The School of Greatness - How to Reignite a Dream After You've Lost Everything | Shaun White

Episode Date: February 27, 2026

Shaun White admits that losing at the 2014 Sochi Olympics had nothing to do with his body and everything to do with his heart not being in it. That honest reckoning launched a years-long process of rebuilding from the inside out, patching broken relationships, ditching a fake social media persona, and assembling a team that actually shared his vision. Then a training crash in New Zealand left him with 62 stitches and lungs full of blood just months before the 2018 Olympics, forcing a gut-check question: how badly do you really want this? His answer carried him to a third gold medal and the most emotionally charged finish of his career. Whether you are chasing a world record or a business breakthrough, Shaun's approach to mental resilience, goal-setting, and self-discovery applies directly to your life. Buy a copy of Shaun’s book Shaun White: Airborne In this episode you will: Discover why raw talent is never enough to win when your heart is not fully committed to the goal Learn how resolving personal and relational friction off the field can unlock peak performance on it Understand why pairing a massive goal with small, specific, even playful sub-goals keeps motivation alive Recognize the trap of delayed happiness and how to find fulfillment along the path rather than only at the finish line Build a mental framework for separating your self-worth from outcomes so loss stops defining you For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1895 For more Greatness text PODCAST to [phone] More SOG episodes we think you’ll love: Amy Purdy Lindsey Vonn Mikaela Shiffrin Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back everyone at the School of Greatness. We've got the legendary Sean White in the house. My man, so good to see you. Thanks for having me. Been following your career for a long time. We've got a lot of mutual friends. And it's inspiring to see what you're able to do at 35 years of age. Three Olympic goals, is that right now?

Yeah. Three Olympic golds. Four Olympics, three golds. Three goals. You're going back for another one. And I'm curious, how do you continue to stay so disciplined? at this age with your body, your mindset, your training to continue preparing at this level after so many years competed.

You know, it's tough. Honestly, you know, as you get older, there's just more things that interest you. Right. You're enticed by this, you know, starting to company. You know, you know, just even just normal life things. Right. Relationships. Yeah, going on a birthday party, you know.

Moving home, you know, like just anything like that. And I found that like, oddly enough for me, like taking the. time to do those things actually makes me better at snowboarding because i have the you know the muscle memory and i've done it my whole life so it's it's like you know you're it's like riding a bike you know it's just like how enthused are you once you get there so if i'm really motivated when i get to the mountain then i'm dangerous because i i'm pumped i want to learn the new tricks and i have the ability to do that it's just when i get there and i maybe don't want to be there and that's when it's really hard So I think after the, not the last Olympics, but the one before that after I lost in Sochi in Russia,

you know, I missed the podium. And I remember standing there, I had the winning run. I mean, I had all the tricks to do it. I just couldn't, I just, in my head, I just knew I wasn't going to do well. Really? Which is really, you know, a horrible feeling. You're like watching a movie. You can't really.

Why don't you think you could do it? Why did you not think you could do it well? You know, I don't know. It's just something was just off. And I just, all I can chalk it up to is that my heart just wasn't fully into it. And I didn't think that that fully mattered at the time. I was like, I can just get to wing it. I can phone it in.

I got the tricks. I mean, just something in me didn't want it. I couldn't get to that place. And I was in that pressure cooker situation where I was like the last guy to go. It's one run. That's it. I'm closing it out. And I was like, okay, this is, this is the guy going to go well.

So you started to yourself before. this may not go well. Yeah, so, oh for sure. I just kind of had a feeling, which is awful. And it's hard to just snap out of that last second. And so after that Olympics, everything I did after that was like, okay, well, it wasn't a physical thing that kept me from winning.

It was a mental thing. Interesting. And so I'm like, what do I do now? Because it's easy to go, I wish it was physical. I'd go do some sit-ups. I go learn the new hard trick. I could do whatever. It was mental.

It was like, okay, how do I make myself like or fall in love with this thing again. Like how do you make yourself, you know, love somebody else even? You know what I'm saying? In that same wheelhouse, it's like it's not an easy thing to do. And so I, or, you know, reignite that excitement. And so I literally did everything that had nothing to do with snowboarding. I was like, okay, like, oh, I got to patch this relationship with my brother.

Like he had worked for me. He stopped working for me. We were good, but we never really talked. You know what I mean? I was like, I hate how I'm pretty. It was fake good. Yeah, I was like, I hate how I'm pretty. trade on Instagram because all of a sudden it went from like a way to be in touch with my friends

to like being like puppeteered by a sponsor like you're obligated to do these posts and you have to say these words and this is before you would put ad right right right so everybody just thought like oh yeah Sean's really into you know whatever it is um just little like all these little things and um as I started peeling them away you know like I just had like less and less you know burden on me and I was just kind of like a happier guy and As you started addressing these things. Yeah, the things that were around. I was like, oh, what's going on with my relationship I'm in?

What's going on here? You know, like, yeah, I would love to take a vacation. I would love to, you know, play music or do it. You know, other interests and passions and things. And in turn, so like even working out, like I went to the gym because I knew that after I work out, I just feel better. You know, I just like, I'm like, I accomplished something today. I just, I knew that that would make me feel good.

So I, you know, started going to the gym regularly. And then obviously you get the benefits of working out regularly. Yeah, yeah. You're in shape. It's ridiculous because at 2014, I really started in the gym. I kind of did I did before. But I was, you know, I was getting by. Wow.

So you didn't work out or lift before then? I did a little, but I... You're just on the slopes. I was a professional skateboarder as well as snowboarders. So all summer long, like, I'm competing and pumping the ramp and like, I never had a break. So like all the guys that just like kicked it in Thailand or wherever, you know, I was like in the hunt still, you know, having to be in a pressure situation competing, exercise and all the things. So yeah, it wasn't until like 2014. I really started working out. And then a big one was, you know, I found a new manager. I found a new, you know, publicist to work with. I found amazing physical therapist. That was just like super, like you started building my little team of everybody that was. was like really, you know, on the same page and knew my goal and help, you know, could help me get there and not kind of get stuck in their own, you know, because it's a very selfless

sort of position to be in to assist somebody else, you know, and to help them and be part of that team to get to this place. And so, you know, they're missing birthdays and they're missing, you know, events and things and their relationships are strained, like all that stuff to, you know, help me get my goal. So, you know, really wonderful people in my life. my corner. And then a really awesome coach, this guy named JJ Thomas. And he was ex-professional snowboarder. I saw him at the mountain. We had fun hanging, riding. And I was like, hey, man, you want to, like, team up and do that? And it just, the rapport was there. And so, like, I had this awesome little team around me. And then when I found myself at the mountain, I was just, like,

excited to be there. And the little things that used to bum me out or, you know, put me in a bad state of mind were just gone. Where do you think you would have been had you not? Had you not address the maybe things in your life that you weren't fulfilled with yet or kind of finalized or resolved with relationships or and without having the team to support you, where do you think you'd be if you didn't do those two things? Well, gosh, I mean, I don't think I, I think I probably would have just quit. I'm assuming. Yeah. I mean, if, you know, why do something if it's not enjoyable and you know, there's there's a level of fun and then there's a level of like fulfillment. So it's not that I'm just like there to have a good time. Like sure, there's moments

of like, oh, this is really fun. We're in Austria. We're in Switzerland. We're getting, you know, reading Schnitzel and doing whatever. Sure, it's fun. But then like, you know, the fulfillment comes when you like have a goal and you actually like, you know, make strides to get to that place and achieve that goal or come close and then re, you know, reformulate and come back at it and try again you know and you and you finally get to that place it's fulfilling and so that's something for me that like has always been there in the sport and that's why competing and and you know doing the Olympics all these things it's always been so fulfilling is that there was that goal there was a prize at the end absolutely you know something to be obtained but yeah i i think you know and i don't even know

i mean it's hard to say and there's so much what if but i i don't know i could have easily cruised into a third and maybe retired at that point. I'm like, all right. You know, but I got to the Olympics. It didn't go my way. I was upset. I was frustrated. And I was like, wow, okay, well, this is probably here to teach me something.

