Shawn White back to back doubles in pipe

a large straight air like shawn's is worth a million 7s or 9s to start the run....just shows how G and smooth he is.....skiing has yet to perfect a straight in the pipe since candide
 
I cant tell you you are wrong because that is your opinion, However I would way rather do them in the middle. The first hit is the scariest because your not in the "flow" of the pipe yet, and speed is alot more variable due to conditions and how late you drop in, therefore making it harder to judge how fast to set your rotation and such. Which is why alot of the time people will save those harder tricks for down the run so they dont fuck up right off the bat. Personally, I would not throw my biggest tricks on the first hits, too much risk. But people who do should be awarded for it. I say if you have enough air to do it at the bottom then why not do it? If you fuck up at the bottom you still have 4-5 hits in the bag already.
 
Absolutely insane. That pipe looks so perfect. Luke's run is sick too, its crazy to see how good hes gotten.
 
I'm impressed. As far as where he through them in the pipe, I'd say towards the bottom is lower risk, however you tend to run out of speed and amplitude the further down you get..
 
And he does it again !
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I really don't think he's a douche. I think people are inclined to call him a douche because he always wins (sometimes unjustly), but his attitude on the whole seems very down-to-earth and thankful for the amazing success he has enjoyed.

I don't like his style though. Too cookie-cutter, I-practice-this-run-and-nothing-else-esque.
 
You got it. Like anyone else, dont talk shit on Shaun unless you know em on a personal basis.

And I cannot believe he continues to stay ontop- incredible.
 
that honestly was really really freakin tight. i agree though, it does look machine-like. but i guess thats pretty retarded hate...i suppose shaun is just a machine.
i cant believe that fool still wears a-frames...seriously make a new freakin promodel.
 
just like how he still rides burton mission bindings. he was riding customs, which are the lowest bindings on the burton line except for freestyles before the missions(which are one step up from the customs)

he's def a no frills guy when it comes to gear.
 
Watching Shawn ride in person is unreal, it's amazing how well that guy rides a snowboard.
Regarding the straight air. Yes SOME (but not all) judging formats in snowboarding require one "standard maneuver" per run (standard maneuver is defined as anything less than 360, so they can also fill the requirement with an air to fakie or alley-oop).
Anyways, while I don't like the "requirement" rule, I do like the way snowboarders generally do at least one trick in their pipe run that is purely about style and not difficulty focused. A huge, motionless, well grabbed straight air looks awesome in my opinion, and since Shawn can do 2 different doubles, 4 different 1080s, 1260s, etc., the straight air adds variety and style to his run. For sure he could have done any number of technical tricks first hit had he wanted, but snowboarders appreciate a well executed straight air, and the ones that I have talked to about it, say that they see it as part of a complete set of pipe riding skills. Personally, I think an huge stylish straight air is great, anyone remember the one Sean Field did at the Open in Vail? One of my favorite pipe hits ever...
But I digress, what I really wanted to do on this thread was post this link (hope it works). Yes Shawn and Luke are stepping up the game, but check out what Mike was doing in sketchy 12 foot pipes back in 1998:
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First off, his double is a lot sicker than the skiers double right now, especially the ones he thows in the B Movie.

Second, redbull actually made him a 500 000$ dolloar custom pipe where there was a hit in which he would fall in a foam pit. Wish someone would hook some skiers up to that so they oculd learn that kind of stuff
 
I was about to mention mike's double flips too...so long ago and in a pipe that was waaaay more haggard then anything we'd ride today.
 
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