Following a dramatic Olympic showcase in Italy, 32 of the world’s best halfpipe snowboarders return to Buttermilk this weekend to continue the battle for the inaugural Snow League title
ASPEN, CO – (February 26) – A new chapter of halfpipe progression will be on full display at Buttermilk at Aspen Snowmass as Season One of The Snow League returns for Event Three. Fresh off elevating the sport on the Olympic stage in Italy, the world’s best snowboarders are set to deliver another showcase of world-class riding and head-to-head competition in pursuit of the first-ever Snow League World Champion title.
“Snowboarding continues to push boundaries on the world stage,” said Shaun White, founder of The Snow League. “What we saw in Italy was historic, not just in terms of difficulty, but in the way these athletes inspire the world. Bringing that energy back to Aspen is what Event Three at Aspen Snowmass will be all about.”
Aspen will welcome a field of 32 of the world’s best halfpipe snowboarders (12 women and 20 men) for two full days of competition.
The elevated Snow League experience will also feature live musical performances, including a Finals Day halftime set by NEIL FRANCES Presents CLUB NF, followed by three-time Grammy Award–winning music icon Wyclef Jean, who will cap off the competition weekend with a headline performance.
Leading the men’s field is 2026 Olympic gold medalist and current Snow League World Championship leader Yuto Totsuka (JPN), who demonstrated the sport’s continued progression by landing back-to-back triple cork 1440s on his way to Olympic gold. Women’s Olympic gold medalist Gaon Choi (KOR), currently third in the Snow League standings, will also be in Aspen and is available for media opportunities, though she will not compete as she continues her recovery following her fall and remarkable comeback victory in Italy.
The women’s Snow League field is headlined by Snow League World Championship standings leader Sena Tomita (JPN), who returns to defend her top ranking alongside a stacked lineup that includes Olympic bronze medalist Mitsuki Ono (JPN), currently second-ranked, and fifth-ranked Maddie Mastro (USA), all fresh off Olympic appearances.
On the men’s side, Totsuka will face off against Ayumu Hirano (JPN), the Beijing 2022 Olympic champion and Event Two winner in China, currently second in the standings. Also in contention are current third-place ranked Ruka Hirano (JPN) and Olympic bronze medalist Ryusei Yamada (JPN) currently fourth in the standings, setting the stage for another showcase of next-level halfpipe riding.
Additional returning Olympians include current fifth-place ranked Alessandro Barbieri (USA) and seventh-place, Chaeun Lee (KOR), who made history in Italy by landing the world’s first triple cork 1620 in competition, as well as current ninth-ranked Cam Melville Ives (NZL) with his own back-to-back triple corks.
Following the recent conclusion of the Olympic halfpipe competition, The Snow League freeski field is prioritizing recovery as they look toward the season finale in LAAX, Switzerland. However, we are excited to host 2026 Olympic gold medalist Alex Ferreira (USA), along with Snow League athletes Nick Goepper (USA) and Gus Kenworthy (GBR), who will be on-site in Aspen for media opportunities.
Competition Gets Underway with Qualifying
Following the second and final day of practice, all 32 snowboarders have been seeded into four heats for Qualifying Day on Friday, February 27. Heats were determined based on Snow League World Championship standings and revealed today during The Draw event at the Viceroy Snowmass, benefiting the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club snowboard program.
Friday’s Qualifying Day will see each athlete take two runs, with the highest score counting. The top finisher from each heat will automatically advance to Finals Day on Saturday, February 28, while the second- and third-place finishers will move into the Last Chance Qualifier to compete for the remaining spots.
A total of 16 athletes (eight women and eight men) will advance to the Quarterfinal, where the exciting head-to-head competition format takes center stage.
Women’s Snowboard Heats
Men’s Snowboard Heats
Athlete-First Prize Purse
The total prize purse for Season One of The Snow League is $2.2 million USD, with equal prize money awarded to women and men. At Event Three at Aspen Snowmass, $350,000 will be up for grabs among the snowboard field, including a $5,000 appearance fee for every competitor.
Each gender competes for a $95,000 event purse, with $50,000 awarded to first place, $20,000 to second, and $10,000 to third. Prize money extends to all finalists, with fourth place earning $5,000 and the remaining four finalists receiving $2,500 each. This payout structure applies across all four events in Season One.
This athlete-first model underscores The Snow League’s commitment to setting a new standard in professional winter sports—ensuring equitable compensation and meaningful financial support for athletes across all disciplines.
How to Watch The Snow League
The Snow League will be available for viewing in more than 175 countries worldwide, through an unprecedented lineup of television, streaming, and digital media partners spanning six continents, inviting fans everywhere to experience the action live from Buttermilk at Aspen Snowmass.
NBC and Peacock will present coverage of The Snow League in the United States. Peacock will host live streaming of snowboarding finals beginning at 11:30 a.m E.T. on February 28. NBC will air an Encore Presentation featuring the best of the Finals Day action on March 1 from noon to 1 p.m. ET.
Viewers in Canada can watch live streaming of the snowboarding finals on CBCSports.ca, Gem, and Game+ television network, which will also air a recap show.
European viewers can watch live streaming of snowboarding finals on HBO Max and Discovery+, with recap shows on Eurosport 1 on Monday, March 16 at 9 p.m. CET and Eurosport 2 on Tuesday, March 17 at 10 p.m. CET.
The complete global listings are available at this link.
About The Snow League
Launched in June 2024, The Snow League is the first professional winter sports league dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing. Founded by three-time Olympic gold medalist and entrepreneur Shaun White, Season One features a four-event global format boasting a $2.2 million season purse, with athletes competing to earn points to determine the overall champions. The season kicked off at Buttermilk in Aspen Snowmass (March 7–8, 2025), then headed to Yunding Snow Park, China (Dec. 4–6, 2025), where 16 of the world’s top freeskiers joined the roster at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games venue. The League returns to Aspen (Feb. 27–28, 2026) and concludes at LAAX, Switzerland (March 19–21, 2026), where the first-ever Snow League World Champions will be crowned.
Follow The Snow League on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
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