And I remember it's so funny. I can see it clear as day. But I was at my home. I had a home in Malibu. And I was sitting on the bluffs. It was like on the water. I was sitting on the bluff, but trying to feel really bad for myself. And they're like, I'm in Malibu.

on the ocean. Literally, I'm like, tear it up. Like, you blew it, you blew it, you're an idiot. You know, you're like, I could have done this, or why didn't I do that? All these what-ifs and, you know, your brain can just do numbers on you. So I'm sitting there spiraling and I look out in this whale just like jump in there. And I was like, oh my God. You're right.

Is that a whale? I'm majestic. And it just broke the whole like, oh, okay. I was like, wow, well, things aren't so bad. You know, I'm here. This is a beautiful life I've made for myself. I've won two gold medals already. And, you know, but up to that point, I'd never been to an Olympics in law.

So I was kind of like, oh, it's all over. It's done. Like, I just thought that, you know, it doesn't matter. The other metals are, you know, erased if this doesn't happen. Interesting. That's how you felt? Yeah, that's kind of how I operated for a while. Like, I just like, because you have to stay in the hunt.

for the next big win. So I'd always like, oh, cool, the trophy. Okay. And then like, you know, and you've got multiple events. And so, and it's literally the first question they ask you. Are you going to the next Olympics? Right at the end? Really?

Literally, you're like, you're trying to catch your breath. They're like, so you go to the next one? And it's heavy. So yeah, so I remember sitting there thinking like, okay, like I know how I feel inside and there were things that didn't go my way and yeah, I had my plan. you know, which, what does that mean at this point?

And I remember thinking the thought of, okay, I'm going to make this the best thing that's ever happened to me. Losing. That was. You mean the losing part? Yeah, losing. I was like, I make this the best thing that's ever happened to me. And that's when I started with that mindset of like, okay, well, if this was the best thing,

then what is the outcome? Like, oh, well, you know, I wasn't doing the big media spree, so I have time to do this now. Like, actually just spent time at my house. I was like, oh, I have time to reconnect with family. or friends or what you know i have time i went on i was in a band for like a while and you know the band went on tour because we had time to do that's cool a bunch of fun things and so um so yeah and then and then that whole sort of like well if i'm going to go again what would be the perfect situation and then i started filling in the pieces of like the puzzle of like oh well who would my coach be and

gosh you know what instead of just calling random people to get massages wherever i'm at or physical therapy? Like, what if we just locked in somebody that traveled with me? You knew what you're going to get every time. What if that person's great? And they know my body so well. And it's almost embarrassing to say that I hadn't had that for years. You know, it's not something that's really taught as much. Nowadays, it's more spoken about. But like... Now you hear LeBron saying he's spending, you know, million dollars a year on his body. And you don't really think about it. I remember hearing that like, oh, that's cool. You know, and the sport of snowboarding, like it was pretty lame to have a coach even.

for like a long time yeah you know it's like wasn't cool or something yeah like to have an agent or to have a coach or to you know care or to want to win it's like it's like you sold out or something yeah it's like you know like he he cares it's lame yeah so so it all kind of happened later and then once i built the team was like how did i even it's like you get in a pet or something you're like how did i i i don't remember my life before this like how did i get this far um so yeah having the team was amazing. And then I guess basically I was on my journey to that next Olympics and I had my plan. I love my plans. Everything's going to plan. I was crushed. Everything's going great. I'm feeling strong and motivated. I got my team and I'm in New Zealand and I'm like,

heck it. I'm going to go for this trick that I've been trying. I've been procrastinating, putting it off. Like, let's just get it done. Today's the day. Throw the trick, clip the top of the pipe, fly to the bottom. The wall is 22 feet tall. So I clip the top and I bounce and the sun was, I forget what time was, it was maybe midday. So the sun was here meaning that like this wall is in the shade and this wall is sunny and soft. So it was the icy wall. I clip the top, fly to the bottom and I caught the edge of my board in the snow and it put my face into the snow and, you know, next thing you know, I'm like in a helicopter flying to the hospital. I'd like rip my face open and 62 stitches. And I'd like, pulmonary lung contusion it was just like a really bad crash yeah and i was like okay well this was

this wasn't part of my plan that was a couple months before the olympics wasn't literally right before yeah i remember seeing this like okay like you know is this a sign that i should stop is this what is this and i really had to sit with myself and think about it and go okay well this is in my way for some reason like what's to be learned from this um you know and it just really kind of straightened everything out for me as strange as that sounds. Like basically, yeah, I'd been telling myself I'd be great to win the Olympics and oh, this would be nice and oh, I could do this afterward. You know what I mean? I had all my plans. And then I had this horrible crash and I was like, okay, well, how badly do you really, like, and I don't even saying you want it, but how badly do you really want it? Because

going back out on the snow means in some small percentage, but there is a percentage that I'm willing to let this happen to myself again. Again. And it was horrible. On my head. face is hanging open. I'm trying to eat, you know, yogurt or whatever I could. And I just had three implants in two weeks ago. Yeah. And, and, uh, bone graft in one place because I had teeth removed when I was 18 that I never got fixed. Yeah. So I had these kind of gaps. Oh, okay. For 20 years. Okay. My mouth is like kind of collapsing. And so I don't, I don't know your pain, but I know the pain of like getting those implants was like 10 days of eating yogurt every day in soup. It's miserable. And it's your face too. So like me looking in the mirror and

And all I remember this sweet art angel of a person, this woman named Esther, who's my physical therapist, because I had to do my interviews. They're like, well, we need a live hit for the today show. And I was. So there I was in the air,

and I dropped in and I hit the top. And like, because I couldn't, you know, scars. They're stiff when they heal. And it only hurts when you're in the cold, although I'm in the snowboarders. Always moves to freezing at the bottom. And they're like, can we get a hit? Oh, man.

Tell us how the run was. I can barely talk. And all I remember is being in the airport and, you know, scar tissue need to break it down. Yeah. Sitting there, like on my phone in tears because my physical therapist has got her hand in my mouth. And she's just like grinding down the scar tissue. And people walking by like, what the? You know, this is before COVID so you could put your hands.

Sure, sure. In some of his mouth. You know. randomly. But yeah. Did you say 60 stitches? Yeah, like 62. I cut my forehead and

through my lip and nose and I bit through my tongue. Did you have to do any like dental surgery? No, thankfully. The only thing that was like an issue was you know, they kind of let me out of the hospital and then that whole night I felt like I was kind of drowning. I was what's going on?

I thought maybe from the procedure it was the tube they put down something and I went back and they're like, let's just take a quick x-ray. My lungs were just full of blood. Oh, my gosh. Impact, it had bruised them. And so they threw me straight back to the urgent care area. And I had to sit there with this little bucket and, like, get clear of the lungs.

