Shaun White's Absence Looms Over Slopestyle Qualifying

Many people believe Shaun White just did not want to compete in the slopestyle event and he should have pulled out earlier.

Many people believe Shaun White just did not want to compete in the slopestyle event and he should have pulled out earlier.

Shaun White pulled out of the event late Wednesday, less than 24 hours before a qualification round at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. Easily the biggest star of the Games, White continued to draw attention to the new event. SLOPESTYLE: The drama continues.

He may have just withdrawn from the inaugural Olympic Slope Style event in Sochi, but two-time gold medalist Shaun White will still need musical motivation to drive him to a third gold in the Halfpipe.

And although snowboarding superstar Shaun White pulled out of the competition after deeming it too "intimidating" on Wednesday, the remaining competitors couldn't stop talking about the redheaded wunderkind. PHOTO: Sebastien Toutant of Canada