January 16, 2014 - 11:20 AM
MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. - Shaun White took a face-first fall during his first run in an Olympic slopestyle qualifier Thursday and rode gingerly off the mountain.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist in halfpipe was trying a double flip on the second big jump when he crashed. He stayed on the ground for a minute or two and was attended to by medical staff before he made his way down the mountain under his own power.
There was no immediate report on his condition or whether he would try his second run.
White finished third last month at a qualifier in Copper Mountain and is in good position to make the U.S. Olympic slopestyle team but still needs a high finish in one of three events this weekend to secure it.
He's also supposed to compete in three halfpipe events.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014