{"id":2089380,"date":"2026-08-12T09:10:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T06:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2089380"},"modified":"2026-08-12T09:10:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T06:10:50","slug":"hunter-hess-headlines-team-north-america-for-inaugural-snow-league-world-challenge-in-new-zealand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2089380","title":{"rendered":"Hunter Hess Headlines Team North America for Inaugural Snow League World Challenge in New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_406140\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-406140\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-406140 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGrAQMAAABqgLQIAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADhJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T+1tB6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADgDIcbAAEnbF1FAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"hunter hess\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"427\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-406140\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"hunter hess\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-406140\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Team USA skier Hunter Hess will represent Team America. | Image: Visit Bend Oregon Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_1 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Hunter Hess will headline Team North America at the inaugural Snow League World Challenge, bringing an elite field of snowboard and freeski halfpipe athletes to Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand on September 19.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The event will feature 16 athletes divided among four teams: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Challengers, with each team consisting of one men\u2019s and women\u2019s snowboarder and one men\u2019s and women\u2019s freeski athlete.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/shaun-white-is-starting-a-new-halfpipe-league\/\"><em>Shaun White is Starting a New Halpipe League: The Snow League<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Hess will be joined on Team North America by fellow Americans Jake Pates in men\u2019s snowboard, while Canada\u2019s Brooke D\u2019Hondt and Amy Fraser will represent the team in women\u2019s snowboard and freeski, respectively.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The international field includes some of the biggest names in halfpipe competition, including Estonian freeski star Kelly Sildaru, Spanish snowboarder Queralt Castellet, Finnish freeski athlete Jon Sallinen, and New Zealand snowboarders Cam Melville Ives and Fin Melville Ives<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-15\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<div class=\"sb-trending-widget\">\n<div class=\"sb-trending-header\">\n            <span class=\"sb-trending-icon\">\ud83d\udd25<\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"sb-trending-label\">Trending on SnowBrains<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<ol class=\"sb-trending-list\">\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/36-people-rescued-from-solden-austria\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"36 People Including Children in Prams Rescued in the S\u00f6lden\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_4835.webp?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_4835.webp?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"36 People Including Children in Prams Rescued in the S\u00f6lden\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">36 People Including Children in Prams Rescued in the S\u00f6lden<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/burning-mans-dry-ski-slope-organizers-launch-urgent-25000-fundraiser-to-return-in-2026\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Organizers fundraising to bring dry slope back to Burning Man\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CUSTVplw.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CUSTVplw.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Organizers fundraising to bring dry slope back to Burning Man\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Organizers fundraising to bring dry slope back to Burning Man<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/cape-smokey-expansion\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Cape Smokey Begins Major Expansion to Become One of Atlantic Canada\u2019s Biggest Ski Areas\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Cape-Smokey-Igonish-Nova-Scotia-Image-Facebook.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Cape-Smokey-Igonish-Nova-Scotia-Image-Facebook.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Cape Smokey Begins Major Expansion to Become One of Atlantic Canada\u2019s Biggest Ski Areas\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Cape Smokey Begins Major Expansion to Become One of Atlantic Canada\u2019s Biggest Ski Areas<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/hunter-hess-headlines-team-north-america-for-inaugural-snow-league-world-challenge-in-new-zealand\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Hunter Hess represents America at Snow League World Challenge\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hunter-hess.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Hunter Hess represents America at Snow League World Challenge\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Hunter Hess represents America at Snow League World Challenge<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/ohau-snowfields-new-zealand-report-special-on-snow-spackle\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Ohau Snowfields, New Zealand, Report: Special On Snow Spackle\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_0169-e1786453506126.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_0169-e1786453506126.