Not in the field: American megastar and marketing powerhouse Shaun White, who dropped out of the slopestyle competition earlier this week after tweaking his wrist in a practice run on Sochi's difficult course. Many see White's late cancellation as a
Shaun White has dropped out of the Olympic slopestyle event at the Sochi games due to "potential risk of injury"
In White's absence, 20-year-old American Sage Kotsenburg, the wild-haired underdog who embraces surf lingo and shuns conformity, performed the run of his life to win the snowboarding slopestyle gold medal in the event's Olympic debut. CNN's Rachel
The sport has already grabbed headlines now that Shaun White has withdrawn from the event — a day after jamming his wrist on the course that has also claimed a broken collarbone and a concussion from other athletes
Shaun White, having won two consecutive gold medals in the halfpipe, is possibly the best-known member of the United States Olympic team. When he drops into the halfpipe, he does it at full speed – an aggressiveness that distinguishes him. By Bedel
