How to Reignite a Dream After You've Lost Everything | Shaun White

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Welcome back, everyone. At School of Greatness. We've got the legendary Shaun White in the house.

My man.

So good to see you.

Thanks for having me.

Been following your career for a long time. We've got a lot of mutual friends, and it's inspiring to see what you're able to do at 35 years of age.

Three Olympic goals. Is that right now?

Yeah.

Three Olympic golds.

Four Olympics. Three. Three golds.

Three golds. You're going back for another one. And I'm curious, how do you continue to stay so disciplined at this age with your body, your mindset, your training to continue preparing at this level after so many years competing, you know, it's

tough, honestly, you know, as you get older, there's just more things that interest you. You, you know, you're enticed by this, you know, starting a company or, you know, you know, just even just normal

life things, relationships,

moving home, you know, like just anything like that. And I found that, like, oddly enough for me, like, taking the time to do those things actually makes me better at snowboarding, really, because I have the, you know, the muscle memory, and I've done it my whole life. So it's. It's like, you know, you're. It's like riding a bike, you know, it's. You know, it's just like, how enthused are you once you get there? So if I'm really motivated when I get to the mountain, then I'm dangerous because I. I'm pumped. I want to learn the new tricks, and I have the ability to do that. It's just when I get there, and I maybe don't want to be there, and that's when it's really hard. So I think after those. Not the last Olympics, but the one before that, after I, I. I lost in Sochi in Russia, you know, I missed the podium. And I remember standing there, I had the winning run. I mean, I had all the tricks to do it. I just couldn't. I just. In my head, I just knew I wasn't gonna do well, really. Which is really, you know, a horrible feeling. You're like watching a movie. You can't really.

Why don't you think?

Here we go. Why.

Why did you not think you could do it?

Well, you know, I. I don't know. It's just. Something was just off, and I just. I. All I can chalk it up to is that my heart just wasn't fully into it, and I didn't think that that felt fully mattered at the time. I was like, I could just kind of wing it. I could phone it in. I got the tricks. I mean, you know what I mean? And just something in me didn't want it. I couldn't. I couldn't get to that place. And I was in that pressure cooker situation where I was, like, the last guy to go. It's one run. That's it. I'm closing it out. And I was like, okay, this is. This isn't gonna go well.

So you stood to yourself beforehand, this may not go well.

Yeah, so. Oh, for sure. I just kind of had a feeling, which is awful, and it's hard to just snap out of that last second. And. And so after that Olympics, everything I did at after that was like, okay, well, it wasn't a physical thing that kept me from winning. It was a mental thing.

Interesting.

And so I'm like, what do I do now? Because it's easy to go. I wish it was physical. I go do some sit Ups. I go learn the new hard trick. I could do whatever. It was mental. It was like, okay, how do I make myself like. Or fall in love with this thing again? Like, how do you make yourself, you know, love somebody else, even, like, you know what I'm saying? In that. In that same wheelhouse, it's like, it's not an easy thing to do. And so I. Or. Or, you know, reignite that excitement. And so I literally did everything that had nothing to do with snowboarding. I was like, okay, like, I gotta patch this relationship with my brother. Like, he really. For me. He stopped working for me. We were good, but we never really talked. You know what I mean? I was like. Like, I hate how I'm.

It was fake good.

Yeah. It's like, I hate how I'm portrayed on Instag, because all of a sudden, it went from, like, a way to be in touch with my friends to, like, being, like, puppeteered by a sponsor. Like, you're obligated to do these posts and you have to say these words, and this is before you would put ad on there. So everybody just thought, like, oh, yeah, Sean's really into, you know, whatever it is. Just little. Like all these little things. And as I started peeling them away, you know, like, I just had, like, less and less, you know, burden on me, and I was just kind of like a happier guy.

And you started addressing these things.

Yeah, things that were around. I was like, oh, what's going on with my relationship? I'm in. What's going on here? You know, like, yeah, I would love to take a vacation. I would love to, you know, you know, play music and do it. You know, other interests and passions and things and. And in turn. So, like, even working out, like, I went to the gym because I. I knew that after I work out, I just feel better. Right. You know, I just, like. I'm like, I accomplished something today. I just. I knew that that would make me feel good. So I, you know, started going to the gym regularly. And then obviously, you get the benefits of working out regularly. Yeah.

Yeah, you're in shape.

It's ridiculous because in 2014, I really started hitting the gym. I kind of. That I did before, but I was, you know, I. I was getting by. I was.

You didn't work out or lift before then?

I did a little, but I. I

was on the slopes.

I was a professional skateboarder as well as snowboarders. So all summer long, like, I'm competing and pumping the ramp and, like, I never had a break. So, like, all the guys that just, like, kicked it in Thailand or wherever, you know, like, I was, like, in the hunt still, you know, having to be in a pressure situation, competing, exercising, all the things. So, yeah, it wasn't till, like, 2014, I. I really started working out. And then a big one was, you know, I. I found a new manager. I found a new, you know, publicist to work with. I found amazing physical therapists that was just, like, super. Like, I started building my little team of everybody that was, like, really, you know, on the same page and. And knew my goal and help, you know, could help me get there and not kind of get stuck in their own, you know, because it's a very selfless sort of position to be in, to assist somebody else.

Right.

And to help them and be part of that team to get to this place. So, you know, they're missing birthdays, and they're missing, you know, events and things, and their relationships are strange, like, all that stuff to, you know, help me get my goal. Um, so, you know, really wonderful people in my corner. And then really awesome coach, this guy named J.J. thomas, and he was ex professional snowboarder. I saw him at the mountain. We had fun hanging, riding, and I was like, hey, man, you want to, like, team up and do that? And it just. The rapport was there. And so, like, I had this awesome little team around me. And then when I found myself at the mountain, I was just, like, excited to be there. And the little things that used to bum me out or, you know, put me in a bad state of mind were just gone.

Where do you think you would have been had you not addressed the. Maybe things in your life that you weren't fulfilled with yet or kind of finalized or resolved with relationships or. And without having the team to support you, where do you think you'd be if you didn't do those two things?

Well, gosh, I mean, I don't think I. I think I. I probably would have just quit, I'm assuming. Yeah. I mean, if. If, you know, why do something if it's not enjoyable in the end? And. And, you know, there's. There's a level of fun, and then there's a level of, like, fulfillment.

Yes.

So it's not that I'm just, like, there to have a good time. Like, sure, there's moments of, like, oh, this is really fun. We're in. We're in Austria. We're in Switzerland. We're getting.

Yeah.

You know, reading schnitzel and doing whatever. Sure, it's fun. But then like, you know, the fulfillment comes when you, like, have a goal and you actually, like, you know, make strides to get to that place and. And achieve that goal or come close and then, know, reformulate and come back at it and try it again, you know, and you. And you finally get to that place. It's fulfilling. And so that's something for me that, like, has always been there in the sport. And that's why competing and. And, you know, doing the Olympics, all these things, it's always been so fulfilling is that there was that goal, there was a prize at the end.

Absolutely.

You know, something to be obtained. But, yeah, I think, you know, and I don't even know. I mean, it's hard to say. And there's so much what if. But I don't know, I could have easily cruised into a third, a 3P and. And maybe retired at that point. Like, all right, you know, but I. I got to the Olympics. It didn't go my way. I was upset, I was frustrated, and I was like, wow, okay, well, this is probably here to teach me something. And I remember, it's so funny. I can see it clear as day, but I was at my home. I had a home in Malibu, and I was sitting on the bluff. It was, like, on the water. I was sitting on the bluff, like, trying to feel really bad for myself. I'm in Malibu, the ocean, literally, I'm, like, tearing up. Like, you blew it. You're an idiot. You know, you. Like, I could have done this or why didn't I do that? All these what ifs. And, you know, your brain can just do numbers on you. So I'm sitting there spiraling, and I look out and this whale just, like, jump in there. And I was like, oh, my God, you're right. Is that a whale? Majestic. And perspective in a moment, broke the whole. Like, I was like, wow. Well, things aren't so bad. You know, I'm here. This is. This is a beautiful life I've made for myself.

