Kevin Rolland hopes to add another medal to his
collection this weekend at X Games. Photo ESPN.

Rolland's skill in the pipe is leading the pack.
Photo ESPN.

Xavier Bertoni and Kevin Rolland make up the
FollowUs.TV duo. Photo Orage.French halfpipe skier Kevin Rolland, 22, heads into Winter X Games this weekend looking to capture his 5th straight gold medal. Since 2010 Rolland has won twice in Aspen and twice at Tignes, France at Winter X Europe.

Confident yet modest, Rolland acknowledges the challenge remains daunting.

"It’s very stressful! I have won 4 gold medals in a row and I’m really nervous because everybody is waiting for me." Rolland said. "But I think I get to be nervous before a big competition. It helps me keep my head on my shoulders."

Rolland is the leader of a pack of French freeskiers, including Xavier Bertoni, Thomas Krief, and Benoit Valentin that have become top contenders on the international circuit. The group makes up what's known as The Freeski Project - a self-funded training troupe that trains, travels and succeeds together.

"We have a good chance to move forward together," he said. “We also have a really good coach named Greg Gilbert and we’ve been together now 5 years."

Moving forward means moving toward the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia where freeski halfpipe will debut.

"Yeah, yeah for sure, the Olympics is the big goal after X Games. I want to give everything I have to prep for that (Olympic) gold medal."

Tragically missing from that journey is friend and fellow 4-time X Games gold medalist, Sarah Burke, who died last week from injuries sustained in a halfpipe crash.

"I’m really, really sad and shocked because I knew Sarah. She was with (common sponsor) Monster and we recently stayed in the same house…she was an inspiration.”

Despite the impact of Burke's death, Rolland downplays criticisms of the sport's danger.

"I think it’s not about the sport, it’s about an accident. You can have an accident by car or you can have an accident when you’re skiing. We try not to get hurt but sometimes something like that can happen - that’s life."

Winter X Europe 2011

Winter X Games 15 (2011)