Shaun White withdrew from the Olympic slopestyle event on Wednesday morning, saying the extreme nature of the course was a safety concern.
The Sochi slopestyle course has been called "sketchy," "dangerous," and "obnoxiously tall" by riders who've tested it out this week. A number of athletes have suffered injuries, including White, who jammed his wrist on Tuesday.
The main concern seems to be the size of the kickers (ramps) on the course. The final three jumps involve vertical drops of 101 feet, 92 feet and 85 feet, respectively, which is made worse by the height of the kickers.
These photos of the course give you an idea of why White was so spooked.
The final kicker:
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
A worker gives you a good idea of how tall the kickers are:
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
The Sochi slopestyle course is HUGE. #tothemoon #teamusa #landsonthemoon pic.twitter.com/qmiyXZXHte
- Nick Goepper (@NickGoepper) February 1, 2014
Not a bad view from the office today... at the stunning final kicker (jump) on Olympic Slopestyle course #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/AGx1Nc73au
- Nick Hope (@NickHopeBBC) February 3, 2014
Final Makeover for the Olympics in Sochi!! #Olympics #kicker #snowboard #freestyle #gophilo #golisa #goaustria pic.twitter.com/IAebRHpW4Y
- MOREBOARDS.com (@moreboards) February 3, 2014
Checking out the slopestyle course. That's no small kicker.... #Sochi #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/RH0KWSCHRZ
- Nina Zietman (@NinaZietman) February 3, 2014
Primer vistazo a la pista de slopestyle de los JJOO de Invierno de Sochi. ¿Podrán los riders con este kicker? pic.twitter.com/KEIk2H7NyM
- Mountlegend (@mountlegend) February 3, 2014