Really? Does that come out? A tube that takes it out? It was just me breathing in, like, a humidifier to kind of, like, loosen the flow. Oh, my gosh, man. Yeah, it was just, like, a whole thing. So to come back from that, I was like, okay, well, now I got to, like, do the trick that I, that put me in the hospital and like my my coach's like you got it I'm like I know I know but I was

pretty sure I had it the last time and so anyways I had to like make this pack with myself I was like okay I'm not going to do the trick until like I'm ready to do it and the conditions are perfect because I try to force it yeah yeah and so I waited and then man like acts of God happen it was like it was like you know show up to the event and like you know the pipe's not built for the first two days because it was a really bad winter, so it was pretty dry. And they're like, oh, there's only one day of practice. Like, literally, like, all these weird things. Like, I show up for this practice session,

and then the machine that builds the half pipes broke. Oh, man. Or I flew to Canada. And then the Canada, like, a giant storm blew in. And then I was like, okay, well, we got to go back to Mammoth Mountains. I go fly to Mammoth Mountain. I got there, and I got really ill. Like, it just got a flu or something.

And so all these weird things kept me. It's getting close to the Olympics. Yeah. Literally, it's two weeks away at this point. And you've done the trip. I haven't done. I did the trick like twice, I think. I finally just like got it done, but I hadn't done like repetition. And I had it, you know, it's a routine. So you would do a trick into that trick into another trick. You got to done that. I hadn't done it. And I'm flying to the Olympics like, well, I guess we'll just do it when we get to.

Shut up. Really? Yeah. So you didn't do it. You didn't practice full routine until the Olympics? Not filled the second run. Oh my gosh. That's the first time I ever tried that run. So I, of course, I fell. And now deja, Voo, I'm sitting where I was at the last Olympics. Last guy to go. There's one more run. And I was just like, I want to win this. I don't know. I just like I felt it the other way, I was like, I'm going to win this thing for sure.

There's no way I'm not going to make this run. And I just remember thinking like, I can picture it because I was like, you know, enjoy it. Because this is, you're going to win this thing. And I remember the orange of the outfits we were wearing, all the, all the banners and flags and things were orange. and then they had a big flag at the top. And the flag was down, meaning no wind. And it was kind of overcast that day, and it started to open up a little bit.

And I was like, this is a big moment. And like a song came on, I recognize. It's like some post Malone's nothing. I was like, you know. And man, I nailed it to win it, you know. And so that's why at the end of that Olympics, like I don't know if I've ever really broken down that much, but it was such an emotional journey to get to that.

Yeah, man. To like, from the family stuff to, you know, Instagram, whatever, all these things that I changed in my life and then to have that bad accident and really question everything only to get there and win. It was just such like a overwhelming, you know, joy and all that. So, yeah, it was a heavy one. I remember watching live and just, yeah, you had so much emotion. But hearing the full story now, I could see why.

Yeah. So it was heavy. And trust me, getting to that point where I'm like, wow, I'm just going to do it. when I get there. That's nuts. I'd been plotting for over, you know, actually four years at this point for this one moment.

I'm going to show up unprepared. Like, how did this happen? How did I get to this point? Well, I'm prepared, but 25 years of preparation. For sure, for sure. So, like, I know how to compete. I know these things, but, like, you know, you want to be ironclad when you get there.

You're kind of winging it. Yeah, and at this point, I'm like, all right, well, let's see what happens. And so that was very unnerving. And so... And did you know that going into it? it like this is a winning combination like if i can land this perfectly or close to perfect it's a winner pretty much i mean the only thing is that the other competitors names ayumu's the japanese

snowboarder he he had a very similar run and so um you know i was like okay like not only do i have to do this run but just do it bigger and better than he did it so i was like okay um he's a lot younger than you yeah he's a lot younger more fearless maybe didn't just smash his face a month ago Sure. And, you know, and I was in that pressure spot of like, okay, like, it's make or break. Like, everyone's watching. Am I going to do it or not? And all that stuff clicked in and I was like, I'm going to do it. And you knew right when you finished, you knew you won. Not exactly. I knew that was the best chance I had for sure of winning, you know. You knew you did your best. It was so, it was so intense. And like, it's all connected. So I don't

really remember specific moments. So I'm watching the screen going like, okay, I feel like I killed it, but did I touch a hand somewhere? Did I land kind of flat and not notice it? Is it, you know, it's so, you're so wound up. Yeah. And then, man, so everybody at the top celebrating, because the score came in right away. Really?

Like I had won, boom. NBC held the score for like a dramatic pause. You didn't see it until you're on camera. I was just like, and I'm watching, and they had the other athletes here, so I don't want to like go near them because I just, I don't know, I didn't want to look in their faces.

And, you know, and so then, and then the judge's booths right in front of me. And I don't want, I swear I look up in the booth with some guys too, I'm like a, playing limbo with my fate, you know, and so I'm like, oh. And then the crowd and TV cameras here, so I'm just kind of like panning around. And finally the score hit. And I was just like, I lost it. It was so amazing. And then just seeing my family and, you know, Jake Burton, the owner of Burton's no words who

sadly passed away, you know, amazing moment with him. He was like, how the F do you, dude? Every time. Because, you know, he's congratulated me after every, you know, big win. And even there when the upset happened, you know, so amazing to see, like, familiar faces and all that. But I was so proud of that, like, all those little steps I took actually paid off. They got me to that place where I was sitting in the same.

position and I'm like, I'm going to win, rather than like, I'm not there. So that was, I think, what I was the most proud of after that Olympics. Have you ever had another moment before a run where you're like, I don't think this is going to go well, but it did go well. Like you said to yourself like, ah, man, this is a tough one. I don't know. We'll see. It's 50-50 and then you just nail it still. There was one. It was actually the qualifier to get to that Olympics. We were in Aspen, the mountain was snow mass and like kind of similar situation where I show up

I'm so excited you get three runs for final the first run I was way too excited and like over-aimped and I like shot out and I was like oh my God and my coach is like what happened I was like I don't know I'm sorry I just like I got too pumped and like and as the you know it's the mountains

so as the day goes on these clouds start rolling in it's getting colder so the temp drops so the snow hardens it's going faster and it's like It's getting scarier. And, you know, the second run, perfect. Nailed it. The whole way down and on the last hit, I, like, washed out.

And I'm like, oh, my God. And at this point, we're panicking because we're a couple qualifiers deep. We still need to make the team. Like, the commercials are airing that I'm going to Olympics. Oh, and I haven't made the team. We have to qualify every time. Pressure, man. So I'm sitting there going like, okay.

Yeah, one more run. And so I'm talking to, yeah, I got one. One more run. I'm the last guy to go. Same deal. And I talked to my coach and he's like, you know, I'm like, what do I do? I'm like, in the start game, I'm like, what are we doing for that last hit? The one that I fell on. I'm like, are we going for this?

Big, it's the 1260s called. And I was like, are we going for the 12 or should I dial it back to a 9? Or should, like, what are we doing? And he was just kind of like, you know, I'm talking to him about it. And out of nowhere, he's like, do the 14. Which is. Which is, you know, it's all just degrees of rotations. More rotations?

More, yeah. And I was like... Do we do 12 or 90s and go more. Yeah, do the 14. And I was like, what do you mean? He's like, on the first hit. We were talking about the last hit. On the first drop.

He's like, do the 14. You practiced it so much. You're ready. Just do the 14. And I was like, and I remember looking at him being like, sure. Okay. Yeah. Right like seconds before you go.

