The Snow League Drops Inaugural Halfpipe Ski Lineup for Winter 25/26

All Images: The Snow League

Shaun White’s brand new addition to the freeski and snowboard world is dropping this winter with the inaugural season of The Snow League. It’s the world’s first professional snowboarding and freeskiing halfpipe league, offering these athletes a more stable competition and career structure.

After launching last March in Aspen, CO, with a snowboard halfpipe event, the League is officially throwing freeskiing into the mix with a field of halfpipe heavy-hitters, including 12 Olympians holding 13 medals.

Shaun White at the Snow League — *Shaun White at the Inaugural Snow League Halfpipe Comp at Buttermilk in March 2025*

The introductory halfpipe event is set to go down on December 6 at Yunding Snow Park in China, famously the venue for the 2022 Beijing Olympic halfpipe. Unlike the traditional judge-panel competition format you’re familiar with at the X Games, the Snow League pits athletes against each other in a bracket system—think March Madness, but for halfpipe skiing.

Athletes are seeded based on their global ranking, meaning there’s real potential for major upsets in the opening round. Each matchup is decided in a best-of-three format: the first athlete to claim two runs advances to the semifinals and eventually the finals. The skier who rises to the top of the bracket will walk away with a big share of the prize purse and valuable points toward the Snow League World Championship title. But there’s a twist freeskiing has never seen before.

Athletes are required to drop into the pipe from opposite sides on their first two runs. This rule ensures a completely level playing field and forces competitors to perfect tricks on every part of the pipe—pushing progression in halfpipe skiing even further.

The Athletes:

Women: Eileen Gu (CHN), Rachael Karker (CAN), Cassie Sharpe (CAN), Zoe Atkin (GBR), Hanna Faulhaber (USA), Amy Fraser (CAN), Svea Irving (USA), Fanghui Li (CHN)

Men: Nick Goepper (USA), Gus Kenworthy (GBR), David Wise (USA), Luke Harrold (NZL), Hunter Hess (USA), Birk Irving (USA), Brendan Mackay (CAN), Fin Melville-Ives (NZL)

For a league so young, the Snow League isn’t messing around with its prize purse. A total of $580,000 is up for grabs in Season 2, with $85,000 allocated for the men’s and women’s podiums at each stop. Winners will take home $50,000, runners-up $20,000, third place $10,000, and fourth place $5,000. At the conclusion of the season, the overall champions will earn an additional $80,000.

The Snow League was developed with athletes in mind, aiming to push progression in freeskiing by providing a more consistent schedule and greater stability in competition. Every athlete who competes at each stop will also receive a $5,000 appearance fee, regardless of performance.

By combining substantial payouts with an athlete-focused structure, the Snow League is setting a new standard in freeskiing competition and promises to fuel fierce battles across the entire season.