SNOWBOARDER Shaun White: The 28-year-old two-time Olympic medallist’s future is so bright, he’s gotta wear shades, which he designed himself.

You’ve designed a new range of glasses for Oakley – the Enduro line – which is inspired by the ’60s. What is it about that era that caught your attention?

What’s not to like? There’s something so fascinating about the music at that time and what was going on in the world.

People really let their feelings and styles hang out; they weren’t being conservative.

Does fashion play a big part in your life?

Yeah, it definitely represents who I am.

What car you drive, what music you listen to and what you wear says a lot about you.

I think it’s important to find your own style in your own way. I’ve definitely gone through phases of trying to find my own style.

Well, you’ve cut off your long, curly hair [White was known as ‘the flying tomato’ for his shock of red hair]. Was it liberating to get rid of something people always associates with you?

I got to the point where I loved my hair – it was cool, I didn’t mind the look I had going – but I was ready for a change, and I had the idea to donate my hair to Locks of Love [a US charity that uses donated hair to make wigs for ill children].

I think part of the reason, too, was that people were saying that I couldn’t [cut it].

It was becoming this iconic thing that represented me, and I felt I’m much more than my look.

But I did feel liberated; I had a whole new style and take on things.

I guess it was poor timing to cut my hair off now I’m in a band [Bad Things].

But I think it was cool; it made people listen to the music we were making before realising I was in the group.

media_camera Snowboarder Shaun. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

For sure – I saw Bad Things on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and it took me a while to recognise you. It must be nice not being front and centre for once.

Of course, and we’re lucky we have a lead singer [Davis LeDuke] who’s a very good frontman.

He draws a lot of the attention, which is great.

I’ve never really been part of a collaborative thing.

I remember, at our first show, sitting there doing what I do before a snowboard contest – in my head I’m like, “OK, I’ve gotta do this.” I said it out loud and the guys just looked at me and laughed.

They were like, “No, we’ve gotta do this.” It’s definitely a different scenario for me and rewarding on another level.

Even when people do know I’m in the band, it’s like every time you step out on the stage, it’s in front of people you need to win over.

That becomes a new challenge, but I love it.

media_camera Shaun White arrives at the Oakley Future Sport Project event in Sydney last month. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

When you first went into music, was it hard to prove to people that you were more than a snowboarder?

I guess it’s like anything – there’s always a strange initial reaction.

If you become well known for one thing, then people see you do something else, they go, “I’m not OK with this; this person needs to do this because that’s how I see them.” But what’s great about my situation, over time those things disappear and you become known for doing all these different things.

They’re all natural transitions.

I’ve always skated; I won my first guitar at an X Games contest, so that’s how I got into playing music.

But there are some scenarios where you see hesitation from some people.

You’re in the spotlight for many reasons: your snowboarding, your skateboarding, the band, the paparazzi shots taken of you on that day. How do you deal with the attention that comes with fame?

It’s all part of the chorus; it is what it is.

I mean, the one day you don’t fix your hair and you go to the grocery store to buy cereal, that’s when they photograph you.

It’s part of the deal.

The only times when it’s difficult is the simple times, like when I’m going out to dinner with my family, to a friend’s birthday party or to an amusement park or the movies, or something like that – you know, when you’re not ready to be approached.

Most of the time it gives you an appreciation for your fans.

People come up to me all the time and thank me for what I’ve done in the sport.

If you’re having a bad day and somebody comes up like, “You’re just great,” I don’t know… there are so many good things that go with it that, in my experience, outweigh the ‘bad things’.

That was a pun [laughs].

* The Shaun White Signature Series Oakley Enduro Collection is available in stores and at au.oakley.com

Follow Mel Evans on Twitter @melevans

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