And the guy's literally telling me to go at this point. He's like, go. And I was like, so what are we doing? He's like, I don't know. I was like, well, I kind of got to go. I remember having this. argument and he's just and the guy's like come on like right or ready like go and so i remember like giving him the like fine basically like saying like if it doesn't work it's

your fault it's your fault nailed it i fully nail it and i and it gave me the second win and i then i start hammering the run best part is we i'm on the last hit and i was like we never decided what the last thing you didn't know what you did because we only talked about the first hits and so i was like three seconds of the size. Yes. Like, well, I'm already on the heater. I might as well go for the 12, the harder trick. Like, let's just do it.

And boom. I went from like, I think I was in like, like, second to last place on the, on the roster to like winning. I won with that run, but I got a perfect 100 score. Like I nailed it. Like I nailed the run. And that's only been handed out once before, which was actually for me at the X-Games event. So this is, you know, but it's. It meant a lot to me because that X-Games judging and the actual Olympic judging is a little

bit different. So it was like, oh, it felt even more official maybe. I shouldn't say that. It was just as amazing either way. But like went from Dead Last to like, you know, winning the competition, perfect 100 score making the Olympic team all in like a couple seconds there. And 20 seconds before you didn't know what you were going to do. I didn't know the run.

Yeah, I didn't know what we were going to do. But did you go into it when you drop? where you're like, I'm screwed in your mind? You're like, I got this. I'll make, I'll figure it out. I think, I think a part of me was like, you know, who cares? Because, you know, it's on him. You know, and I'm a firm believer in, you've ever played ping pong?

I love ping pong. And like, all of a sudden you're up 10 points or something. And then you go, oh, I'm up 10 points. I should really focus now. And then you just start blowing it. Yeah, yeah. So it's your head, yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. So like that bit of not caring probably allowed me. me to go crush that run because I was in a state of like, well, well, heck with it. Like, I'm going to, I'm going to just go for it. You're a list. Yeah. And then as I started nailing the tricks, that's when things like the tunnel vision happened. And I was like, oh, I'm actually killing it. Like, stay focused. And I got like a second wind in the middle of my run. And that's when I threw, because at this point, like it's dragged on. Like I said, the clouds had moved in. I'm tired. I'm exhausted.

So when he's like telling me to do the 14, I'm already like, I'm ready for bed. I told him like, let's just wrap it. We'll go over to the next event and try to win that thing. But anyways, so that was like an amazing situation where like I was pretty convinced I wasn't going to do well and somehow pulled it out. Nailed it. There's been a couple of those. There was one where I actually set the record for the highest air out of the half pipe.

And the best part of the story is that the morning of I had, I think I was fighting a cold. And so, like, you know, if you work out or you do something strenuous, like your body's fighting the cold, not repairing the muscles. So I woke up and I could barely walk. I was so tired. And I call my coach, different coach at this point. He comes over and shows up with giant bags of ice. And like, we fill the bathtubs, hot water and cold water. And I just start going back and forth. I'm like, okay, I got maybe like three runs, four runs in me max. So let's do like a pretty simple warm-up run and then just try to do. do it in the contest and get it done.

And I drop in... This is your Michael Jordan moment. Yeah. This is your flu game. I drop in. I can't stop. My leg is so tired and so warm that if I can't use it to break, like there's not, like it would have folded on me.

And so I went so big because I couldn't stop. Oh! I like shot out the top of the five. Huge air. I forget the height. At that point, I think like 23 feet was probably the biggest air. This is a 20 foot... 22-foot pipe, so I'm out about 20-something feet about that.

On top of that. Yeah. Well, you're looking down to the ground 45 feet down. Yeah, yeah. Well, because I'm landing higher than the 22. But you're up there. If you look at another... For sure.

That's scary, man. Yeah, so the idea is to be in this side of the pipe, catch the wall. And so I'm flying and I'm thinking like, wow, I'm never really gone this big if I could just finish this run, but I'm going to win. And I've somehow pulled it together. I got nailed me. That's terrifying, man. Yeah.

I may have, like, even, like, bowed out on my last run. Because I couldn't do it. Yeah, I was too tired. I'm curious about, I mean, you've rarely lost a competition, right? It's like, it's a rare day for you if you lose or get second or whatever. Have you learned how to put yourself worse, not on winning or losing, but just to put it on who you are as a human being? Or have you struggled in the past? with, man, I suck the day and I'm no good as a person as well.

Like, how do you wrap your self-worth around your competition and separate it from just who you are as a human? No, it's a great question because, like, I would say I'm so much cooler with losing now than I ever was before. I mean, it would just tear me apart. And it's so weird because I probably had won 10 competition straight going into this one and got second by a point and a half or something and I was just devastated. Like, how did this happen?

And, you know, that kind of self-worth being derived from those situations is difficult. You know, it drives you to be better, but it's unsustainable. You know, if your happiness is just hanging in the balance of winning, yeah. Yeah, and it's a judged event. It's like, you know, it's opinions of who did better. And so, yeah, I mean. How do you manage that now, then? I wish I could say I had a good grasp on it when I was younger.

I mean, something about, I guess nowadays, it's twofold. I mean, not to pat myself on the back, but I've won a lot of events. So I don't feel as much I have to prove as much of my, you know, of my, you know, hey, I'm the best. I've been, you know, like I don't feel like I have to prove as much. So I'm content with like, even I've been at events where I'm just like, I'm not competing today because it's unsafe or it's this or I'm not feeling. it like you you know if you actually look at my track record like I've pulled out of a lot of events really it's just unsafe at times I look at it as a marathon it's not a sprint it doesn't matter today's that's cool but yeah it'll go by and it'll be there next year and maybe the conditions

will be better more favorable and and I'll be healthy and ready to do it so I like to think of my career is that that long game and so nowadays it helps knowing that like, okay, well, I'm going to lose this event. I know it's not going to go well, but I know that this is the goal. So it's not the one of that. Yeah, like it's not this event, it's that one. So like qualifying for that last Olympics, like I showed up at the first event knowing I was going to lose. And I was like, oh, this would be great.

I'm going to show face, see what everyone's doing. And I'll get a clear picture of like, okay, here's where the level's at and here's where I need to be. Or where am I at? And I didn't show my cards. So I was like, okay, we'll see what happens and, you know, play it. And so there's strategy too involved. And, you know, and it changes over the time. I mean, I used to just, I had to win everything.

And like, and if you kind of challenged what I was doing, then I would run off and do whatever else. But now you're okay with losing an event that's not as important as the main event. But did I hit my markers? Did I get my points toward making the team? Did I, you know, did I save my body? Did I, you know what I mean? And so even like we kind of mentioned in the waiting room, it's like after the Olympics, I take a season off. So if you extrapolate that over the years, I've, you know, five Olympics now, you know, so that means four years I've taken off.

That's four years that I've been able to kind of like let the body rest and my head rest and all these things. And so it definitely stretched my career out. Yes. You know, and I hate to admit I'm the oldest competitor, but yeah, at this point, it's really funny because I remember dropping in and being the youngest competitor. And they're like, I'm the oldest competitor dropping it. I'm like, oh. You still feel like the young guy or no?

I still feel like, you know, I mean, I don't feel like the young guy, but I feel like it could be my game. You know, it's my competition to win or lose. I still feel that way, you know, where I don't know. know, I think if I was like clinging on to like 10th, 11th, you know, my family would be like, let's get out of here. It's time. For sure. Or, you know, it would just, it would naturally something would, there'd be a tell at some point.

