Soaring among the stars

"I am kind of new to the competition and I am kind of a quiet person at first. But you don't really have to be a loud guy to compete. You can do whatever you want and just try to have fun," said the Norwegian, adding he might add bungy jump and skydiving to his aerial repertoire when he visits New Zealand next summer.

"If you like the sport you just get out and try, learn your tricks. You get your friends together and you start pushing each other. That's what's important - you need to have someone to go snowboarding with, to share the fun."

As a boarder whose special talent is "setting the bar for tricks," Kleveland became the youngest competitor to execute a triple cork at the age of 13. Three years later he became the youngest member of the exclusive quad cork club, with Billy Morgan and Max Parrot.

"But I don't really think about it (my age) much. I just enjoy the sport.

"My family doesn't talk about it, either," he said.

Introduced to the Olympics at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan, snowboarding will feature five disciplines - including giant slalom, slope style and big air - at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

"I really want to go to the Olympics. I am trying very hard this season to get a spot there. For sure, it will be dream come true if I can go there," said Kleveland. "I'm trying both slope and big air."

tangyue@chinadaily.com.cn