Kotsenburg doesn't do the biggest, most dangerous tricks. In fact, the "triple-cork" trick that McMorris did was arguably more difficult than anything Kotsenburg did in the slopestyle finals.
He relies on style more than anything else, and seems to view snowboarding as a leisure activity more than a job. He told Yahoo's Jeff Passan after the qualifying round, "I'd rather not conform to making the judges happy."
That's a radical statement for a sport where judging is everything. But it seems like Kotsenburg is more amused by success than addicted to it.
Here's what he tweeted after the semifinals:
Whoa how random is this I made finals at the Olympics!!!
- sage kotsenburg (@sagekotsenburg) February 8, 2014
"I'm pretty surprised I won, honestly," he said afterward.
He's just out here having a good time. He doesn't take anything too seriously. If you had to describe him in a word, it'd be "chill."
When asked about the judging controversies that plagued the competition earlier this week, he said simply, "Sometimes they're super down for the stuff and sometimes there not."
He's the best:
#OlympicOnionRings pic.twitter.com/l2CcKePv0a
- sage kotsenburg (@sagekotsenburg) February 7, 2014
Trying to blend in over here pic.twitter.com/sB8oQeM346
- sage kotsenburg (@sagekotsenburg) February 7, 2014
You can't mess with me and @aimee_fuller 's hair! Hahaha #GreasyAsBacon #HersIsReallySoft pic.twitter.com/v8cxtv8ay8
- sage kotsenburg (@sagekotsenburg) February 5, 2014
#SochiSelfie #SelfieOlympics pic.twitter.com/Ca5KfoN0zU
- sage kotsenburg (@sagekotsenburg) February 2, 2014