Olympian Delights Crowd by Snowboarding and Throwing Tricks in Central Park Amid Blizzard

The monstrous winter storm that passed through the U.S. this weekend buried towns, left millions without power, snarled roadways, and grounded flights. It’s proven, as expected, to make getting around complicated.

But fresh powder in the lowlands was also a cause for celebration among snow fans, including the five-time Olympian and snowboarder Shaun White. 

In a video shared by NBC, White was spotted on Sunday throwing down in New York City’s Central Park as a crowd of fans looked on. 

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White couldn’t have chosen a better time for some metropolitan snowboarding. That day, Central Park smashed the January 25 snowfall record, with 11.4 inches of snow piling up, CBS News reported. By the end of the storm, Manhattan had tallied almost 15 inches.

A few more flakes are expected today, according to the National Weather Service. Then, forecasters expect a cold front to settle over the city, with overnight temperatures plunging into the single digits by Wednesday. 

That means, of course, that White hasn’t been the only one taking advantage of the snow, which should stick around through at least the end of the week. 

For instance, one local reporter, Kala Rama of PIX11, appeared for a news segment dressed in head-to-toe winter gear, including goggles and skis.

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Many local kids will have to wait until Monday afternoon to hit the local slopes, though—thanks to technology, traditional snow days may slowly be becoming a thing of the past. 

Mayor Mamdani recently announced that 400,000 parents, teachers, and educators had logged in on Monday for a day of remote learning. Others, including high schoolers, still had the day off.

While White’s well beyond his high school years, he is, presumably, plenty busy this time of year. After claiming three Olympic gold medals in his preferred discipline, halfpipe, he’s launched the Snow League, a new freeskiing and snowboarding competition circuit. That event next convenes in Aspen, Colorado, between February 27 and February 28.

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