For the first time, Shaun White’s Snow League is headed to the Southern Hemisphere.
To kick off its second season, the Snow League will be taking the competition to New Zealand for its World Challenge Event, taking place at Cardrona Alpine Resort on September 18-20. The Snow League was founded in 2024 by Shaun White to give skiers and snowboarders their own professional league. In Snow League competition, athletes compete individually and accumulate points throughout the season. But, unlike traditional Snow League events, the New Zealand World Challenger will feature a unique format.
The World Challenge will see 16 invited athletes divided into four regional teams, with individual scores counted towards their team score. Each of the four regional teams will be represented by one male and one female snowboarder, alongside one male and one female freeskier. The four regional teams will represent North America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific, with the fourth team, called the Challengers, representing emerging talent from multiple regions. It will be a halfpipe-only event, and the results will not affect the league’s individual regular season standings.
While Cardrona Alpine Resort has hosted various freestyle competitions such as International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) World Cups, the World Challenger will be its first time hosting a Snow League event.
“I am excited that New Zealand will host the inaugural Snow League World Challenge at Cardrona. What a treat for Kiwis to see the world’s top snow sport athletes in action,” New Zealand’s Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said in the announcement.
The event will be supported by the New Zealand Government’s Events Attraction Package, which helps draw audiences for events like sports, music festivals and concerts, and other cultural events. The league will receive financial backing from the Events Attraction Package.
Following the New Zealand event, the Snow League will return to its traditional format for its second event at Aspen Snowmass in Colorado. The league will also make a stop in Park City, Utah, on January 21-23, 2027. It will be the Snow League’s first time hosting an event in Utah.
“We’re proud to add Park City Mountain to the calendar, bringing The Snow League to one of the most iconic winter sports destinations in the world,” Snow League CEO Omer Atesmen said.
Season 2 will make its final stop in Laax, Switzerland, on March 11-13, where it will crown its four champions of men’s and women’s freeskiing and snowboarding.
“Season One set the foundation,” Shaun White said in his season two announcement. “With Season Two, we’re expanding and creating new ways for athletes to compete and for fans to engage. From launching The Snow League World Challenge to returning to some of the most iconic venues in the sport, fans should be really excited for what’s in store for Season Two.”
In season one, the Snow League featured three Olympic gold medalists: Eileen Gu, Yuto Totsuka, and Choi Ga-on. Both Gu and Totsuka would go on to become Snow League champions.
With season two on the horizon, including two new venues, Shaun White and the Snow League are making big changes for professional skiing and snowboarding.
