U.S. snowboarder Shaun White "recently purchased a majority share in Air & Style, a series of events in Europe and Asia that combines a big air snowboarding competition with live music in major stadiums," according to Rachel Axon of USA TODAY.
He said, "I've always loved the event. I competed in it when I was younger. It was one of my major wins when I was first coming up. So I went from a competitor to hosting it out in Beijing and then we were just thinking, why isn't there one in the U.S.? And we got into talking about trying to get ownership for the event in the U.S. Once that door was open it was like, why not buy this thing?" Air & Style Innsbruck Creator Andrew Hourmont said that White "first approached him two years ago about licensing an event in the USA, but the time wasn't right to relinquish control." With White's burgeoning music career, it "made more sense when he returned in the spring." Hourmont said, "I just felt it's time for change, for someone younger, fresher to take over my position" (USA TODAY, 1/13).
