Sochi 2014: Shaun White fails at Winter Olympics – in pictures

Gone are his trademark long ginger locks, but Shaun White is still hoping to be the king of the slopes. The snowboarder is looking to become the first US male to win three straight golds at the Winter Olympics, and having already pulled out of the inaugural snowboard slopestyle event, his one and only chance is in the snowboard halfpipe event. Qualification started today Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

White gets airborne during qualification. Rumours are he'll be looking to land the first ever competitive triple-cork in the final – if he makes it that far Photograph: Jens Buettner/EPA

The halfpipe slopes downhill allowing White to build up momentum and aim for some huge jumps Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

But even the master has a duff landing once in a while Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

His rivals, including Poland's Michal Ligocki (pictured), are hitting the deck pretty hard as well Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

White's compatriots and big rivals are all in action too, including Greg Bretz, Taylor Gold, and X-Games gold medallist Danny Davis (pictured) Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Jan Kralj of Slovenia kicks up some snow during his run Photograph: Jens Buettner/EPA

Dominic Harington of Great Britain got a face full of snow on his run Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Ayumu Nedefuji of Japan goes for a backside grab Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

If you're wondering how they keep the course pristine, here's how: by pumping homemade snow onto it Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Looks like quite an operation Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

White produced a stunning first-run score of 95.75 to reach the final Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

That made him far and away the best qualifier, with Japan's Taku Hiraoka (92.25) and American Danny Davis (92.00) also making the cut Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Marshalls prepare the halfpipe for the showdown … we'll add more pics to this gallery when the final starts Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

During the final, White starts with a huge jump (5.5m high) ... Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

But then fails to cleanly land a switch double 1440 – the first time he's failed to land a jump in his Olympic history ... Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

... before slamming another jump onto the lip of the halfpipe. It's a terrible run. He's scored 35 points and is in 11th place after the first of his two runs. Who'd have thunk it? Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

White looks demoralised – worse still his main rival, the Swiss Iouri Podlatchikov, pulls out a huge run and scores 94.75 Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

It all boils down to White's second run ... nervous times Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

White starts big but once again his run is flawed and he wrestles to land some increasingly desperate jumps ... Photograph: DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS

he throws his arms into the air in what looks like a half-baked attempt to persuade the judges that is was good ... Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

But the verdict is in - he's only fourth! Podladtchikov is the winner, after years in White's shadow. The two embrace after a bruising contest which has ended with an unexpected champion Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images