Benjamin Karl (AUT)

Benjamin started snowboarding at the age of 15 and five years later, in 2005, he was junior world champion. That same year also saw him crowned Austrian Champion and overall winner of the Europacup. His successes continued as he became World Cup overall winner in both 2007 and 2008.

Benjamin`s triumph in 2008 was all the more remarkable because he had to miss the last four events of the season due to a broken leg. But he still emerged victorious finishing 190 points ahead of his closest rival. His next greatest challenge is winning gold at the next Winter Olympics and defending his world championship title. Nothing, it seems, not even broken bones, can stop this guy.