And I've won two gold medals already.

And, you know, but up to that point, I'd never been to an Olympics and lost. So I was kind of like, oh, it's all over. It's done. Like, I just did. I just thought that, you know, it doesn't matter. The other medals are, you know, erased if this doesn't happen.

Interesting.

That's how you felt?

Yeah, that's kind of how I operated for a while. Like, I just, like. Because you. You. You have to stay in the hunt for the next big win. So I'd always like, oh, cool. The trophy. Okay. And then, like, you know, and you've got multiple events, and so. And it's literally the first question they ask you, are you going to the next Olympics? Right at you win or right at the end, really, literally, you're like. But you're trying to catch your breath. They're like, so you go to the next one, and it's. It's heavy. So. So, yeah. So I remember sitting there thinking, like, okay, like, I know how I feel inside. And there were things that didn't go my way. And, yeah, I had my plan, you know, which. What does that mean at this point? And I remember thinking, the thought of, okay, I'm gonna make this the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Losing.

That was. You mean.

You mean.

Yeah, losing. I was like, I make this the best thing that's ever happened to me. And that's. And that's when I started with that mindset of, like, okay, well, if this was the best thing, then what is the outcome? Like, oh, well, you know, I wasn't doing the big media spree, so I have time to do this now. Like, actually just spent time at my house. I was like, oh, I have time to reconnect with family or friends or what? You know, I have time. I went on. I was in a band for, like, a while, and, you know, the band went on tour because we had time to do that. A bunch of fun things. And so. So, yeah, and then. And then that whole sort of like, well, if I'm gonna go again, what would be the perfect situation? And then I started filling in the pieces of, like, the puzzle of, like, oh, well, who would my coach be? And gosh, you know what? Instead of just calling random people to get massages wherever I'm at or physical therapy, like, what if we just locked in somebody that traveled with me, and

you knew what you're gonna get every time?

What if that person's great and they know my body so well, and it's, like, almost embarrassing to say that I hadn't had that for years. You know, it's not something that's really taught as much nowadays. It's more spoken about.

But, like, now you hear LeBron saying he's spending, you know, million dollars a

year on his body, and you don't really think about it. I remember hearing that, like, oh, that's cool. You know, and the sport of snowboarding, like, it was pretty lame to have a coach, even for, like, a long time. Yeah. You know, it's like, it wasn't cool or something. Yeah, like, to have an agent or to have a coach or to, you know, care or to want to sold out or something. High school. Yeah. It's like, you know, like, oh, he. He cares. That's lame. You know, so. So it all kind of happened later. And then once I built the team, I was like, how did I even. It's like, you getting a pet or something. Like, how did I. I don't remember my life before this. How did I get this far? So, yeah, having the team was amazing. And then I guess, basically I was on my journey to that next Olympics, and I had my plan. I love my plans. Everything's going to plan. I was crushed. Everything's going great. I'm feeling strong and motivated. I got my team, and I'm in New Zealand, and I'm like, heck it. I'm gonna go for this trick that I've been trying. I've been procrastinating, putting it off. Like, let's just get it done. Today's the day. Throw the trick. Clip the top of the pipe, fly to the bottom. The wall is 22ft tall, so I clip the top, then I bounce. And the sun was. I forget what time was. It was maybe midday, so the sun was here, meaning that, like, this wall is in the shade, and this wall's sunny and soft. So it was the icy wall. I clip the top, fly to the bottom, and I caught the edge of my board in the snow, and it put my face snow. And, you know, next thing you know, I'm, like, in a helicopter flying to the hospital. I'd, like, ripped my face open and.62 stitches. And I had, like, pulmonary lung contusion. It was just, like, a really bad crash.

Yeah.

And I was like, okay, well, this was. This wasn't part of my plan.

That was a couple months before the Olympics.

Literally right before I remember seeing this, I was just like, okay, like, you know, is this a sign that I should stop? Is this? What is this? And I really had to sit with myself and think about it and go, okay, well, this is in my way for some reason, like, what's to be learned from this? You know? And it just really kind of straightened everything out for me as. As strange as that sounds, like, basically, yeah, I'd been telling myself it'd be great to win the Olympics, and, oh, this would be nice, and, oh, I could do this afterward. You know, I had all my plans, and. And then I had this horrible crash, and I was like, okay, well, how badly do you really like. And even saying you want it, but how badly do you really want it? Because going back out on the snow means in some small percentage, but there is a percentage that I'm willing to let this happen to myself again.

Again.

And it was horrible. My face is hanging open. I'm trying to eat, you know, yogurt or whatever.

And I just had three implants in two weeks ago.

Yeah.

And. And bone graft in one place because I had teeth removed when I was 18 that I never got fixed.

Yeah.

So I had these kind of gaps.

Okay.

For 20 years.

Okay.

My mouth is, like, kind of collapsing, and so I don't. I don't know your pain, but I know the pain of, like.

Yeah.

Getting those implants was, like, 10 days of eating yogurt every day and soup. It's miserable.

And it's your face, too. So, like, me looking in the mirror and all. I remember the sweetheart, angel of a person, this. This woman named Esther, who's my physical therapist because I had to do my interviews. They're like, well, we need a live hit for the Today show. You're like, so there I was. I was in the air, and I dropped in, and I hit the top, and, like. Because I couldn't. You know, scars, they. They're stiff when they heal, and. And it only hurts when you're in the cold. Or I'm. The snowboarders always freezing at the bottom, and they're like, can we get a hit? Like, oh, man, tell us how the run was. And I. I can barely talk, and all I remember is being in the airport. And, you know, Scar says, you need to break it down. Yeah. I'm sitting there, like, on my phone in tears because my physical therapist got her hand in my. In my mouth, and she's just, like, grinding down the scar tissue. And people, what is going on? Like, what the. You know, this is before COVID so

you could put your hand in someone's

mouth, you know, randomly. But. Yeah.

60 stitches.

Yeah, like, 62. I cut my forehead.

Oh, my gosh.

Through my lip and nose, and I bit through my tongue.

Did you have to do any, like, dental surgery?

Oh, thankfully. The only thing that was, like, an issue was, you know, they kind of let me out of the hospital. And then that whole night, I felt like I was kind of drowning. What's going on? I thought maybe from the procedure, it was the tube. They put down something, and I went back, and they're like, let's just take a quick X ray. And my lungs were just full of blood. Oh my gosh. Impact had bruised them and so they threw me straight back to the urgent care area and I had to sit there with this little bucket and like get clear of the lungs, you know. Really?

Is that come a tube that takes it out of the.

It was just me breathing in like a humidifier to kind of like loosen. Oh my gosh, man. Yeah, it was just like a whole thing.

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So to come back from that, I was like, okay, well, now I gotta, like, do the trick that I. That put me in the hospital. And, like, my. My coach, like, you got it. I'm like, I. I know, but I was pretty sure I had it the last time. And so, anyways, I had to, like, make this pack with myself. I was like, okay, I'm not gonna do the trick until, like, I'm ready to do it. And the conditions are perfect because I try to force it.

Yeah, it's not.

Yeah. And so I waited. And then, man, like, acts of God happened. It was like. It was like, you know, show up to the event and, like, you know, the pipes not built for the first two days because it was a really bad winter. So it was pretty dry. And, like, they're like, there's only one day of practice. Like, literally, like, all these weird things. Like, I show up for this practice session, and then the machine that builds the half pipes broke. Or I flew to Canada, and then the Canada, like, a giant storm blew in. And then I was like, okay, well, we got to go back to Mammoth Mountain. I could fly to Mammoth Mountain. I got there and I got really ill. Like, I just got a flu or something. And so all these weird things.

