Shaun W pulls out of slopestyle, did the ultimate competitor realise he couldn’t win and quit? Someone in the US will be livid missing out.

— Ed Leigh (@SnowEdLeigh) February 5, 2014

Citing injury, a dangerous course and that he wanted to focus on the halfpipe — where he is trying for a third consecutive gold medal — White pulled out of the first ever Slopestyle only days before the event. Many people, including his fellow competitors, went on record as saying he had only pulled out as he feared he wouldn’t be able to compete to their standard.

Others argued that the course was indeed dangerous and that White was right not to jeopardise his chance at making history in the Pipe. Again, snowboarders raged over whether he was right or wrong. Either way, again, he was at the very centre of attention.