Shaun White: Its Not Hate Its Disappointment
Just found stumbled across this article from angrysnowboarder.com. For most parts, now that i think about it its actually all quite true.
However i am a SW fan, but after this has been laid out in context his snowboard cred have fallen, just slightly.
Now i know theres been controversy over the years about Shaun most of which i have shunned off as no big deal. But this, this is the nail in the coffin…
Support the system that supports you….
Discuss
“The recent Whitelines piece “In Defense of Shaun White” attempted to answer the question “Why does Shaun White draw the ire of so many in the snowboarding faithful?” There were points and counter points, questions and explanations in the (overall) well-written piece. Still to me it did not really answer the question in as much as it did defend Shaun White. Frankly the private half pipes, while eye rolling, aren’t even in the equation for me. To me my disdain for Senior Blanco is not about what he DOES but instead what he DOESN’T do. To me Shaun White is a dick fuck because he gives absolutely NOTHING back to snowboarding…. fucking nothing.
Full article here http://www.angrysnowboarder.com/shaun-white-hate-disappointment/
Some valid points in the article. Also a lot of valid points in the comments that defend him.
IMO he’s a super good snowboarder and skater, I just don’t like some of the choice he’s made e.g. The whole selling out to Target thing. However, not ‘selling out’ is easier said than done.
In the end, I don’t really care what he does with his money/winnings, etc. He earned it.
Travis Rice is Cool and Shaun White is Not…. Hmmm, Okay let’s review your reasons:
1. Travis is cool cause he films video parts and Shaun doesn’t.
Shaun has been in heaps of video parts and still is. I just watched his part in the Burton [SNOWBOARDING] 4 part free webisodes today. And I have seen him in heaps of others. So that’s just BS.
2. Travis rides for Lib Tech and made them as a brand, Shaun’s hasn’t done anything.
Yes and no. He did great things for Lib Tech but they were hardly a struggling company when he joined. MFG Factory has made Hammer Snowboards for years and years (which are still big in Japan). They also made Lib Tech, GNU and Freebords (Skateboards for snowboarders). Mervin MFG had money or they wouldn’t have been able to sign Travis. He was winning everything! He couldn’t have been cheep. MFG was and is a sweet company all by itself.
Shaun signed with Burton as a kid and has stayed loyal to them his whole life. What’s wrong with that?
3. Travis also has big sponsors who have nothing to do with snowboarding. But he puts their money into the Supernatural series, not building Private Half-Pipes.
No, Travis didn’t build himself a halfpipe. He just used Redbull and Toyota’s money to have his own helicopter fly him to the best spots around the world for 4 YEARS to make That’s It, That’s All. And then did the same again to make The Art of Flight!
HE’S TRAINING FOR THE OLYMPICS! Who would say no to their own halfpipe? Boardercross riders have private tracks built all the time.
4. Travis created the Supernatural Events, Shaun did nothing.
Ummm. The Shaun White Air & Style? Ring any bells? An event in which he doesn’t compete. It’s just there because it’s awesome. And that was happening way before the Supernatural events, and will continue to happen for the foreseeable future of snowboarding.
Oh and did I forget to mention that Travis Rice (who I love btw, not hating) stopped competing to give himself time to film all these amazing movies. Shaun never stopped competing. When he shows the world a new trick, he shows them in competition! Oh and he also competes in Vert Skateboarding at the X Games. This guy works his ass off and does so without ever complaining about how much hate he cops from people who want to syphon attention. Meanwhile, all the other riders get nothing but love. Seems fair…
He’s not Travis Rice, he’s not quite as cool, so what? He’s a pipe rider trying to be the best at what he does. And he is! He’s 28 and he’s kicking ass, why would he stop competing now? If all riders followed the same pattern with their careers they would be boring. Shaun is not my favourite rider, but he has done amazing things in competition, he has given me an imagine of perfect technique to try and copy in the pipe. And when he’s done competing, he’ll probably film more great movies too. And then Shaun will finally give you what you feel he owes you… 
Ya I never get the hate for Shaun. He loves to compete and that’s how he “enjoy” snowboarding then let the man be (because some people think he doesn’t like snowboarding).