The Olympics. Yeah.

Literally, it's two weeks away at this

point, and you still haven't done the trick.

I haven't done. I. I did it. I did the trick, like, twice. I think I finally just, like, got it done, but I hadn't done, like, repetition, and I had it. You know, it's a routine. So you would do a trick into that trick into another trick.

You hadn't done that.

I hadn't done it. And I'm flying to the Olympics, like, well, I guess we'll just do it when we get.

Shut up. Really?

Yeah.

So you didn't do. You didn't practice full routine until the Olympics?

The second run.

Oh, my God.

That's the first time I ever tried that run. So I. Of course, I fell. And now deja vu. I'm sitting where I was at the last Olympics. Last guy to go, there's one more run. And I was just like, I want to win this. I don't know. I just. Just, like, I felt it the other way. I was like, I'm going to win this thing for sure. There's no way. I'm not going to make this run. I just remember thinking, like, I can picture it, because I was like, you know, enjoy it, because this is. You're going to win this thing. And I remember the orange of the. The outfits we were wearing. All the. All the banners and flags and things were orange. And then they had a big flag at the top, and the flag was down, meaning no wind. And like this. It was kind of overcast that day, and it started to open up a little bit, and I was like, this is perfect moment. And, like, a song came on. I recognized it's, like, some Post Malone stuff, and I was like, let's go. And, man, nailed it to win it, you know, And. And so that's why at the end of that Olympics, like, I don't know if I've ever really broken down that much, but it was such an emotional journey to get to that.

Yeah, man.

To, like, from the family stuff to, you know, Instagram, whatever, all these things that I changed in my life, and then to have that bad accident and really question everything, only to get there and win, it was just such, like, a overwhelming is of, you know, joy and. And all that. So.

Yeah, I remember watching. I remember watching it live and just. Yeah, you had so much emotion. But hearing the full story now, I could see why.

Yeah. So it was heavy. And trust me, getting to that point where I'm like, wow, I'm just gonna do it when I get there.

Like, that's nuts.

I've been plotting for over, you know, actually four years at this point, for this one moment, I'm gonna show up unprepared. Like. Like, how did this happen? How did I get to this point?

Well, I'm prepared. But 25 years of preparation, for sure.

For sure. I know how to compete. I know these things. But, like, you know, you want to be ironclad, of course, you're kind of winging it.

Yeah.

And at this point, I'm like, all right, well, let's see what happens. And so that was very unnerving. And so.

And did you know that going into it, like, this is a winning combination? Like, if I can land this perfectly or close to perfect, it's a winner?

Pretty much. I mean, the only thing is that the other competitor names Ayumu, the Japanese snowboarder. He. He had a very similar run. And so, you know, I was like, okay. Like, not only do I have to do this run, but just do it bigger and better than great. So I was like, okay, he's a

lot younger than you.

Yeah, he's a lot younger.

More fearless, maybe didn't just smash his face a month ago and.

And you know, and I was in that pressure spot of like, okay, like, it's make or break. Like, everyone's watching. Am I gonna do it or not? And. And, you know, all that stuff clicked in, and I was like, I'm. I'm gonna do it.

And you knew right? When you finished, you knew you won.

Not exactly. I knew that was the best chance I had for sure of winning.

You know, you did your best.

It was so. It was so intense and, like, it's all connected. So I don't really remember specific moments. So I'm watching the screen going, like, okay, I feel like I killed it, but did I touch a hand somewhere? Did I land kind of flat and not notice it? Is it. You know, it's so. You're so wound up.

Yeah.

And then, man. So everybody at the top celebrating because the score came in right away. Really, Like, I had one. Boom. NBC held the score for, like, a dramatic pause.

You didn't see it until you're on camera.

Eternity. I was just like, and I'm watching. And they had. They had the other athletes here, so I don't want to, like, go near them because I just. I don't know, I didn't want to look in their faces. And. And. And, you know, and so then. Then. And then the judges booth's right in front of me, and I don't want. I swear, I look up in the booth and some guys doing, like a play limbo with my fate, you know, and. And so, like, ugh. And then the crowd and TV cameras here. So I'm just kind of like panning around, and finally the score hit, and I was just like, I lost it. It was so amazing. And then just seeing my family and, you know, Jake Burton, the owner of Burton Snowboards, who sadly passed away, you know, amazing moment with him. He was like, how the f do you do every time? Because, you know, he's. He's congratulated me after every, you know, big win. And even. Even there when the upset happened, you know, so amazing to see, like, familiar faces and all that. And. But. But I was so proud of that. Like, all those little steps I took actually paid off. They got me to that place where I was sitting in the same position, and I'm like, I'm going to win rather than, like, I'm just not. Not there. So that was, I think, what I was the most proud of after that Olympics.

Have you ever had another moment before run where you're like, I don't think this is going to go well, but it did go well. Like you said to yourself, like, man, this is a tough one. I don't know.

We'll see.

It's 50, 50. And then you just nail it still.

There was. There was one. It was actually the qualifier to get to that Olympic Olympics. Oh, wow. We were in Aspen, the mountain of snow mass. And, like, kind of similar situation where I show up. I'm so excited. You get three runs for final. The first run, I was way too excited. Yeah, like, over. And I, like, shot out, and I was like, oh, my God. And my coach is like, what happened? I was like, I don't know. I'm sorry. I just like to. To pumped and like. And as the, you know, it's the mountain. So as the day goes on, these clouds start rolling in, and it's getting colder. So the temp drops. So the snow falls, hardens. It's going faster, and it's like, it's getting scarier. And, you know, the second run. Perfect. Nailed it the whole way down. And on the last hit, I, like, washed out. And I'm like, oh, my God. You know, and at this point, we're panicking because we're a couple. We still need to make the team. Like, the commercials are airing that I'm going Olympics. We haven't made the team. We have to qualify every time.

Pressure, man.

So I'm sitting there going, like, okay,

like, you got one more run.

And so I'm talking to, yeah, I got one more run. I'm the last guy to go. Same deal. I talked to my coach, and he's like, you know, I'm like, what do I do? I'm like, in the start game, I'm like, what are we doing for that last hit, the one that I fell on? I'm like, are we going for this big? It's the 1260s called. And I was like, are we going for the 12? Or should I dial it back to a 9? Or should, like, what are we doing? And he was just kind of like, you know, I'm talking to him about it, and out of nowhere, he's like, do the 14.

Which is.

Which is, you know, it's all just degrees of rotation.

More rotations.

More. Yeah.

And I was like, do we do 12 or nine?

Yeah, dude, do the 14. And I was like, what do you mean? He's like, on the first hit, we were talking about the last hit on the first drop going, he's like, do the 14. You practiced it so much. You're ready. Just do the 14. And I was like, and I remember looking at him being like, sure, okay. Yeah, right.

Like, seconds before you go.

And the guy's literally telling me to go. At this point, he's like, go. And I was like, so what are we doing? He's like, I don't know. I was like, well, I kind of gotta go. We're having this argument and he's just. And the guy's like, come on. Like, write her ready? Like, go. And so I remember, like, giving him the, like, fine. Basically, like, saying, like, if it doesn't work, it's your fault. It's your fault. Nailed it. I fully nail it. And I. And it gave me the second win. And then I start hammering the run. Best part is we, I'm on the last hit. And I was like, we never decided what we got to do the last.

