Shaun White Secured a Sponsorship at Just 7 Years of Age- Here’s How

Shaun White, the three-time Olympic gold medalist is now leading a retired life. After the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, White decided to quit snowboarding for good.

Despite failing to medal in his last Winter Olympics, White is proud of his Olympic achievements over the years. After all, he has the most number of Olympic gold medals for any snowboarder in history.

In a recent interview, White revealed how his journey to greatness began at just seven years old with his first sponsorship.

How did a seven-year-old Shaun White land a sponsor?

In an interview with Kate Snow for NBC, Shaun White talked about his career, his plans for the future, and even a potential marriage. In fact, he shared how his snowboarding career began in the first place.

“It was the support of my family, honestly,” White expressed. “I started skiing around four and then (I) grabbed a board at five (years of age)”.

Then, Shaun revealed that “by six or seven, (he) was sponsored”. Then, Kate Snow asked Shaun the question anyone in the world would, upon hearing that- how did a seven-year-old get sponsored?

“That’s where the family comes in,” White explained. Shaun and his family realized that nobody made snowboards for kids as young as six or seven.

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“I rode ski boots on makeshift bindings on a board for the longest time,” White stated. This was because “they just didn’t have equipment” for a toddler.

Shaun White’s mother helped him secure sponsorship as a toddler

Thus, it was Shaun’s mother who came to the rescue in that situation. “My mom called Burton snowboards,” White shared.

Thus, Shaun White’s mother Cathy White was responsible for getting him a snowboard for his size and age made especially for him by Burton Snowboards.

“I don’t think it was because I was great or anything,” White said. “It’s just (that) they needed kids to test the products and I fit the bill,” he continued.

“I got a board,” White reminisced, “and it meant the world to me”. Eventually, Burton asked White to try out in competitions since he already had products for himself.

Consequently, he entered a regional snowboarding competition and won, at just six years old. Undoubtedly, Shaun White was always destined for greatness, and Burton Snowboards and his mother recognized that early on.

Now, Shaun has launched his own snowboarding brand Whitespace.

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