A New Documentary Series Unveils The Champion Snowboarder's Journey
Shaun White: The Last Run (2023)
A Quick TV Review
HBO's (sorry, not used to Max yet) recently released documentary series Shaun White: The Last Run offers viewers great insight into the rise of snowboarding great Shaun White's career, as worked his way toward his 'last run' down the halfpipe at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
A Quick TV Review
HBO's (sorry, not used to Max yet) recently released documentary series Shaun White: The Last Run offers viewers great insight into the rise of snowboarding great Shaun White's career, as worked his way toward his 'last run' down the halfpipe at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Those viewers, like me, who had little sense of his name before his Olympic debut at Torino 2006, will be rewarded with an appreciation of the deep work and sacrifice it took to become a multiple champion and an icon of the sport.
Born in 1986 into a family inclined to winter sports, White was as an early adopter of snowboarding, starting at age five and officially competing two years later, with legendary board manufacturer Jake Burton's attention and support - all despite a congenital heart defect requiring open-heart surgery as an infant.
Throughout his blossoming career, White's family was a constant supportive and sheltering presence; as his stature grew, so did their oversight and management. His family closeness - despite the eventual tension as he entered teen years and financial independence - is a constant theme, and both parents and two siblings are frequent, grounding contributors to The Last Run's production.
Through its four episodes - 'Becoming Shaun', 'He Made It Big', 'Does He Still Have It?', and 'The G.O.A.T.' - The Last Run presents a quality look at the hard work White has put in, over years, and despite, at times, gruesome injury. An interesting subtext is the lonely road it takes - although he has enjoyed close family and coaching circles (his primary coach is Salt Lake 2002 snowboarder JJ Thomas), he's often seen as an outsider to the broader community. Jealousy? Probably...but also his particular determinedness.
White would end his career with three Olympic gold - 2006, Vancouver 2010, and Pyeongchang 2018 - along with two fourth-place finishes at Sochi 2014 and in 2022. That's a span of 16 years which saw him mature as a person and athlete from age 19 to 35. Along the way, White was made to realize that life can be good without being at the top, and that 'the top' doesn't necessarily 'solve everything'.
By the end of The Last Run, we all can appreciate better the iconic career White has presented us, and the growth he has given to the sport, and seen in himself. Japanese rider Ayumu Hirano may be an heir apparent to White in terms of medal collection (he has three Olympic halfpipe podiums so far at just age 24), but even he has White to thank for broadening the opportunities and dynamism of the sport.
Thank you, Shaun.
Born in 1986 into a family inclined to winter sports, White was as an early adopter of snowboarding, starting at age five and officially competing two years later, with legendary board manufacturer Jake Burton's attention and support - all despite a congenital heart defect requiring open-heart surgery as an infant.
Throughout his blossoming career, White's family was a constant supportive and sheltering presence; as his stature grew, so did their oversight and management. His family closeness - despite the eventual tension as he entered teen years and financial independence - is a constant theme, and both parents and two siblings are frequent, grounding contributors to The Last Run's production.
Through its four episodes - 'Becoming Shaun', 'He Made It Big', 'Does He Still Have It?', and 'The G.O.A.T.' - The Last Run presents a quality look at the hard work White has put in, over years, and despite, at times, gruesome injury. An interesting subtext is the lonely road it takes - although he has enjoyed close family and coaching circles (his primary coach is Salt Lake 2002 snowboarder JJ Thomas), he's often seen as an outsider to the broader community. Jealousy? Probably...but also his particular determinedness.
White would end his career with three Olympic gold - 2006, Vancouver 2010, and Pyeongchang 2018 - along with two fourth-place finishes at Sochi 2014 and in 2022. That's a span of 16 years which saw him mature as a person and athlete from age 19 to 35. Along the way, White was made to realize that life can be good without being at the top, and that 'the top' doesn't necessarily 'solve everything'.
By the end of The Last Run, we all can appreciate better the iconic career White has presented us, and the growth he has given to the sport, and seen in himself. Japanese rider Ayumu Hirano may be an heir apparent to White in terms of medal collection (he has three Olympic halfpipe podiums so far at just age 24), but even he has White to thank for broadening the opportunities and dynamism of the sport.
Thank you, Shaun.
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