Monster Energy are undoubtedly stoked to have convinced Swiss-residing Ruskie and halfpipe force-to-be-reckoned with Iouri ‘I Pod’ Podladtchikov to sign along the dotted line to join its snowboard team. As a five time X-Games gold medallist Iouri is determined to give Shaun White a run for his money at this year’s Winter X Games in Aspen as well as at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which conveniently for him, is going down in his motherland.

Iouri famously stomped a switch version of Shaun’s Double McTwist 1260 and after winning the Burton European Open last season will definitely be a contender at Sochi. Apparently I-Pod’s also got a few new tricks stashed away up his sleeve and we look forward to seeing what he’ll bring to the table in Aspen.

“I’m so excited to be a part such a progressive team and brand,” said I Pod.  “Monster has such high caliber amazing athletes on their roster across all of the sports they back and I’m stoked to join them.  I’m a huge fan of their skate team.”

For more info on the current team head to the Monster website.