You didn't know what you're gonna do

because we only talked about the first hit. And so I was like, three seconds of the stuff. Yes. I'm like, well, I'm already on the heater. I might as well go for the 12, the harder trick. Like, let's just do it. And boom. I went from, like, I think I was in, like, like, second to last place on the, on the roster to, like, winning. I won with that run, but I got a perfect hundred score. Like, I nailed it. Like, I nailed the run. And that's only been handed out once before, which was actually for me at the X Games event. So this is, you know, but it meant a lot to me because that X Games judging and the actual Olympic judging is a little bit different. So it was like, oh, I felt, it felt even more official. Maybe I shouldn't say that. It was just as amazing either way. But, like, went from dead last to, like, you know, winning the competition, perfect hundred score, making the Olympic team all in, like, couple seconds there and, and 20 seconds before.

You didn't know what you were gonna do.

I didn't know the run. Yeah, I didn't know what we were gonna do. So.

But did you go into it when you dropped? Were you like, I'm screwed in your mind, or were you like, I got this. I'll make, I'll figure it out.

I think, I think a part of me was like, you know, who cares? Because, you know, it's on him, you know, And I, I, I'm a firm believer in, in. You ever played ping pong? And like, all of a sudden you're up 10 points or something, and you go, oh, I'm up 10 points. I should really focus now.

And Then you messed it up.

So like that bit of not caring probably allowed me to go crush that run because I, I was in a state of like, well, heck with it. Like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna just go for it.

You're list.

Yeah. And then as I started nailing the tricks, that's when things like the, the tunnel vision happened and I was like, oh, I'm actually killing it. Like, stay, stay focused. Yeah. And I got like a second wind in the middle of my run and that's when I threw. Cause at this point, like, it's dragged on. Like I said, the clouds had moved in. I'm tired, I'm exhausted, end of the day. So when he's like telling me to do the 14, I'm already like, I'm ready for bed. I told him, like, let's just wrap it, we'll go to the next event and try to win that thing. But anyways, so that was like an amazing situation where like, I was pretty convinced I wasn't going to do well and somehow pulled it out.

Nailed it.

There's been some, there's been a couple of those. There was one, there's one where I actually set the record for the highest air out of the half pipe. And the best part of the story is, is that the morning of I had, I think I was fighting a cold. And so like, you know, if you work out or you do something strenuous like your body's fighting the cold, not repairing the muscles. So I woke up and I could barely walk, I was so tired. And I call my coach, different coach at this point. He comes over and shows up with giant bags of ice. And like we fill the bathtubs, hot water and cold water, and I just start going back and forth. I'm like, okay, I got maybe like three runs, four runs with me max. So let's do like a pretty simple warm up run and then just try to do it in the contest and get it done.

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This is your Michael Jordan moment.

Yeah.

This is your flu game.

I drop in, I can't stop. My leg is so tired and so worn that if I, I can't use it to break. Like there's not like it would have folded on me. And so I went so big because I couldn't stop. I like shot out the top. Huge air. I. I forget the height at that point. I think like 23ft was probably the biggest error. This is a 20 foot, 22 foot pipe. So I'm out about 20, 20 something feet above.

Yeah, well, you're looking down the ground 45ft down.

Yeah, yeah, well, because I'm landing higher than the 22, but you look, you're up there.

Yeah, you look another. That's scary, man.

Yeah, so the idea is to be in this side of the pipe, catch the wall. And so I'm flying and I'm thinking like, wow, I've never really gone this big. If I could just finish this run, I'm gonna win. And I somehow pulled it together and nailed it.

That's terrifying, man.

Yeah, I may have like even like bowed out on my last run because you're just like, I couldn't do it. Yeah, yeah, I was too tired.

I'm curious about, I mean, you've rarely lost a competition, right? It's like, it's a rare day for you if you lose or get second or whatever. Have you learned how to put your self worth not on winning or losing, but just to put it on who you are as a human being? Or have you struggled in the past with man, I suck today and I'm no good as a person as well? Like, how do you wrap your self worth around your competition?

Yeah.

And separate it from just who you are as a human?

No, it's a great question because like I would say I'm so much cooler with losing now than I ever was before. I mean it, it would just tear me, me apart. I, and it's so weird because I probably had won 10 competitions straight going into this one and got second by a point and a half or something. And I was just devastated like how did this happen? And like, and you know, that kind of self worth being derived from those situations is, is difficult. You know, it drives you to be better, but it's unsustainable, you know, if your happiness is just hanging in the balance of winning.

Yeah, yeah.

And, and, and it's a judged event. It's like, you know, it's opinions and who did better and, and so.

Yeah, I mean, how do you manage that now then?

I wish I could say I, I had a good grasp on it when I was younger. I mean something about, I guess nowadays it's twofold. I mean not to pat myself on the back, but I've won a lot of events so I don't feel as much. I have to prove as much of, you know, of my, you know, hey, like I'm the best or I've been, you know, like I don't feel like I have to prove as much. So I, I'm content with like even I've been at events where I'm just like, I'm not competing today because it's unsafe or it's this or I'm not feeling it. Like you, you know, if you actually look at my track record like I've pulled out of a lot of events really, it's just unsafe at times. But look at it as a marathon. It's not a sprint. It doesn't matter. Today's that's cool, but it'll go by and it'll be there next year and maybe the conditions will be better and more favorable and, and I'll be healthy and ready to do it. So I like to think of my career as that, that long game. And so nowadays it helps knowing that like, okay, well I'm going to lose this event. I know it's not going to go well, but I know that this is the goal.

So it's not the one event.

Yeah, like it's not, it's not this event. It's that one. So, like, qualifying for that last Olympics, like, I showed up at the first event knowing I was gonna lose, and I was like, oh, this would be great. I'm gonna show face, see what everyone's doing, and I'll get a clear picture of, like, okay, here's where the level's at, and here's where I need to be, or where am I at? And I didn't show my cards.

Smart.

So I was like, okay, we'll see what happens, and, you know, play it. And. And so. So there's strategy too involved and, you know, and it changes over the time. I mean, I used to just. I had to win everything and, like. And if you kind of challenge what I was doing, then I would run off and do whatever else.

But now you're okay with losing an event that's not as important? Yeah, the main events, like.

But did I hit my markers? Did I get my points toward making the team? Did I. You know, did I save my body? Did I. You know what I mean? And so even. Even, like we kind of mentioned in the waiting room, it's like, after the Olympics, I take a season off. So if you extrapolate that over the years, I've, you know, five, almost five Olympics now, you know, so this means four years I've taken off. That's four years that I've been able to kind of, like, let the body rest and my head rest and all these things. And so it's definitely stretched my career out.

Yes.

You know, and I hate to admit I'm the oldest competitor, but. Yeah, at this point, it's really funny because I remember dropping in and being the youngest competitor, and that's funny. They're like, I'm the oldest competitor. Dropping.

You still feel like the young guy, or.

No, I still feel like, you know, I mean, I don't feel like the young guy, but I feel like. Like it could be my game, you know, it's my. It's my competition to win or lose. Still, I still feel that way, you know, where. I don't know. I think if I was, like, clinging on to, like, 11, 10th, 11th, you know, my family, be like, get out of here.

It's time, for sure.

Or, you know, it would just. It would naturally, something would. There'd be a tell.

Yeah. Yeah.

But. But, yeah. So nowadays I just kind of manage it that way. And then, honestly, I did, like, a bunch of just kind of, like. I don't know what you call it, I guess, work on myself, just kind of, you know, I went to A lot of.

What did that look like?

Was that therapy?

Was I workshops?

Was it all of the above? I, I was talking to therapists and then I was, you know, reading some really, you know, eye opening books.

And then which, which books impacted you?

One was called the New Earth. It was Eckhart Tolle.

Yeah, he's great.

Yeah, it's, it's worded pretty, you know, it's, it's very. You'd say it's spiritual. Exactly. It's intense. But if you really take the time to read and have to like, reread pages, I'm like, wait, wait, what are they saying? So that was, that was, you know, an amazing book that really opened my eyes up to a lot of different things and the way my brain works and the thought process and how I've been kind of like assessing the situation and you know, the events that happen, they happen. It's how I interpret them is what's like driving me and fueling me and, and if it's something I interpret to be a bad thing, then I'm going to, you know, act and these emotions will stir from that. And so it really made me understand that. And then another book I read was called Loving. What is Byron Katie?

