62 Stitches and Retirement Later Shaun White Surprises Fans With a Board and 90-Day Countdown

Legendary snowboarder Shaun White shocked fans last year when he retired after the Tokyo Olympics. White, now 36 years old, has dedicated more than two and a half decades to the sport that made him a 3x Olympic gold medalist. After picking up no medals at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the San Diego native returned with an emphatic win in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games where he clinched his third and last Olympic gold. However, his appearance at the 2018 Games could have been doubtful given a practice injury he suffered a few months before the Games that left him with 62 stitches.

Back in 2017, while working on a new trick in New Zealand, the snowboarder miscalculated a maneuver that cost him bruised ribs along with 62 stitches. However, he recovered and eventually clinched gold. A few years later, he gave it his all during the 2022 Tokyo Games but was unable to get a medal. While White may have hung up his snowboard professionally after Tokyo, his latest social media video proves that he still hasn’t forgotten how to shred on the snow.

Latest snowboarding escapade Shaun White

Shaun White may have retired from the sport, but his legacy lives on through his snowboarding brand, Whitespace. The Olympian bet on himself and brought his snowboarding expertise to life through his brand, which he started in 2022. Whitespace deals with snowboards and other snowboarding essentials. White also regularly appears in his brand’s promotional videos. One such video has been doing the rounds recently on Instagram. Posted from Whitespace’s official Instagram account, the video shows multiple shots of founder Shaun White.

The Instagram reel further reveals White shredding the snow in some cinematic shots, while also showing off his snowboarding skills as he slides on broad rails. While the location of the peak being filmed is not revealed, all signs point that White is snowboarding atop Mammoth Mountain, which just recently closed. The reel’s caption reads, “90 days away from our Sunday’s looking like this,” referring to the reopening time of the snow slopes at Mammoth Mountain. Whitespace’s Instagram feed is full of shots of the iconic Mammoth Mountain, which itself has been making waves of its own.

Mammoth Mountain snow slopes close after 275 days

Mammoth Mountain has only been operational thrice in the summer season. This year marked the iconic mountain peak’s second longest time being operational. As the snow-capped slopes were closed on August 6, only one time have they remained open for a longer time. Almost 30 years ago in 1995, when they closed on August 13th. Staying open for such a long time into the summer because of unprecedented snow not only attracted tourists but also Olympic champions. Just a week ago, Alpine Skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin was also spotted practicing atop Mammoth Mountain. In fact, she even thanked Mammoth Mountain authorities for hosting her and letting her practice as she prepares for her upcoming skiing season.

Read more: 9 Months After Retirement, Bored Shaun White Is Prepared to Do a Menial Job

As for Shaun White, despite his retirement, he continues to stay close to the sport that has rewarded him for his dedication and excellence. The Instagram reel is a reminder of White’s enduring snowboarding legacy. His fans might never see him again at the biggest sporting events, but they will be cheering him on every time he is out on his snowboard, shredding the ice like usual.

Watch this story: A Year After Resting His Board Snowboarding Legend Shaun White Picks Up an Unlikely Sport