Winter Games lure snowboard star White

World class American snowboarder Shaun White will compete at the New Zealand Winter Games next month as part of his Olympic preparations.

Double Olympic snowboarding champion Shaun White of the United States will be the headline act at the New Zealand Winter Games in August.

White is among a host of leading international snow sport exponents from 25 nations to confirm their involvement at the 11-day Games in Central Otago starting on August 15.

The 26-year-old won Winter Olympic halfpipe gold medals at the 2006 Games in Turin and then again at Vancouver four years later.

Dubbed the Flying Tomato due to his long ginger hair, White established a worldwide following while winning the most medals (18) and gold medals (13) at the annual Winter X Games.