She's great. We had her on the show. She's awesome.

And I swear I saw her somewhere. I, I got all fan girls.

She's amazing, man. So they came on here and she pretty much did like live therapy with me. I was like, it's incredible.

Yeah.

So you read those two books? Those were the impacts.

Yeah, those are really heavy. There's a couple others, but those were the main ones. And then I, I honestly, I, I got a phone call from Tony Robbins to come down to his house and do like a speaking engagement.

He does the paid speaking, the platinum partner things.

It was like, you know, just. And I do those sometimes, which was cool. And he called me up and I go down there and in Florida, right? Yeah. I was at his home. The panel was myself, Michael Phelps and Tom McGregor. Tom Brady. Yeah, I think that was the next year's one. I was like, oh, this is cool. I went first. And then, and then I'm listening to Michael speak and I was like, wow, it really blew me away to hear like a fellow athlete talk about the struggles of, like, how you feel after an event. And like, even if you win, it doesn't mean that, like all these other things are great in your life, you know, it doesn't mean that the dog's gonna like, listen to you. It doesn't mean that, like, you know, these people are gonna care for you more. Your business isn't in a better situation in place, like, all these, these things that, like, yeah, winning is amazing, but it doesn't fix everything. And, and, and a lot of that stuff gets pushed to the side in order to win. And so it was really eye opening to hear him speak. And then afterward, Tony was like, look, you know, we do this little, you know, he calls it a prayer. It's nothing religious at all, but it was kind of this, like, meditation, quick meditation thing. He's like, michael's gonna, we're all gonna do it. I was like, okay. And it's basically the concept of, like, stacking. You know, you go through the day and you kind of like, oh, whatever. The, the sofa I ordered is back ordered now. I thought it was going to be here this week. It was not. It's going to be next month. They're like, so let's stack that. And then like, oh, I got the phone call from so and so that the, the event got canceled because of COVID You know, great. And then you start stacking these things. And so it's just a simple process. His prayers is, is a. Which I understand later, but it was the idea of, like, you know, hey, let's go and just take a minute to stack all these really great things that happen. Because you don't really take the time to do that.

Not to focus on all the negative things totally.

Or like, just take a moment to be like, oh, man, like, hey, when did something, like, really just work out? Like you said that run and Aspen. Like, it just worked out. You know, I was thinking, oh, it's probably not going to be my day. And boom, it hit. It just worked out. And like, hey, let's like, what an amazing win where something just kind of went my way. And like, let's take something that really worked hard for and that actually happened and like, oh, what by chance, you know, like a person you met that became a lifelong friend. You know, just these things. You. I remember leaving feeling like, like I was so pumped up and I just really, you know, at the time, needed something like that. Anyway, so I leave and, you know, that feeling kind of fades a little, obviously, and a couple of months go by and randomly he called me Tony. Yeah. And I was driving. I, I, you know, when you click your phone, it comes through the car speakers.

Yeah.

Huge voice of his was like, we're doing an event.

Come out.

That's it. It's an invitation, not a expectation. Whatever you want, you know, send a family member, whatever. And so I was like, you know what? I'm. Let's do it. And so I. I remember just like, I was like, I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go solo. My first instinct was to send family members that I cared about. I was like, oh, maybe I'll send my dad or my mom or my sister. Somebody close to me that, like, would benefit from this. And then. And I remember hearing him on the phone. They're like. It's kind of like the planes crashing. Do you take the mask and put it on someone? No, you got to save yourself so you can save the others or whatever. And. And. And, you know, and then I was like, I'm just gonna go, and I'm gonna go alone. I went solo. Just kind of like this.

UPW or David Destiny. See, we're walking on fire and stuff.

Yeah.

The whole thing, it's crazy, isn't it?

Yeah. So you went.

I've been there. Yeah.

So.

So it's amazing. It was just awesome. And it really got me thinking differently. And I. And I remember thinking, like, wow, if I felt pretty great after. It was just like, my thought process of why I should work out. I was like, well, I feel better after. Well, why not? We'll go to something like this. And so I did the event. It was crazy eye opening, really amazing. And then after that, I went to a financial seminar he had up in Canada as, like, a thank you. I was like, hey, why don't I come, like, snowboard with your guests? That's cool. And I'll take the course.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So did that, and then, you know, had some other interactions with him and then ended up doing the Date with Destiny in Florida.

So I haven't done that one yet.

After, you know, multiple hits of this, you know, you really. It starts to sink in. And that was really awesome because it's. It's something about, like. It's nice if somebody, you know, they can tell you, hey, feel better about this, or do that, you know, but it's such a different thing when you come up with the idea yourself.

Yeah.

And it's. It's. You know, you're like that aha. Moment of like, oh, wow, I've been doing this, and now I realize this is a better way. And not only that, but, like, here are the tools to help you. So, like, with these books, like, the first book, the New Earth, like, got me thinking differently, but the Loving what is kind of took that same kind of thought process and and made it, like, appliable to my life so I could go through my life. And I. Like, anytime something arises now, it triggers. And I go, oh, let me. They do this thing where they. Katie does. I'm sure you spoke with her. You kind of break it down and question. You have these, like, four questions, and you're just like, okay, like, how do I really feel about this? You start going through the questions, and at the end, it just takes all the. The life out of it. You know, it takes all the. That meaning and that sort of, you know, emotion that's drawn from the meaning that you're giving this thing. You're giving it all this life, and it's not.

It's nothing. Do you remember four questions? I can't remember them fully.

They're like, is it true?

Yeah.

And then how do you know it's true or something? The second one, is it really true? Is it really true?

The first one, Is it true?

Yeah. The second one is, is it. Is it really true? And then pretty much every time that the answer is no. And then it's like, how do you feel or how do you react when you hear that or believe that lie? Yeah. And then the fourth part is you turn it around, which is a little confusing to me, but it's still. It's like you kind of start saying it differently.

Yeah. Perceiving it differently.

Yeah. Just by saying it differently, though, is like, oh, this person did this. Well, I did this. You know.

Right.

Or my thinking of this was wrong, or this. And just you kind of saying it goes, oh, yeah, okay. But it's a really powerful thing because it really stops you in your tracks. And. And now when something arises where it's not that I walk on sunshine every day, but when problems do arise and, like, you know, I'm. I'm like getting flack from the guy on Airbnb, whoever, like, about to write this crazy text, oh, is this true? Is he really upset? You know, and you kind of like, when something really upsets you, it's. It's. Those are the signs. Yeah, something's off. What do you think is really cool?

What do you think? What's your biggest trigger in your life? Or what has been your biggest trigger in the past that you've had to learn how to process better.

Well, that's. That's the whole part of it, is that the triggers are something basically that you're. You're seeing it through a lens of your past.

Right, Right.

