White Opts Out of Olympic Slopestyle

White issued a statement, saying that after much deliberation, he has decided to forgo the new snowboarding event and concentrate on halfpipe, where he will try for his third straight gold medal next week.

He cited the risk of injury on the slopestyle course as the reason for his decision.

White was among the favorites in the new Olympic event. He jammed his left wrist during practice Tuesday and when he came off the slopestyle course, he called it "a little intimidating."

Slopestyle is a speed-packed trip down the mountain, filled with rails, bumps and, most notably, steeply angled jumps that allow riders to flip two, sometimes three times, before landing.

White hurt his wrist on one of the takeoff ramps.