But, but yeah, so nowadays I just kind of manage it that way. And then honestly, I did like a bunch of just kind of like, I don't know what you call it. I guess work on myself. You know, I went to a lot of. What did that look like? Was that therapy? Was that workshops? It was it.

All the above. I was talking to therapists and then I was, you know, reading some really, you know, eye-opening books. And then... Which books impacted you? One was called The New Earth. It was Eckhart Tolly. Yeah, he's great. Yeah.

It's worded pretty, you know, it's very, I don't know what you'd say. Spiritual. Exactly. It's intense. But if you really take the time to read and remember after like reread pages, I'm like, wait, what are they saying? So that was, that was, you know, an amazing. book that really opened my eyes up to a lot of different things and the way my brain works and the thought process and how I've been kind of like assessing the situation and in you know the events that happen they happen it's how I interpret them is what's like driving me and fueling me and and if it's something I interpret to be a bad thing then I'm going to you know act and these emotions will stir from that and so it really made me understand that and then another book I read was called loving what is with Byron Katie.

She's great. We had her on the show. She's awesome. And I swear I saw her somewhere. I got a fan girl. She's amazing, man. So. He came on here and she pretty much did like live therapy with me.

I was like, it's incredible. Yeah. So you read those two books. Those really impacted. Yeah, those were really heavy. There's a couple others, but those were the main ones. And then I, honestly, I got a phone call from Tony Robbins to come down to his house. and do like a speaking engagement.

He does the, the, uh, paid speaking. The platinum partner things. Totally. It was like, you know, just, and I do those sometimes, which was cool.

And he called me up and I go down there and. In Florida, right? Yeah, I was at his home. I've been there. And the panel was myself, Michael Phelps and Tom McGregor. Tom Brady.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I think that was the next year's one. I was like, oh, this is cool. I went first and then, and then I'm listening to Michael speak. And I was like,

wow. It really blew me away to hear, like a fellow athlete talk about the struggles of like how you feel after an event and like even if you win it doesn't mean that like all these other things are great in your life you know it doesn't mean that the dog's going to like listen to you and it doesn't mean that like you know these people are going to care for you more your business isn't in a better situation in place like all these things that like yeah winning is amazing but it doesn't fix everything and and um and a lot of that stuff gets pushed to the side in order to win and so it was really a really

eye-opening to hear him speak and then afterward Tony was like look you know we do this little you know he calls it a prayer it's nothing religious at all but it was kind of this like meditation quick meditation thing he's like Michael's gonna we're all gonna do it I was like okay and it's basically the concept of like stacking you know you go through the day and you kind of like oh uh whatever the sofa I ordered is back ordered now I thought it was gonna be here this week it's not it's gonna be next month they're like so let's stack that and then like oh, I got the phone call from so and so that the event got canceled because of COVID, you know, oh, great.

And then you start stacking these things. And so it's just a simple process. His prayer is a, which I understand later. But it was the idea of like, you know, hey, let's go and just take a minute to stack all these really great things that happened. Because you don't really take the time to do that. Not to focus on all the negative things. Totally. Or like, just take a moment to be like, oh, man, like, hey, when did something like really just work out?

Like you said that run in Aspen. Like, it just worked. out. You know, I was thinking, oh, it's probably not going to be my day. And boom, it just worked out. And like, hey, let's, like, what amazing win where something just kind of went my way. And like, let's take something that really worked hard for. And that actually happened. And like, oh, what, by chance, you know, like a person you met that became a lifelong friend. You know, just these things, you, I remember leaving feeling like, like, I was so pumped up. And I just really, you know, at the time needed something like that. Um, anyways.

So I leave and, you know, that feeling kind of fades a little, obviously. And a couple months go by. And randomly he called me. Tony. Yeah. He's like, we're doing an event. And I have driving. You know, when you click your phone, it comes through the car speakers.

Yeah. That huge voice of his was like, we're doing an event. Come out. That's it. It's an invitation, not an expectation. It's whatever you want, you know, send a family member or whatever. And so I was like, you know what? let's do it.

And so I remember just like, I was like, I'm going to go. I'm going to go solo. My first instinct was to send family members that I cared about. I was like, oh, maybe I'll send my dad or my mom or my sister, somebody close to me that would benefit from this. And then I remember hearing him on the phone. They're like, it's kind of like the plane's crashing. Do you take the mask and put it on someone?

No, you've got to save yourself so you can save the others or whatever. And, you know, and then I was like, I'm just going to go. go and I'm going to go alone. I went solo. Wow. This is UPW or this is UPW? It's powerful. So you were walking on fire and stuff? Yeah, it was the whole thing. It's crazy, isn't it? Yeah, so you went. I've been there. Okay, so, so it's amazing. It was just awesome and it really got me thinking differently and I and I remember thinking like wow, well if I felt pretty great after it was just like my thought process of why I should work out. I was like, well, I feel better after. Well, why not? We'll go to something like this.

And so did the event. It was crazy eye opening, really amazing. And then after that I went to a financial seminar he had up in Canada as like a thank you. He was like, hey, why don't I come like snowboard with your guests? Wow, that's cool. And I'll take the course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So did that. And then, you know, had some other interactions with him and then ended up doing the date

with destiny in Florida. I haven't done that one yet. After, you know, multiple hits of this, you know, you really, it starts to sink in. And that was really awesome because it's something about like, it's nice if somebody, you You know, they can tell you, hey, feel better about this or do that, you know, but it's such a different thing when you come up with the idea yourself. Yeah. And it's, it's, you know, you're like that aha moment of like, oh, wow, I've been doing this

and now I realize this is a better way. And not only that, but like here are the tools to help you. So like with these books, like the first book, The New Earth, like got me thinking differently. But the loving what is kind of took that same kind of thought process and made it. it like, applicable to my life. So I could go through my life and I, like, anytime something arises now, it triggers.

And I go, oh, let me, they do this thing where they, Katie does a, I'm sure you spoke with it, but you kind of break it down and you kind of question. You have these like four questions. And you're just like, okay, like, how do I really feel about this? You start going through the questions. And at the end, it just takes all the life out of it. You know, it takes all the, that meaning and that sort of, you know,

emotion that's drawn from the meaning that you, meaning that you're giving this thing. You're giving it all this life and it's nice. It's nothing. Do you remember four questions? I can't remember them fully. They're like, is it true? Yeah.

And then the second one, the second one, is it true or something? The second one is it true. Is it really true? The first one is it true, right? Yeah. The second one is, is it really true? And then pretty much every time the answers no. And then it's like, how do you feel or how do you react when you hear that or believe

that lie? Yeah. Yeah. And then the fourth part is, it you turn it around which is a little confusing to me but it's still it's like you kind of start saying it differently yeah proceeding it differently yeah just by saying it differently though it's like oh this person did this well i did this you know right or my thinking of this was wrong or this and just you kind of saying it goes oh yeah okay but it's a really powerful thing because it really

stops you in your tracks and and now when something arises where it's not that i walk on sunshine every day but when problems do arise and like you know i'm i'm like getting flack from the guy on airbieb whatever like about to write this crazy text i'm like whoa is this true is he really upset you know and you kind of like when something really upsets you it's it's it's you those are the signs yeah something's off what do you think what do you think what's your biggest trigger in your life or what has been your biggest trigger in the past that you've had to learn how to process better. Well, that's the whole part of it, is that the triggers are something basically that you're, you're seeing it through a lens of your past.