So it's not that you came in and said, you didn't like my shirt. At some point, someone else said I didn't have good style. And now I'm hearing you say you don't like my shirt. Now I'm freaking out, you know, because I'm adding all this other stuff that you don't know about, but you were just not into the color, whatever, or were giving me it, you know, a hard time. You know what was amazing is that everything really boils down to these. Like, I'm butchering this, but they're. Tony's not listening. But they boil down to these simple things of, like, I'm not enough. Or. Or, you know. Yeah, that I'm not enough, or this isn't good enough, or, you know, I won't be loved, you know, and as simple as it is, it's like, okay, well, you know, like. Like losing a contest best, you know. Well, why? What's it. What's the meaning behind it? Like, oh, I wanted to win to show that I'm great. Well, why did you want to show that you're great? Well, I. I was told kind of I wasn't gonna amount to much in a sport that was not in the Olympics, that X Games had just started. Like, there's no future in the sport. So for years and years, the teachers and friends and people are like, we're gonna amount to nothing. Yeah, you're a joke. Like, your sport's a joke. And. And we'll see in the future when you're asking for change, you know, and so that's kind of embedded in me. So there was this fight to prove that I was, you know, important or special or whatever. And so it all boils down to, like, that, like, oh, I'm. I'm not good enough, or I've feared that I'm not enough. And so once you kind of realize you're. You're. You're pulling from this place, you know, you go, well, okay, take all this aside. Like, like, man, like, what are the basics? Like, am I there for my friends when they need me? Like, for sure. Am I, you know, like. Like, what are my strengths outside of all this other stuff? And you kind of really get to know yourself a lot more. And that was really amazing for me. And so eye opening because I was just, like, ever since I can remember, I've been competing and doing this and that and win after win, and, you know, how do we go bigger and more and. And, you know, I never really took the time to just go, oh, wow. Like, hey, I. I tend to, like, do well At a dinner, like I can. I make people laugh. I'm good. All right. You send me in. I'm good. You know, like, that's a great quality to have to be able to like be social and to, you know, to you know, strike a chord with people and, and easily start conversation, make people laugh. And like that's a quote. That's a great quality to have. And, and, and the simplest fact of like, oh, like, okay, if I knew someone like that, I would like just to have them around just for that basic fact that they're enjoyable to be with.

Yeah.

You know what I mean? Just the simplest things. And, and then once you have that kind of foundation of understanding of like, gosh, well, I'm getting that sort of I am enough and I will be loved and all these things from all this, then everything else is just like, oh, well. And if I win the event, you know, so. But it, but that's what's so weird is I was worried that it wouldn't like keep me motivated, but I'm still driven.

And this was on the last couple years you started doing this work, right?

This was. Yeah. This was like 2018.

Pretty much.

Yeah.

So in the last three years, as you started to do kind of more of the, the emotional, inner mental work.

Yeah.

What would you say to your, you know, 13 year old self getting into the journey of this.

Yeah.

This career the last 20 years or whatever. 20 plus years. What would you say to him knowing what, you know now about what the real champions mindset is?

Yeah, no, it's tough. I mean, I've thought about that. But there were so many situations where maybe I needed that drive, you know what I mean? I'm a firm believer in like you kind of, I don't know, I've just been like leveling up consistently through my career. So maybe I didn't need that lesson at that time. I definitely would have told myself to really like stop and enjoy the, like the little things just because, you know, you don't realize that things just keep going on, you know. I remember signing this deal when I was really young and it's like this 10 year contract. I was like, I'll be playing golf by then. I was like, I'll be 30, can you imagine? And 30 came around. I was like, wow, I still feel so driven and youthful and I got all this stuff in front of me and so see. Yeah, I don't know, I don't know what I would say exactly, but I definitely enjoy the, the little things. Yeah, just go back and take the moment to, like, like, man, we had this big win. Let's go celebrate that with this. Yeah, let's just take an extra minute to do that.

Not already move on to the next.

Yeah. Oh, for sure. Because, you know, it was just like, I had my. My. And. And I don't think it would have gotten in the way. It would have just been, like, really enjoying or like a big deal I signed or something like.

Yeah.

Celebrating.

Yeah, those things.

But now that you've done, I guess, the. The deeper inner work that you're talking about, do you have a, you know, a routine or a mindset or a mantra that you have going into events now that, like, you think about beforehand or before you're going up to the dropping in or. Or is it just keep doing the same you've been doing?

No, it's pretty much the same. That's what's so great about it is it's like, it's just given new meaning to the same way that I feel already. What's that meaning? Just that. That it's. It's all a bonus. It's all like. You know what I mean? It's. It's all icing on top of the cake. I mean, look at this long career I've had to this point. It's all, you know, and. And like, why not? Like, I still feel great. I still am motivated. I still. In these things. And like, let's embrace that, but not put the extra, you know, emphasis on, like, wolf. It all doesn't work out, then nothing's good.

That I'm worthless.

Yeah. Or just that, like, nothing's great. You know, and then you're at your

beach house, you're, like, crying, watching the

whale, you know, but. But that's, you know, I don't know. I. I fear I'm coming off preachy or something like that. It's something that worked for me and really helped me. But, you know, teach his own. And, you know, there is a time to push and to push through the. The frustrating parts, and then there's a time to kind of go, oh, wow, like. Like, is this. Is this just a time for a course adjustment rather than, you know. So I think, yeah, as I've gotten older and maybe. Maybe it's just with age, like, I don't know if I would have listened at that point. Right.

You were so focused. What feedback would you give to someone out there, Whether they're an athlete or they're just going after life in a big way, they have big goals, big dreams. Maybe it's business or career or something. What feedback would you give them on the path of wanting to accomplish massive big goals, Being at the top of their field without hurting themselves along the way?

Well, again, I think, you know, definitely don't. This. This thought of, like, the delayed happiness is where you get in trouble. If this happens, then I'll be happy. Yeah. If I can only get the raise, then I'll be happy. If I could just win one more Olympics, then I'd be happy.

One more.

You know, if I could just. So you gotta kind of. Which is hard because, you know, you picture this place in your mind and you want to get there. And I'm very like, I visualize everything. So, like, I can picture it. I can see the, you know, the red carpet rolling. I can picture. No, I'm kidding. But you know what I mean? Like, in your mind. Yeah, they're throwing flowers at me at the. You know, like, you know, you can picture what it would be like. And like, gosh, if I just had this amount of money, I could. I would. I wouldn't worry about money. You know, like, there's all these things and there's a way to enjoy it along the path. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. And that's something that took me a while to learn. And I think I would have had a much more enjoyable process getting to where I am in my life and career and still had that motivation if I would have been able to. Yeah, kind of. You know, like Tony says at his event, he says, what was it? You know, success without fulfillment is the greatest failure. It's true. And it's so funny because you. You meet people and you'll have very famous people at that event. They stand up and like, I won my Oscar and I was like, well, I better win another one. And then I made this much money and I was like, well, I better double it. And then. And I just kind of sat there with my doubled money and my thing and went, well, what's next? You know, and it's. You have to find the enjoyment. Otherwise it. You get to that place where you get the. The, you know, you finally get that goal. And it's not every. In many ways, it is what you'd hope, but it's not exactly what you pictured. So. And that's hard, you know, to get to that point. And it's. It's frustrating because you bank. You put so much emphasis on this moment being this way, and if it doesn't work out. Exactly. And picture exactly how it's going to go, you know, you're left kind of hanging.

Right.

So it's getting rid of that. And then I'm just a huge believer in kind of like the little steps as well. It's like, what little thing can I do that my competitors are probably not doing that might help me?

Like what?

I don't know. Just I remember, I remember winning the event and I just, it just dawned on me that all my competitors would probably. This is when I kind of went to the gym. It dawned on me that all my competitors were probably gonna go celebrate, like drink alcohol. Yeah. Go party all night for sure. And I was like, what if I just hit the gym? Just why not just something that would, you know, why don't I just like push when they're gonna not push and, you know, just little things that I might be able to do to get to that place. And so I always. And goal setting was huge.

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And I hesitate to talk about it just because it's. I feel like it's talked about so much, but I don't really believe that people do it in the right way, you know, like, yeah, it's great to have a huge goal, but is that, like, really what you want? Because it's like, there's so many times, like I said I really wanted to win the Olympics in. In Korea, and then I'm sitting in a hospital with my face ripped off, and I was like, okay, do you really, like, how bad do you really want this? And. And it. Thankfully, I really, really wanted it, and that was the goal. And I was like, you know, and that helped me get there, oddly enough. But it's like. It's like really finding, like, what that is and knowing it wholeheartedly, like, this is it. And then you start that little pro. That process of getting there. If it's like, you know, are we selling T shirts? Well, one extra shirt sold. Is this. Or, like, maybe if I drive the car instead of shipping it, right, we're gonna move the needle, like, any little thing I could do to, like, move the needle in the right direction. And so, like, having that big goal and then having, like, a bunch of fun little goals on the way and something that would be obtained by getting to the big goal. So.

