One of the biggest names set to compete at the Winter Games has had to pull out because of injury.
Two-time Winter Olympic gold medallist Shaun White has pulled out of the men's snowboard halfpipe World Cup competition after injuring himself during training.
White crashed after he under-rotated while trying a double flip and was advised by doctors not to compete.
''Nothing is broken but the doctors advised me to take a few weeks off. I'm heading home to rest and prepare for more snowboarding next month.''
Winter Games freeski and snowboard manager Eric Zerrenner said while it was disappointing one of the biggest names in men's snowboarding would not be able to compete in the world cup event there was still a strong field of athletes.
''We were certainly looking forward to watching him compete.''
''Having an eight-time Winter X-Games superpipe champion on the start list brings an extra level of excitement to our event and reflects the calibre of this competition,'' Zerrenner said.
Snowboarders such as two-time world champion Scotty James, of Australia, and Sochi Winter Olympic silver and bronze medallists Ayumu Hirano and Taku Hiraoka, of Japan, would make sure the event was contested by a world-class field, he said.
The women's start list also boasted an elite line-up with Americans Chloe Kim and Kelly Clark, two of the most successful snowboarders of all time, competing.
With an X-Games medal, multiple world cup wins and a world championship title to her name, China's Xuetong Cai is also at the top of her game and will have her sights set on a podium finish.
