Five To Watch

We'll all be expecting the likes of Shaun White, Kelly Clark and Kevin Rolland to dominate their respective events. However, this is the Winter X-Games and shocks often happen. So here's the lowdown on our favourite outsiders...

Sammy Carlson

We've all known for sometime that Sammy Carlson has talent by the bucket load. That said, he just fell short in the Big Air competition last year despite emerging victorious in Ski Slopestyle Final. This year, expect him to challenge favourites Bobby Brown and Elias Ambuhl for the Big Air crown as well as defend his Slopestyle title.

Ashley Battersby

Ashley Battersby certainly has a point to prove and will be looking to build on her fourth-placed finish in last year's Women's Ski Slopestyle event. The Bolle pro claimed some important victories throughout the entire 2011 season, including a Slopestyle win at Breckenridge in the Winter Dew Tour. Battersby was desperately unlucky to miss out on the podium last year, and will be gunning for revenge.

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Mark McMorris

The Canadian stunned audiences last year by walking away with a silver medal in the Men's Snowboard Slopestyle event at the tender age of seventeen. A year on from his debut, and McMorris is now an established pro. The Oakley rider walked away with the O'Neill Evolution Big Air gold earlier this month and is one of the most in-form snowboarders on the planet. McMorris could well go one better than last year.

Seth Wescott

Regarded by many as the best Snowboard X rider ever, Wescott will be looking to end his Winter X-Games hoodoo with victory this year. His numerous victories in top competitions including two Winter Olympics gold medals may well be a comfort to the Bolle rider, but he's still missing that Winter X-Games title to complete the collection. Expect him to be a serious contender.

Cheryl Maas

Underdog debutant Enni Rukajarvi snatched the gold in 2011's Women's Snowboard Slopestyle to complete one of the biggest shock victories in snowboard history. This shock means Cheryl Maas will definitely fancy her chances this year. Maas has been around a while now, and has been a regular at the Winter X-Games since her 2002 debut. The Dutch pro endured a difficult Winter X-Games last year but her experience could make all the difference this year.