The question remains whether the world is ready for the future of professional snowboarding, Seb Toutant. Since blasting onto the scene at the 2006 Empire Shakedown at St. Saveur just outside of his native Montreal, “Toots” has had the eyes of the global industry on him. But he's never said a word of his plans. He has gone the way of the Karate Kid - training, pushing himself, and preparing for the big days ahead.

Following his first big win at Shakedown, the world saw clearly that this kid is far from a one-hit-wonder. In various contests and video parts, Seb unleashed some of the most savage slopestyle tricks ever witnessed, the type that only a small handful of other riders in the world have dared to attempt.

Yet, for Seb, aka “Toots”, career notoriety seems a distant step behind mutant-level talent. Why so? Is it a French Canadian thing? Did he blow it by not moving to Mammoth or Breckenridge years ago? Or are we simply ageists, struggling to understand an 18 year old capable of such innovation? Or not living in Mammoth, Park City, or Whistler? How does a guy with this kind of talent and resume not walk around with a sharpie marker taped to his hand?

Most likely it’s Seb’s low-key and appreciative personality.  In a universe marred by the way-too-cool, Seb is one of the nicest guys in the game. He lets his riding do the talking, and spends most of his time with a broad smile on his face. His change-up is a game face, reserved for those moments when jedi-level focus is all that will suffice. After all, what other face can you make in the midst of a triple-cork 1440? And how do you keep from celebrating afterward?

None of this is to say that things have come easily for the young man from Montreal. Seb started off both the 2009 and 2010 seasons by missing the Winter X Games in Aspen (once named only as an alternate, and once with a blown ankle). So when he finally strapped in atop the start gate in 2011, he was a young man on a mission. Days later, Seb would be crowned the Slopestyle Champ, and Big Air Runner-Up, and sport a perma-grin for weeks after.

Say what you will about contest snowboarding. The Winter X-Games, which blasts into millions of homes each year, remains the pinnacle of annual exposure-generating competitions on an overall contest circuit that touches down on four continents. It’s a great place to leave your mark.

Today, Seb’s name grows with each passing day. Supportive family, sponsors, media and fans fuel a fire which is sure to be roaring by 2014, when Seb will have the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities on an even larger stage -- the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The billions of viewers that will tune-in to watch Seb and his friends and peers battle in that park are likely to see Seb’s game face, but we are betting they’ll also see that very broad smile as well.