White also has longevity on his side, as his reign as king of the superpipe has been mostly uninterrupted since 2006.

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Burke is a four-time Winter X Games champion in skiing the superpipe, a version of a traditional halfpipe with walls over 5m (16ft) high.

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In 2009, Red Bull built a secret, one-of-a-kind superpipe in Silverton, Colorado so then-sponsored snowboarder Shaun White could prepare for the Vancouver Winter Olympics (White is no longer with Red Bull after leaving the brand last year).

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