Right, right. So it's not that you came in and said you didn't like my shirt. At some point, someone else said I didn't have good style, and now I'm hearing you say you don't like my shirt, now I'm freaking out, you know, because I'm adding all this other stuff that you don't know about, but you were just not into the color, whatever, or were giving me a hard time. you know what was amazing is that everything really boils down to these like i'm butchering this but they're i hope tony's not listening but they boil down to these simple things of like

i'm not enough or or or you know yeah that i'm not enough or this isn't good enough or you know i won't be loved you know and as simple as it is is like okay well you know like like losing a contest you know well why what's it what's the meaning behind it like oh i wanted to win to show that I'm great. Well, why did you want to show you that you're great? Well, I was told kind of I wasn't going to amount to much in a sport that was not in the Olympics, that X-Gaing should just start. Like, there's no future in the sports. So for years and years, the teachers and friends and people are like, you're going to amount to nothing. You're a joke. Like, your sport's a joke. And we'll see you in the future when you're asking for change, you know. And so that's kind of

embedded in me. So there was this fight to prove that I was, you know, something important or special or whatever. And so it all boils down to like that like, oh, I'm not good enough or I fear that I'm not enough. And so once you kind of realize you're pulling from this place, you know, you go, well, okay, take all this aside like, man, like what are the basics? Like, am I there for my friends when they need me? Like, for sure.

Am I, you know, like, what are my strengths outside of all this other stuff? and you kind of really get to know yourself a lot more. And that was really amazing for me. And so eye-opening because I was just like, ever since I can remember I've been competing and doing this and that and win after when, you know, how do we go bigger and more? And, you know, I never really took the time to just go, oh, wow, like, hey, I tend to, like, do well at a dinner.

Like, I can make people laugh. I'm good. Right, right. You send me in, I'm good. You know, like, that's a great quality to have to be able to, like, be social and to, you know, to, you know, strike a chord with people and easily start conversation, make people laugh. And like, that's a great quality to have. And, and the simplest fact of like, oh, like, okay, if I knew someone like that, I would like just to have them around just for that

basic fact that they're enjoyable to be with. Yeah. You know what I mean? Just the simplest things. And then once you have that kind of foundation of understanding of like, gosh, well, I'm getting that sort of, I am enough and I will be loved and all these things from all this, then everything else is just like, oh, well, and if I win their event, like, great. You know, I'm like, oh, I was, so, but that's what so weird is I was worried that it wouldn't, like, keep me motivated, but I'm still driven. And this was all in the last couple of years you started doing this word, right? Yeah, this was, yeah, this was like 2018 pretty much, yeah.

So in the last three years, as you started to do kind of more of the emotional, inner, mental work, Yeah. What would you say to your, you know, 13-year-old self getting into the journey of this career for the last 20 years or whatever, 20 plus years, what would you say to him, knowing what you know now about what the real champion's mindset is? Yeah. No, it's tough. I mean, I've thought about that, but there were so many situations where maybe I needed that.

You know what I mean? I'm a firm believer in, like, you kind of, I don't know, I've just been like, leveling up consistently through my career. So maybe I, you know, didn't need that lesson at that time. I definitely would have told myself to really like stop and enjoy the like, the little things just because, you know, you don't realize that things just keep going on, you know. I remember signing this deal when I was really young and it was like this 10 year contract. I was like, I'll be playing golf by then.

I was like, I'll be 30. Can you imagine? And 30 came around. I was like, wow, I still feel. so driven and youthful and I got all this stuff in front of me and so yeah I don't know I don't know what I would say exactly but definitely to enjoy the the little things yeah just go back and take the moment to like like man we had this big win let's go celebrate that with this yeah let's just take an extra minute to do that not already move on to the next thing yeah oh for sure because

you know it was just like I had my mind and I don't think it would have gotten in the way it would have just been like really enjoying or like a big deal I signed or something like yeah celebrating yeah those things but now that you've done I guess the the deeper inner work that you're talking about do you have a you know a routine or a mindset or a mantra that you have going into events now that like you think about beforehand or before you're going up to the uh dropping in or is it just keep doing the same you've been doing no it's pretty much the same that's what's so great about it is it's like it's just given new meaning to the same way that I feel that I feel already.

What's that meaning? Just that it's all a bonus. It's all like, you know what I mean? It's all icing on top of the cake. I mean, look at this long career I've had to this point. It's all, you know, and like, why not? Like, I still feel great. I still am motivated.

I still am these things. And like, let's embrace that, but not put the extra, you know, emphasis on. Like, well, if it all doesn't work out, then nothing's good. That I'm worth this or not enough for it. Yeah. Or just that. like nothing's great, you know, and then you're at your beach house. You're like, yeah, crying, watching these whales.

You know, but that's, you know, I don't know. I fear I'm coming off preachy or something like that. It's something that worked for me and really helped me, but, you know, to each his own. And, you know, there is a time to push and to push through the, the frustrating parts. And then there's a time to kind of go, oh, wow, like, is this just a time for, a course adjustment rather than, you know. So I think, yeah, as I've gotten older, and maybe it's just with age, like, I don't know if I would have listened at that point. Right. You were so focused. I was like, I got a Lamborghini. Let's go. What feedback would you give to someone out there,

whether they're an athlete or they're just going after life in a big way. They have big goals, big dreams, whether maybe it's business or career or something. What feedback would you give them on the path of wanting to accomplish massive big goals, being at the time? top of their field without hurting themselves along the way. Well, again, I think, you know, definitely don't, this thought of like the delayed happiness is where you get in trouble. If this happens, then I'll be happy. If I can only get the raise, then I'll be happy. If I could just win one more Olympics, then I'd be happy. You know, if I could just, you got to kind of, which is hard, because, you know, you picture this place in your mind and you want to get there. And I'm very like a

visualize everything. So, like, I can picture it. I can see the, you know, the red carpet rolling. I can picture, no, I'm kidding, but you know what I mean? Like, in your mind, yeah, they're throwing flowers at me at the, you know, like, you know, you can picture what it would be like and like, gosh, if I just had this amount of money, I could, I wouldn't worry about money. You know, like, there's all these things and there's a way to enjoy it along the path that doesn't have to be all or nothing. And that's something that took me a while to learn. And I think I would have had a much more enjoyable process getting to where I am in my life and career and still had that motivation if I would have been able to kind of, you know, like Tony says at

his event, he says, oh, is it, you know, success without fulfillment is the greatest failure. It's true. And it's so funny because you meet people and you'll have very famous people at that event. They stand up and they're like, I won my Oscar. And I was like, well, I better win another one. And then I made this much money. And I was like, well, I better double it. And then I just kind of sat there with my double money and my thing and went, well, what's next?

You know, and it's, you have to find the enjoyment. Otherwise, you get to that place where you get the, you know, you finally get that goal. And it's not every, in many ways it is what you'd hope. But it's not exactly what you pictured. And so, and that's hard, you know, to get to that point. And it's, it's frustrating because you put so much emphasis on this moment, being this way. And if it doesn't work out exactly and picture exactly how it's going to go, you're left kind of hanging. Right.

So it's getting rid of that. And then I'm just a huge believer in kind of like the little steps as well. It's like, what little thing can I do that my competitors are probably not doing that might help me? Like what? I don't know. Just I remember winning the event. And it just dawned on me that all my competitors would probably, this is when I kind of went to me. the gym. It dawned me that all my competitors were probably going to go celebrate. Like drink alcohol.