But one thing that I disagree with Andy to an extent is the Air and Style event. I see more like Shaun just putting his name on it, when the event has been there way before. Where as Travis actually created the event, put his thoughts into it, research the venue, and help build the course.
Another thing on Andy’s point on having his own heli to fly him around is that the way people view Travis is that he brings his friend with him (Landvik, Lago, John J, etc.) where as Shaun built a private halfpipe for himself (not inviting anyone else). But I do get it, Shaun is a competitor, he wants an edge over the competition.
Shaun has been a super talented snowboarder ever since he was a young kid. Burton obviously saw huge talent in him and they have been behind him for a very long time. I remember he had a pro model when he was like 15.
Core snowboarding sees halfpipe riders as “jocks”. Core snowboarding sees competition snowboarding, especially halfpipe, as straying away from snowboarding’s true roots. Shaun is not only the best competition halfpipe rider in the world, and has been for a long time (10+ years now), but he is also the most successful snowboarder the world has ever seen, in a financial and celebrity point of view. I believe that brings in some hate in itself. It doesn’t take away from what he’s achieved from a competition standpoint, which is, quite incredible.
That said, he has made some questionable choices in his life. Does he deserve to be hated for being sponsored by Target? I don’t think so. He’s merely using his success to achieve a financial goal. Whatever. If Target wants to pump millions of dollars into supporting an athlete, who cares! Does he deserve to be hated for rocking up to awards without wearing shirt like he’s a rockstar? No again. The truth is he is like a rockstar, he can act like an idiot if he wants. It won’t gain him any fans, but he’s certainly not doing any harm (if anything, giving us a laugh and entertaining us).
As much as I admire Shaun for what he’s achieved, I can understand the disappointment some people feel - I feel it too. Someone in Shaun’s position, being the most popular and influential snowboarder on the planet, has the power to give snowboarding a united voice. In a time when snowboarding is struggling to stand up to the assholes at FIS, it is genuinely disappointing that other snowboarders are standing up and fighting, while Shaun continues to go about his life without a care in the world. Does he owe something to snowboarding? Hell yeah, he does! He should be on the front lines with the other snowboarders, making a stand, and standing up for our right to be regulated by our own governing body. For this reason, Shaun deserves to be criticised, until such a time he joins a united front with his fellow snowboarders. Snowboarding has given him everything, and it’s time he started giving a little back.
I agree with Jeremy regarding the FIS stand. If there is one thing he should’ve done was that he should’ve made a stand against the FIS with Terje. The other thing I wish he would’ve done was that for him to compete at the Supernatural event, when Travis invited him.
Putting your name on a scooter. thats a skateboarding no no. He probably had no say in it due to signing away his name, but its still a big black mark against him in a lot of peoples eyes
That being said, ive never really had a problem with him. I even bought a white collection jacket a few years back coz i liked how it looked, but the for and against arguments are interesting for both sides.
I even bought a white collection jacket a few years back coz i liked how it looked
I still have my Shaun White insulated jacket - it’s sick! I also had a Shaun White pro model snowboard back in the day.
@rider26: You should get another one! Maybe it can make you boost 24 feet out the pipe haha 
First, I detest hating on ANYONE. I’m fairly new to the snowboard world, and started following the sport about 4 years ago. I’ve never met Shaun, but I know he’s majorly talented at everything I’ve seen him tackle. As for the private training? Who can blame him? He wants to win! Bottom line. And even before he had private pipes built he WON (IE 2006 Olympics to name but one)!
As for his sponsors, he has earned them & they came to him, not the other way around. I’m sure he has had a ton of other offers he’s turned down. As for Target…..part of all of the clothing line he sells for Target goes to Target House a part of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He has also designed (& paid for) the living room for the facility. He also does many fund raisers, PSA’s, and pays numerous unpublicized visits to St. Jude & Target House. Info on Target House:
http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=922bfa2454e70110VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD
Part of the sales from his Shaun White Supply Company benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Just recently he presented the First Annual Supply Co. Teen Leadership Award to Six Outstanding Boys & Girls Club Youth:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/18/dc-shaun-white-supply-idUSnBw176927a+100+BSW20130918
And this is far from all of the charities he supports. He doesn’t publicize them but, trust me, those of us who are fans of his can list them easily! They’re numerous! He also wears items from his Target line, & personally tests the items sold by SWSC. He won’t put his name on junk! He also makes sure the items are affordable. Coming from a working class family, he understands how parents with small children struggle to make ends meet!
