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“It’s really challenging just due to COVID,” White tells PEOPLE while talking about his KRAVE partnership. “Things have been very turbulent in the practice space, so that was probably the biggest challenge and hurdle. We’re all doing our best.”
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Tokyo 2020 was met with triumph as the International Olympic Committee was able to successfully carry out the global competitionamid pandemic— a feat that offers a sense of hope for winter athletes looking for their turn to safely compete come February.
White, who’s been training alongside the rest of the U.S. Snowboarding team in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, revealed in an interview withForbesthat the level of competition has already changed since “two riders have done triples in the halfpipe,” a trick that he hasn’t revisited since his major “crash” in 2013.
“At some point there’s a leap of faith, you just kind of have to say, ‘Okay, today’s the day I’m doing this trick,’ " White says. “You gotta face that fear and get over it.” Fortunately, the athlete isn’t alone when attempting these new moves, as he relies on the support of those around him for a layer of confidence.
“Usually you have people around you, a coach or a friend or somebody that can help you in that situation where they’ll motivate you or say something encouraging.” He adds, “Or you just make a pact with yourself and you go. That’s the heavy part.”
They say “practice makes perfect” for a reason. White, who went pro at age 13, confirms that learning new tricks and mastering maneuvers doesn’t happen overnight.
“Usually tricks are based off of other tricks, so I’m not going to show up and do three flips,” White explains.
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“I will say that having been to the Olympics so many times, I know what to expect. Yeah, there’s age, but that comes with experience, so I don’t think there’s much that can compete with that,” says the seasoned veteran. “Being younger has its advantages, but there’s something to be said about experience.”
“For years, I just didn’t talk about it. You’re taught to just get through it, especially growing up as a boy … nobody really talked about feeling the pressure, being like, ‘Hey I need help’ or ‘I’m not okay with this,'” he admits. “Especially with sports, you would never want to show weakness, which nowadays, it takes so much courage to actually talk about it and be vulnerable in those things. I never really thought of it that way.”
Hearingother athletes speak up about mental wellness and vocalize their feelings and concernswas something White found comforting and even influenced him to do the same. “Having other athletes talk about it was really inspiring to me, so then I started talking about it, because it affects us all, even people outside of athletics,” he shares. “Nowadays, I just talk about it. I just bring it up. I don’t pretend it’s not happening, or like I don’t feel overwhelmed at times, or feel the pressure. I’ve always used it as a motivator.”
In addition to confiding in family,his partner Nina Dobrev, and coaches, White has found a sense of community within other competitors with similar mindsets.
“Family’s always been there, so that’s just the foundation of support that I’ve always had, which is so amazing. Then, coaches, over the years, and other athletes more recently,” says Shaun. “I’ve been able to lean onMichael Phelpshere and there. He’s a really awesome guy and a great person, because he’s been through it all.”
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In addition to holding a career as a professional athlete, White is an entrepreneur as well — having partnered withKRAVEJerky, for whom he serves as their global ambassador, investor, and advisor. The product is a mix between “better for you and better tasting,” an important nutritional balance for the Olympic athlete.
courtesy Krave
Shaun’s new flavor,KRAVE Gold Label Spicy Sesame Ginger Beef Jerky, launches today and pays homage to his Olympic achievements. The name of the product is also a nod to his signature red locks — but he confirms that “Spicy Ginger” was not a nickname growing up.
source: people.com
