Shaun White

Representing: Carlsbad, California

Weapon of choice: Snowboard

Key events: SuperPipe, Slopestyle

Fun fact: On his 19th birthday, Shaun was Punk’d by MTV show host Ashton Kutcher

If your parents can name one X Games athlete, it’s Shaun White, posterboy for action sports and world champion halfpipe rider, be it on a skateboard or snowboard. Although Tony Hawk’s protégé has been destined for spinny, flippy greatness since he began snowboarding at age six, the master of the 1080 still enjoys the ride; it’s not just about the fame, endorsements and oversized novelty checks for the redheaded wonder they call the Flying Tomato.

“I can have fun if there’s a little snow bump, and me and my friends, we’re just trying back flips and landing on our heads,” Shaun said in a Rolling Stone cover story that showed him posing with his 2006 Olympic gold medal. With eight Winter X (and one Summer X) medals to his name, a ninth in ’07 is expected.