Shaun White Announces Return to Olympic Stage

Recently, Shaun White a.k.a. the "Flying Tomato's" professional snowboarding career has been in doubt. After finishing fourth at the Sochi Olympics, White has largely been absent from the competitive snowboard scene. The 29 year-old surprised everyone when he won the Breckenridge Dew Tour event earlier this year. 

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It looked as though Shaun was poised to carry this momentum to the 2016 Winter X-Games. This time, however, he made headlines for different reasons after X-Games officials did not extend an invitation to one of its most decorated competitors. 

White believes this snub comes from his own criticism of the X-Games during an interview with Forbes Magazine. In the interview he laments the lack of ambition the organizers have for the event, and criticizes their decision to take it global.  Shaun actively organizes his own events under the Air & Style moniker. 

Shaun after his fourth place finish in Sochi. Bleacher Report photo. 

This week during an interview for Access Hollywood, the host of the show openly asked whether Shaun would seek Olympic redemption in South Korea. Without any hesitation White replied that he would be shooting for his fourth Olympics. 

One can openly question if Shaun competing is good for the health of snowboarding. He will be in his early thirties when competing at the South Korean games, probably against people half his age. Is it time for snowboarding's most well known figure to pass the torch to the next generation? Only time will tell...