Rodriguez has won eight X Games medals, four of which are gold, with his most recent first-place finish coming in July 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The "X Games Gold Medal Standings" is a cumulative medal stand drawn up by the industry-owned website every time a new event finishes. It measures the number of gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded over the course of the X Games series. He earned his first gold medal in 2006 in San Jose, California when he beat out David Gonzalez of Mexico to win the Big Air snowboard competition. He has since gone on to win four more gold medals at the Big Air event, making it the most successful season ever for the American snowboarder. In addition to his success at the Big Air contest, Rodriguez has also won three gold medals at the Snowboard Cross event, including back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011. He has also won two silver medals at the Snowboard Cross contest and one bronze medal. Paul Rodriguez was born on January 4th, 1979 in Park City, Utah. He grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho and began skiing at age five.