080 stalefish, but he has yet to land it.

Shaun White grew up in San Diego, Calif. with his parents and four siblings. He started skiing at age four and has loved being on the slopes ever since. At the age of thirteen, White turned pro and signed a sponsorship deal with Burton, the first of many endorsements to come. One of his many sponsors, Red Bull, built a half-pipe in Silverton for him on which to practice his tricks.

During the Winter Olympics, look for Shaun White to defy gravity once again as he attempts one of the most dangerous tricks in snowboarding, a trick Shaun White himself invented: the double Mctwist 1260.