Plus, Shaun is smart enough to know he can’t board forever, who can blame him for making wise business choices? Some mention “Air & Style”. He IS a past competitor & winner of this event. By adding his name to the event (and any other event for that matter) sponsors flock to it, thus making the prize money for those competing even larger. Contest organizers also know that when he competes or makes an appearance crowds are larger. Everyone benefits!
I’m far from disappointed by Shaun, exactly the opposite! I’m proud that he has achieved such success (and trust me, he’s earned it)! I’m also proud he represents the USA & can’t wait to see him win two more Gold Medals in Sochi in 2014! For every Shaun-hater, there are lots more who love & respect him! I’m old enough to be Shaun’s Mom, but I admit unashamedly, I love & respect him too!
Thank you!
Very well put, @Andy Aitken!
Very well put, Andy!
4. Travis created the Supernatural Events, Shaun did nothing.
Ummm. The Shaun White Air & Style? Ring any bells? An event in which he doesn’t compete. It’s just there because it’s awesome. And that was happening way before the Supernatural events, and will continue to happen for the foreseeable future of snowboarding.
There’s a huge difference between working tirelessly to create a unique snowboarding event, and simply lending your name (or being paid for naming rights?) to what is essentially a PR event that serves to build your personal brand in a massive emerging market.
I agree with ya Andy!!!!!
Shaun, while I’m not a big fan of his persona as such, has undoubtably boosted the profile of Snowboarding!!!!!
Olympic Pipe is why everyone around the world switches on the TV, non Snowboarders included!!!!! And he played a big part on that!!!!!
Video games with his name to it, gets kids awareness of the sport, and most likely on because of Shaun’s name again!!!!!
How anyone can think that he has had a negative impact on the sport just amazes me to no end!!!!!
Some people need to get a life and stop raggin on others that are successful just because they’re not!!!!!
OK, I have to admit, and agree with Skip and Chucky, Shaun’s Air & Style and Travis Rice’s Supernatural are not the same thing.
It’s true Travis made the Supernatural Series and Shaun just lent his name to Air & Style. I was just trying to point out that Shaun DOES give to snowboarding in his own way. Maybe not as much as T.Rice, but it’s worth noting that Shaun only hosts the Air & Style. He doesn’t compete, he’s not getting medals out of it. He just hosts it. I think that’s kinda cool.
The “Selfish, no friends thing” though I have to disagree with. Shaun’s Private pipes are for training. Training for the Olympics. It can’t get any more important than that. So all the footage you see is him training alone. He’s not there to have a party with his friends. He’s there to put in some serious training.
Also you should know that after training was complete on both of his private pipes, he then invited his buddies in to have some fun.
Also also, in the Project X movie, you often see his team mate Louie Vito training in the background.
I really think that Travis Rice is a better ambassador for Snowboarding simply because he has more time to do awesome things for the “sport” (Also just cause he’s a a rad guy).
Between olympic training, X Games training, actual comps, skateboard training, skateboarding X Games, and the occasional video part. I don’t know when he even finds time to sleep! No one does what he does.
I think what he gives on top of that, is proportionate to spare time he has.
The fact that he can be hated on for that just Amazes me. The fact a tall poppy is being cut down, doesn’t surprise me, it’s just typical.
Travis still does the things he does in order to build his Brand!!!!!
Nobody can claim the he doesn’t do it for the money?????
If he didn’t give a shit about the cash, he would be out Freeridin with a mate or two instead of organisin/filmin/goin to screenings of his films etc etc!!!!!
Is this a bad thing????? Of course it’s not!!!!!
But how come it is when Shaun White does the same thing, just in a different way?????