Yeah, go party all night for sure. And I was like, what if I just hit the gym? Just why not? Just something that would, you know what I just like push when they're going to not push and, you know, just little things that I might be able to do get to that place. And so I always, and goal setting was huge. And I hesitate to talk about it just because it's, I feel like it's talked about so much, but I don't really believe that people do it in the right way. You know, like, yeah, it's great to have a huge goal, but is that like really what you want? Because it's like there's so many times, like I said, I really wanted to win the Olympics in Korea. And then I'm sitting in a hospital with my face ripped up.

And I was like, do you really like, how bad do you really want this? And thankfully, I really, really wanted it. And that was the goal. and I was like, you know, and that helped me get there, oddly enough. But it's like, it's like really finding like what that is and knowing it wholeheartedly, like, this is it. And then you start that little process of getting there. If it's like, you know, are we selling T-shirts? Well, one extra shirt sold is this.

Or like maybe if I drive the car instead of shipping it, we're going to move the needle. Like any little thing I could do to like move the needle in the right direction. And so like having that big goal and then having like a bunch of fun little goals. goals on the way and something that would be obtained by getting to the big goal. So, so. It sounds like, you know, the universe is going to ask you, do you really want this with the obstacles it puts in your way? Oh, for sure.

Yeah. And people will question it and you'll question it. And, you know, and then the people within your inner circle, because you don't kind of listen to everybody else. Those people will question it. And you got to really, you know, know, know what you want. You got to listen to yourself. Which is hard.

Which is really hard. Yeah. But once you find it and know it wholeheartedly, then, okay, boom, that was a huge hurdle to clear. And then it's like, well, how can we get there? And I've always, I heard something a long time ago where, you know, instead of saying, oh, we can't do that, that really shuts the doors. Like, how could we, how could we do it? And that was me sitting after the Olympics in Russia when I lost.

And I was like, okay, well, if I was going to win again, how would I do it? And then I started like, well, I'd have to have a coach that, you know, did this for me. have to have the PTA, you know, and I started to build this scenario. And I was like, wow, that actually seemed doable, you know. And then I had like fun little goals along the way. So like at the one Olympics, my goal was to, I wanted to be on the cover of Rowan Stone, which, which had happened after the one Olympics, the first one I went to. I was 19. And my goal was like, well, if I win again, they might call me and I'll be ready this time, you know, and And because I remember taking the photo.

I'd just flown in from wherever. I was like, they're like, take your shirt off. I'm like, I never take. I'm so white. And I remember the photos coming out. I was like, I don't know how I feel about this. And anyway, so I was like, if it happens again. I'm going to be shredded.

I'll be in shape. Yeah, this will happen and I'll do this and this. And I remember watching like I got really into Guns and Roses and Axel did a show where he was in these tiny American flag shorts. Yeah, yeah. I was like, well, I can't run that. but what have I had pants? And so I had these pants made it.

It became all about like trying to get on the Rolling Stone cover and to wear these pants rather than like winning the Olympics. So it kind of changed the goal to something fun and funny rather than this daunting task of winning the Olympics. But obviously winning the Olympics would mean I got to wear the pants and whatever. And so it literally all happened. I won the Olympics. Rolling Stone called I had the pants. We shot the photo. And this actually all started because I was at the Hard Rock Casino

probably on my birthday or something. We did my 21st there. And I remember seeing all the jackets. I love music and guitar and rock and roll. And I was like, God, how do I get something of mine into the hard rock? Because it's all rock and roll memory. And I was like, I was on the cover. So like those pants and the board,

all the stuff from the cover got displayed at the hard rock. Nice. That's cool. A full circle. So even now I'm like planning my little. So I'll tell you, I'll tell you, well, obviously to win the next Olympics would be wonderful on many levels. 2022. The 2022.

And my fun goal, this is a good one. Let's see how excited for this. My fun goal is that I'm hoping that after five Olympics that I'm so, I'm so well known as a snowboarder that. It's so famous and well-known that they're forced to change the emojicon snowboarder to look like me. Ooh. That'd be sweet. That'd be great. I was like, I could maybe make that.

I know they have like a David Bowie one. I was like, God. All they'd have to do is put some like long red hair on that guy. That'd be cool. Loading out the back of a helmet or something. Yeah. It's like. Because I keep picturing like, hey, it's me.

And then throwing the emoji. That's cool. Hey, new number. It's me. Yeah, yeah. Snowboarding like this in the air. Yeah, that's my, that's, that's, that's, this is my big goal. I like that. The emoji. Yeah. Sean, what emoji? I like it. That's the future, man. Yeah, yeah. So, not the legacy of being a five-time Olympian, the legacy of having an emoji. Being on everyone in the world's phone. There you go. That's great, man. So, you know, but, um, but that's what's fun.

It's, you know, every time is different. It changes. I mean, look at this curveball we were thrown. COVID. I mean, I can't go train in Canada. We can't go to, you know, Australia and New Zealand right now. Like, it's very strained, limited practice time. Everybody's trying to make it work. And, you know, like we're all in the same boat together. So it's not like it's unfair or anything, but we're all, you know, it's just a new challenge. It presents itself in a new way. And there's new goals and new hopes. And yeah. It's exciting, man. It's been good. Amazing journey, man. A couple final questions for you. And then I respect your time here. But this is very inspiring. Before I ask the final questions, I want people to check you out. I love your

stuff on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, your website, Sean White.com. The recent post that you skateboarding, I think it was Switzerland or something. I was like, this is a dream world, man. So you've got really cool stuff over there. You also have a new line coming out. You can talk a little bit about that. Yeah, I won't give away the name and all of it. But yeah, I've always dreamt of having my own, you know, a snowboard brand. And so, you know, just, just like I set my goals and things. I remember after the last Olympics being like, gosh, if I come back here, I'm going to be on my own equipment. How cool would that be, you know, to try to make that podium with my own. Because it's been sponsored by it. Yeah, yeah. And it's been amazing. And I wouldn't change that for the world.

But, you know, as time goes on, I'm like, I had a hand in product development, obviously, and design and had my own lines and places. I was like, gosh, it's time. Let's do it. And so, but it's really exciting because I used to work with my brother and we made all sorts of products and things and we stopped working together for some time and now we're working together again and it feels amazing and he's he's fired up and I'm super excited and just testing the products it just feels like old time that's cool man yeah so that'll be dropping the the soft goods of it all will be unfortunately next season because of the timelines but um the hard goods will be dropping this next next winter before you want Next year, yeah, right before.

Wow. Right before, yeah. So we can follow you on your social, Sean White.com. Do you have a newsletter there too or somewhere to opt in? If we don't, I'm going to go get it. Add it there, yes, yeah. In the meantime, if they just follow you on any of these accounts. Yeah, they'll be up to date on all that stuff.

So make sure to follow Sean and support him. I'll be getting some stuff. I'm a snowboarded in like three years, so I got to get some gear and then I'll start get him back on it. Yeah, for sure. You might need a big board, though. I'm a big board. Yeah, I'm a big dude.

I remember I kind of like kind of an accident like maybe seven years ago. I was in six years, seven years ago I went to Whistler for the first time. Yeah. And it's just a bigger mountain. It's a big mountain. It's like, dude, I went down just like a normal whatever, but it was just like so much wind and so and it was just like. I have to stop three times just to get to the bottom because my legs are burning.