So it sounds like, you know, the universe is going to ask you, do you really want this with the obstacles it puts in your way?

Oh, for sure, yeah. And people will question it, and you'll question it, and, you know, and then. And then the people within your inner circle, because you don't kind of listen to everybody else, people will question it, and you got to really, you know, know what you want.

You got to listen to yourself, which is really hard.

But once you find it and know it wholeheartedly, then, okay, boom, that was a huge hurdle to clear. And then it's like, well, how can we get there? And I've always. I heard something a long time ago where, you know, instead of saying, oh, we can't do that. That really shuts the doors. Like, how could we? How could we do it? And that's. That was me sitting after the Olympics in Russia when I lost, and I was like, okay, well, if I was gonna win again, how would I do it? But then I started like, well, I'd have to have a coach that, you know, did this for Me. And I'd have to have the pt, you know? And I started to build this scenario, and I was like, wow, that actually works doable, you know? And then I had, like, fun little goals along the way. So, like, at the one Olympics, my goal was to. I wanted to be on the COVID of Rolling Stone, which. Which had happened after the one Olympics, the first one I went to, I was 19. And my goal was like, well, if I win again, they might call me, and I'll be ready this time, you know? And. Because I remember taking the photo I just flown in from wherever. I was like, they're like, take your shirt off. I never take. I'm so white. And I remember the photos coming out. I was like, I don't know how I feel about this. And anyway, so I was like, if it happens again, I'm gonna be shredded.

I'm gonna be.

And I'll do this and this and. And I remember watching, like, I got really into Guns N Roses, and Axl did a show where he's in these tiny American flag shorts. I was like, well, I can't run that, but what if I had pants? And so, like, I had these pants made, and it became all about, like, trying to get on the Rolling Stone cover and to wear these pants rather than, like, winning the Olympics. So it kind of changed the goal to something fun and funny rather than this daunting task of winning the Olympics. But obviously, winning the Olympics would mean I got to wear the pants and whatever. And so it literally all happened. I won the Olympics. Rolling Stone called. I had the pants. We shot. We shot the photo, and then. And this actually all started because I was at the Hard Rock Casino, probably on my birthday or something. We did my 21st there. And I remember seeing all the jackets. I love music and guitar and rock and roll. And I was like, God, how do I get something of mine into the Hard Rock? Because it's all rock and roll memory. And I was like. I was on the COVID So, like, those pants and the board, all the stuff from the COVID got displayed at the Hard Rock. So it was like a full. A full circle. So even now, I'm, like, planning my little. So I'll tell you. I'll tell you. Well, obviously. Obviously, to win the next Olympics would be wonderful on many levels.

2022.

The 2022. And my fun goal. This is a good one.

Let's see.

I'm excited for this.

My fun goal is that I'm hoping that after five Olympics, that I'm. I'm so I'm so well known as a snowboarder that is so famous and well known that they're forced to change the Emojicon snowboarder to look like me.

That'd be sweet. That'd be great.

I was like, I could maybe make that happen. I know they have like a David Bowie one. I was like, all they'd have to do is put some like, long red hair on that guy.

That'd be cool. Blowing out the back of a helmet or something. Yeah, just like.

Because I keep picturing like, hey, it's me. And then throwing the emojis. Hey, new number. It's me.

Yeah, yeah. Snowboarder. Like this.

Yeah. That's my. That's. That's. This is my big goal.

I like that. The emoji.

Yeah.

Sean White emoji. I like it. That's the future, man.

Yeah, yeah.

So not the legacy of being a five time Olympian. The legacy of having an emoji being

on everyone in the world.

There you go. That's great, man.

So, you know, but. But that's what's fun is it's, you know, every time is different. It changes. I mean, look at this curveball we were thrown, Covid. I mean, I can't go train in Canada. We can't go to, you know, Australia, New Zealand right now. Like, it's very strained, limited practice time. Everybody's trying to make. Make it work and, you know, like, we're all in the same boat together, so it's not like it's unfair or anything, but we're all, you know, it's just a new challenge. It presents itself in a new way and there's new goals and new hopes and. Yeah, it's exciting, man. It's been good.

Amazing journey, man. Couple final questions for you and then I respect your time here, but this is a very inspiring. Before I ask the final questions, I want people to check you out. I love your stuff on Instagram, man. Sean White on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, your website, Sha white dot com. The recent post that you skateboarding, I think it was Switzerland or something. I was like, this is a dream world, man. So you've got really cool stuff over there. You also have a new line coming out, dude, you can talk a little bit about that.

Yeah, I won't give away the name and all of it, but, yeah, I've always dreamt of having my own, you know, Snowbird brand. And so, you know, just. Just like, I set my goals and things. I remember after the last Olympics being like, gosh, if I come Back here, I'm going to be on my own equipment. How cool would that be, you know, to try to make that.

You've always been sponsored by someone else.

Yeah. And it's been amazing. And I wouldn't change that for the world. But, you know, as time goes on, I'm like, I had a hand in product development, obviously, and design and had my own lines and places. I was like, gosh, it's time, let's do it. And so. But it's really exciting because I used to work with my brother and we. We made all sorts of products and things and we stopped working together for some time and now we're. We're working together again and it feels amazing. And he's. He's fired up and I'm super excited and just testing the products. It just feels like old time. Yeah, it's cool, man. Yeah. So that'll be dropping the. The soft goods of it all will be, unfortunately, next season because of the timelines, but the hard goods will be dropping this next. Next winter.

Before the winter next year.

Yeah. Wow.

Right before. Yeah.

So we can. We can follow you on. On your social. Seanwhite.com. do you have a newsletter there, too, or somewhere to opt in if we don't?

I'm gonna go get.

Add it there.

Yes. Yeah.

But in the meantime, if they just follow you on any of these accounts.

Yeah, they'll be.

They'll be up there to date on all that stuff. So make sure to follow Sean and support him. I'll be getting some stuff. I haven't snowboarded in like three years, so I gotta. I'll get some gear and then I'll start. I'll start getting back on it.

Yeah, for sure. You might need a big board, though.

I'm a. Yeah, I'm a big board. Yeah, I'm a big dude. I remember I kind of like. Kind of an accident, like maybe seven years ago. I was in. Six years. Seven years ago, I went to Whistler for the first time.

Yeah.

And it's just a bigger mountain. It's a big mountain, dude. I went down just like a normal whatever, but it was just like so much wind and so. And I was just like, I have

to stop three times just to get to the bottom because my legs are so long.

So long.

It's a big place.

And I hit, like, my edge. I want to, like, look back and hit the back of my head. I didn't have a helmet on. I remember thinking, like, now I need to have a helmet. The rest of My time doing this because I was on the ground like for five, 10 minutes, like, that was, oh, man. Yeah, that was rough.

Yeah. And it comes quick when it snags. Yeah.

I thought I was fine having fun.

Yeah. I, I, it doesn't have to happen to me nearly as often, but on occasion, like, I'll just, It's when you're not paying attention.

That's what happens.

I'll do the crazy trick and then fall like in the lift.

And that's what happened to me.

Yeah.

Yeah.

This is a question I asked everyone at the end. It's called the three Truths. So I'd like you to imagine a hypothetical scenario. It's your last day on earth, Many, many, many years away. You get to live as long you want as you want to live and you accomplish all your dreams. Five more Olympics, you know, you're online. Relationships, life, all these things happen.

Emoji, Emoji.

