A relative unknown until 2009, Xavier Bertoni made his mark on the superpipe world in a big way after winning the gold medal at the X Games and ending Tanner Hall’s three-year winning streak.

Bertoni began skiing at the age of three and started out as an alpine skier. He made the decision to switch to freestyle and focus on halfpipe, and it’s paid off in a big way. He made his mark internationally with a win at the France Championship in 2006, the New Zealand Open in 2007 and the World Cup in 2009.

His ability to boost huge, technical tricks helped him take the U.S. by storm as well. After winning gold at the X Games in 2009 he immediately signed with Orage. In 2010, Bertoni took bronze at the Aspen X Games and silver at X Games Europe and finished third overall on the Winter Dew Tour. He trains and travels with best friend and fellow competitor Kevin Rolland.