It's a big place. And I hit like my edge and one and like look back and hit the back of my head. I didn't have a helmet on. I remember thinking like, I need to have a helmet the rest of my time doing this. Because I was on the ground, like, for five, ten minutes, like, that was, man. Yeah, that was rough. Yeah. And it comes quick when it snags.

Boom. I thought it was fine. I never fought in it. Yeah. I, it doesn't have to happen to me nearly as often, but on occasion, like, I'll just, it's when you're not paying attention. That's what happened to me. That's what happened to me.

Yeah. Yeah. This is a question I asked everyone at the end. It's called the three truths. So I'd like you to imagine a hypothetical scenario. It's your last. stay on earth many, many years away. You get to live as long as you want to live. And you accomplish all your dreams. Five more Olympics, you know, your own line, relationships, life, all these

things happen. Emmoji. That's the most important thing. I'm listening. The emoji is all the of the rolling stones. That's the cover. But for whatever reason in this hypothetical scenario, you've got to take all of your content with you. So all the interviews you've done, the spoken word, videos, written word, it's all going to go with you somewhere else. Again, this is many years away. And all you get to leave behind is three lessons to the world that you've learned from your life. And this is all we would have is remember you buy are these three truths, I call it. Okay.

What would you say it would be the three truths you would leave behind? I don't know. I think my gut goes to, I mean, immediately goes to the like, enjoy the little things. Yeah. Enjoy the moments because they're fleeting and you think they're going to last. forever but they don't you know so many countless hours wasted going over what could have happened in the past that I can't change and what I should do in the future and just completely missing the amazing situation I'm in currently so enjoying the moment I think I think

being true to who you are honestly because there's so much time spent at least in my life was thus far has been you know know there's so many there's the person I am and then there's the person that I think I should be sometimes and it's so much just better to be who you are yes not try to put on the show or like who are you who are you pleasing or you know who are you trying to impress and if you need to impress somebody then it's somebody not worth you even having your time with so yes you know what I mean, I remember reading, I think it was, what would Keith Richards do? And it literally, like, one of the first or second things was like, he was like, know yourself.

He's like, I could party all night, I could do this and I could do that. And I got up, Ben, I was fine. And I did it because I could do it. I know a lot of guys that tried to do it because they thought that's what they're supposed to do, but they couldn't, you know what I mean. And he's like, I'm not advocating for this for anyone, but for me, it worked. This was my life. You know, it's like watching the last dance with Rodman. They're like, he's just that guy.

We got to send him out. He gets a little crazy. He comes back, but he's our crazy. You know, and so know who you are and be true to that. And don't be swayed. I mean, those are the things that kind of hold for me. And the third? You know, they're thick and thin through it all, like, you know,

when I've had crazy wins or I've had, you know, a breakup or, you know what I mean? Like my family's always been there. And, like, I can only hope that I'm that for, you know, my family or my you know in the future it's such a i mean i didn't drive myself to the mountains right my parents got up every morning and drove me like god that's so awesome you know what an amazing thing to have in common with your family when you when you're growing up you know because so many families grow apart that was something we had together but like just the selflessness they had for me and my siblings you know growing up it didn't matter if it was me and snowboarding and my sister

wanted to play soccer. We're out selling candy bars trying to get on the team and like get the new uniform. It didn't matter whether it was what I wanted or, you know, we kind of gave 100% for each member of the family and snowboarding just happened to be the thing to take off. But, you know, nothing can really replace that. And I think at times I remember thinking like I loved obviously the family unit I had and it got strained a bit as obviously like the growing pains of like becoming more successful and having to travel and having to, you know, the obligations and the media and things. And it's like, and you go, oh, well, this is my life and this is my world. And you kind of get sucked up into it. And I remember at some point thinking that the family wasn't as important,

but it truly is because when all that goes or whatever happened, you know, like they're there for you. And what we talked about earlier in the basic simplest of ways that, like, they like you. Right, right. For who you are. Yeah, they don't need any, you know, like, oh, cool, you won the, that's great. But we care my idea. So are we going to go see Spider-Man or whatever? They care on that deeper level. And, you know, at least I can only speak for my family.

It's been that amazing support group for me. So, yeah. That's great, man. I love these truths. I hope I won that. That's a good. That's a good. I've got my final question before I ask you, I just want to acknowledge you, Sean,

for the way you've shown up for the last couple of days. decades of inspiring so many of us. You know, you constantly show up and dedicated to your mastery of your craft. And you go big. You know, you go big, you're relentless. Even when you crash, getting back up, like to, you're just a symbol of inspiration to so many people. Thank you.

And I love your commitment to your craft and you have fun with it. And I also really acknowledge you for the last couple of years, like doing the inner work. I think it's really hard to look within ourselves. and see, hey, something's off and to do that work. It's been a journey I've been on for a while as well. And to be talking about it as a global athlete icon, like you and Phelps, to be really talking about these things is really helping a lot of men especially

who are maybe struggling in their inner world. So I really acknowledge you for opening up. And everybody's got their thing. And that's why I didn't realize, you know, you look at Instagram and people and you go, oh, that guy's got it together. And I'm like, no, he doesn't. He's got a crazy uncle.

He's got it. You know, like, everybody's got something. And no, you're not alone in that. But I appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah, man. It's inspiring. It's been a learning.

For sure. And it's still going. And I think that's the exciting part is I feel like I still have so much more ahead of me, you know, beyond competing, beyond everything. Right, right. I'm just like, yeah, I'm so excited for what's next. That's great, man. Yeah. Final question.

What's your definition of greatness? Ooh, I thought I was done. The three. I was like, I killed it. No way. Definition to greatness, gosh, I mean, if you spoke to me like a couple years ago, I had a different answer, but I think now is, I mean, something I've always carried with me was being just, I don't know, being different, I guess.

I don't know how to describe it. It's like when you looked at athletes throughout history and, you know, it was like, oh, Mike Tyson would show up. And he wouldn't just win. He would win in a certain fashion. He would win in a certain way. And he would deliver when he had to, and he wore the black trunks.

And he drove up or like, you know, Muhammad Ali had the mouth and the word. You know, he had so much charisma and all these things. And, you know, something that defined who they were. And it's kind of like, I don't know, I've always thought, I look at everything, a lot of things in form of music. So like the greatest accomplishment usually for a musician is, yeah, obviously to win an award or grammar but it's to find your sound like what's your sound yes and and for me like I just kind of like I feel like I naturally fell into it like I looked different for I had

long I'd red hair so I kind of like leaned into it I got huge red hair and then you know and I would show up in a certain manner and certain things so I don't know I feel like you know greatness can be taken in so many ways but I really feel like it's just it's like seeing the same instrument but playing it your way. You know, taking a sport and doing it just different. Yeah. You know what I mean? It's like it's the same thing, but he just did it a little different than everyone else. And I think that's what I strive toward even until this day. It's not so much about like what trick am I going to do. It's like, what am I going to wear? What am I going to listen to you? How is the run going to go down? What would I say? Where is the, you know, there's so much that wraps around it other than just like

showing up doing the tricks and trying to win. So I really try to like, map. all of that but um finding your sound yeah finding my sound so I think that's that's greatness in any way whether it's it's sports or it's music or you you just finding your own path I think it comes in many forms it doesn't have to be in the form of a gold statue or so sure sure it doesn't need to be a trophy of any sort right right yeah love man Sean right on appreciate you thank you I hope you enjoyed today's episode and it inspired you on your journey towards greatness. Make sure to check out the show notes in the description for a full rundown of today's

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