That's the most important thing. Emoji. The emojis on the COVID of the Rolling Stones. Yeah, yeah, that's the COVID But for whatever reason, in this hypothetical scenario, you've got to take all of your content with you. So all the interviews you've done, the spoken word videos, written word, it's all going to go with you somewhere else else again. This is many years away and all you get to leave behind is three lessons to the world that you've learned from your life. And this is all we would have is remember, you buy are these three truths. I call it.

Okay.

What would you say would be the three truths you would leave behind?

I don't know. I think my gut goes to, I mean, immediately goes to the, like, enjoy the little things.

Yeah.

Enjoy the moments because they're fleeting and you think they're going to last forever, but they don't. You know, so many countless hours wasted going over what could have happened in the past that I can't change and what I should do in the future and just completely missing the amazing situation I'm in currently. So enjoying the moment, I think, I think being true to who you are, honestly, because there's so much time spent, at least in my life was thus far has been, you know, there's so many, there's the person I am and then there's the person that I think I should be sometimes. And it's so much just better to be who you are.

Yes.

Not try to put on the show or like, who are you? Who are you pleasing? Or, you know, who, who are you trying to impress?

And yeah.

If you need to impress somebody, then it's somebody not worth you even having your time with. So. Yes. You know what I mean? I remember reading a. I think it was, what would Keith Richards do? And it literally, like, one of the first or second things was like, he was like, know yourself. He's like, I could party all night. I could do this and I could do that. And I got up and I was fine, and I did it because I could do it. And I know a lot of guys that tried to do it because they thought that's what they're supposed to do, but they couldn't. You know what I mean? And he's like. He's like, I'm not advocating for this for anyone, but for me, it worked. This was my life. You know, it's like watching the Last Dance with. Yeah. With Rodman. They're like, he's just that guy. We gotta send him out.

He gets.

Look crazy, comes back, but he's our. He's our crazy, you know, so know. Know who you are and be true to that and don't. Don't be swayed. I mean, those are the things that kind of hold for me, the third, you know, through thick and thin, through it all, like, you know, when I've had crazy wins or I've had, you know, a breakup or, you know what I mean? Like, my. My family's always been there, and, like, I can only hope that I'm. That for, you know, my family or my, you know, in the future. It's such a. I mean, I didn't drive myself to the mountains. My parents got up every morning and drove me. Like, God, that's so awesome. You know, I mean, and what an amazing thing to have in common with your family when you. When you're growing up, you know, because so many families grow apart. That was something we had together, but, like, just the selflessness they had. For me and my siblings, you know, growing up, it didn't matter if it was me and snowboarding. My sister wanted to play soccer. We're out selling candy bars, trying to get on the team and, like, get the new uniform. Like, it didn't matter whether it was what I wanted or, you know, we kind of gave 100% for each member of the family, and. And snowboarding just happened to be the thing to take off. But, you know, nothing can really replace that. And I think at times, I remember thinking, like, I loved, obviously, the family unit I had, and it got strained a bit, as obviously, like, the growing pains of, like. Like, becoming more successful and Having to travel and having, you know, the obligations and the media and the things. And it's like. And you go, oh, well, this is my life and this is my world, and. And you kind of get sucked up into it. And I. I remember at some point thinking that the family wasn't as important, but it truly is, because when all that goes.

Yeah.

Or whatever happened, you know, like, they're. They're there for that. And what we talked about earlier in the basics, like, simplest of ways that, like, they like you. Right.

Right. For who you are.

Yeah. They don't, you know, like, oh, cool, you won the. That's great, but we're gonna go see Spider Man. You know, whatever. They. They care on that. That deeper level. And, you know, at least I can only speak for my family has been that amazing.

That's cool, man.

Support group for me, so.

Yeah, that's great, man. I love these truths.

I hope I. I won that. Those are good, man.

Those are good. Those are good. I've got my final question. Before I ask you, I just want to acknowledge you, Sean, for the way you've shown up for the last couple decades of inspiring so many of us. You know, you constantly show up and dedicated to your mastery of your craft, and you go big. You know, you go big. You're relentless. Even when you crash getting back up, like, to. You're just a symbol of inspiration to so many people.

Thank you.

And I love your commitment to your craft, and you have fun with it. And I also really acknowledge you for the last couple years, like, doing the. The inner work, I think it's really hard to look within ourselves and see, hey, something's off. And to do that work, it's been a journey I've been on for a while as well. And to be talking about it as a, you know, a global athlete icon like you and Phelps, to be really talking about these things is really helping a lot of men, especially, who are maybe struggling in their inner world. So I really acknowledge you for opening

up, and everybody's got their thing. And that's why I didn't realize, you know, you look at Instagram and people and you go, oh, they got that guy's got it together, right? And, like, no, he doesn't. He's got a crazy uncle. He's got it. Like, everybody's got something. And for sure, I know you're not alone in that, but I appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah, man, thank you. Inspiring. It's been a learning journey for sure, and it's still going, and that's I think that's the exciting part is I feel like I still have so much more ahead of me, you know, beyond competing, beyond everything. And I'm just like, yeah, I'm so excited for what's next.

That's great, man.

Yeah.

Final question. What's your definition of greatness?

Oh, I thought I was done with the three questions. Definition of greatness. Gosh. I mean, if you spoke to me, like, a couple years ago, I had a different answer, but I think now is. Is. I mean, something I've always carried with me was. Was being just. I don't know, being different, I guess. I don't know how to describe it. It's like when you. When you looked at athletes throughout history and, you know, it was like, oh, Mike Tyson would show up, and he wouldn't just win. He would win in a certain fashion. He would win in a certain way, and he would deliver when he had to. And he wore the black trunks and he showed up. Or, like, you know, Muhammad Ali had the. The mouth and the word. You know, he had. He had so much charisma and all these things, and, you know, something that defined who they were. And it's kind of like. I don't know. I've always thought I. I look at everything. A lot of things in form of music. So, like, the greatest accomplishment, usually for a musician is, yeah, obviously, to win an award or Grammy, something like that, but it's to find your sound. Sound. Like, what's your sound?

Yes.

And. And for me, like, I just kind of like, I feel like I naturally fell into it. Like, I looked different from. I had long. I had red hair, so I kind of, like, leaned into it, got huge red hair, and then, you know, and I would show up in a certain manner in certain things. So, I don't know. I feel like, you know, greatness can be taken in so many ways, but I really feel like it's just. It's like seeing the same instrument but playing it your way. Like, you know, taking a sport and doing it just different. It.

Yeah.

You know what I mean? It's like. It's the same thing, but he just did it a little different than everyone else. And I think that's what I strive toward. Even till this day. It's not so much about, like, what trick am I gonna do? It's like, what am I gonna wear? What am I gonna listen to? How is the run gonna go down? What would I say? Where's the. You know, there's so much that wraps around it other than just like showing up, doing the tricks and kind of win. Yeah, so I really try to like match all of that.

But finding your sound.

Yeah, finding my sound. So I think that's, that's greatness in any way. Whether it's it's sports or it's music or you. You just finding your own path. I think it comes in many forms. It doesn't have to be in the form of a gold statue or.

Sure, sure.

It doesn't need to be a trophy of any sort.

Love man, thank you.

Appreciate it.

I hope you enjoyed today's episode and it inspired you on your journey towards towards greatness. Make sure to check out the show notes in the description for a full rundown of today's episode with all the important links. And if you want weekly exclusive bonus episodes with me personally as well as ad free listening, then make sure to subscribe to our greatness+channel exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Share this with a friend on social media and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts as well. Let me know what you enjoyed about this episode in that review. I really love hearing feedback from you and it helps us figure out how we can support and serve you moving forward. And I want to remind you of no one has told you lately that you are loved, you are worthy, and you matter. And now it's time to go out there and do something great.

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