White rides the fire

Shaun White has concocted an elaborate skateboarding trick he’s hoping to debut at the X Games this weekend in Los Angeles. Only problem is, he’s never actually landed it yet. The two-time Olympic snowboarding gold medalist is hardly concerned. His short lifetime as a unique multisport athlete has taught him that the rush of competition will push him to heights he can’t reach on his own. “I would prefer to not be in this scenario, but it’s kind of how it works for me,” White said. “You need the fire under you.” White (pictured right) has tried out acting and racing cars, but he faces 21/2 years of hard work to compete at the 2014 Games in both halfpipe and slopestyle, which was added to the Olympic program last month. – AP