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ohau Snowfields, New Zealand, Report: Special On Snow Spackle\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Ohau Snowfields, New Zealand, Report: Special On Snow Spackle<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<p>    .sb-trending-widget {<br \/>\n        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color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n        font-weight: 700;<br \/>\n        white-space: nowrap;<br \/>\n        display: inline;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-link:hover .sb-trending-title {<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-link:active .sb-trending-title {<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n    }<\/p><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97488\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97488\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-97488 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFoAQMAAAD9\/NgSAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADJJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T+3sARQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN3HoAAEwzlS7AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/kellygold.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/kellygold.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/kellygold.jpg?resize=600%2C338&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/kellygold.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/kellygold.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/kellygold.jpg?resize=700%2C394&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/kellygold.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"360\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-97488\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/kellygold.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97488\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Estonias Kelly Sildaru winning Gold at XGAMES Norway. | Image: ESPN\/ XGames<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>A New Team Competition<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The Snow League World Challenge will introduce a team-based format separate from the league\u2019s individual season standings. <\/strong>The four teams will compete across men\u2019s and women\u2019s snowboard and freeski in a head-to-head format. Semifinal rounds will feature a 720-degree spin cap, before athletes have full progression available in the finals. Team points accumulated throughout the competition will determine the inaugural World Challenge champion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The competition is part of The Snow League\u2019s preseason and will take place during a larger week of events across Queenstown, W\u0101naka and Cardrona.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Competition begins Thursday, September 17, with the Teamwork Challenge presented by Ares at Treble Cone in W\u0101naka.<\/strong> Athletes will create their own mountain footage before presenting their entries at a draw ceremony at Rippon Vineyard.<\/p>\n<p><strong>On Friday, September 18, Cardrona will host open halfpipe practice from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by a Mini-Pipe Challenge featuring Shaun White, Snow League athletes and local young skiers and snowboarders.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The main event takes place Saturday, September 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. local time at Cardrona\u2019s 22-foot halfpipe.<\/strong> An awards ceremony and apr\u00e8s event will follow at the resort\u2019s Base Area Plaza.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_396512\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-396512\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-396512 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAJyAQMAAABuWeNyAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAEhJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20ND6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAXgzGEgABAUJdGgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"The Snow League Shaun White\" width=\"640\" height=\"626\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-10.10.31-AM.jpg?resize=640%2C626&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-10.10.31-AM.jpg?w=1210&amp;ssl=1 1210w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-10.10.31-AM.jpg?resize=300%2C294&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-10.10.31-AM.jpg?resize=1200%2C1174&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-10.10.31-AM.jpg?resize=768%2C751&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-10.10.31-AM.jpg?resize=600%2C587&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"626\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-396512\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-10.10.31-AM.jpg?resize=640%2C626&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"The Snow League Shaun White\" width=\"640\" height=\"626\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-396512\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shaun White (left) looks up at the halfpipe where Snow League athletes put their skills on display. | Image: The Snow League Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_2 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<h3>Full Athlete Field<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Team North America<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Women\u2019s Snowboard: Brooke D\u2019Hondt (CAN)<\/li>\n<li>Men\u2019s Snowboard: Jake Pates (USA)<\/li>\n<li>Women\u2019s Freeski: Amy Fraser (CAN)<\/li>\n<li>Men\u2019s Freeski: Hunter Hess (USA)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Team Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Women\u2019s Snowboard: Queralt Castellet (ESP)<\/li>\n<li>Men\u2019s Snowboard: Jonas Hasler (SUI)<\/li>\n<li>Women\u2019s Freeski: Kelly Sildaru (EST)<\/li>\n<li>Men\u2019s Freeski: Jon Sallinen (FIN)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Team Asia-Pacific<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Women\u2019s Snowboard: Gaon Choi (KOR)<\/li>\n<li>Men\u2019s Snowboard: Cam Melville Ives (NZL)<\/li>\n<li>Women\u2019s Freeski: Indra Brown (AUS)<\/li>\n<li>Men\u2019s Freeski: Luke Harrold (NZL)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Team Challengers<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Women\u2019s Snowboard: Sara Shimizu (JPN)<\/li>\n<li>Men\u2019s Snowboard: Ryusei Yamada (JPN)<\/li>\n<li>Women\u2019s Freeski: Mischa Thomas (NZL)<\/li>\n<li>Men\u2019s Freeski: Fin Melville Ives (NZL)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Watch the World Challenge<\/h3>\n<p><strong>The Snow League World Challenge will stream live on The Snow League\u2019s YouTube channel on Friday, September 18, at 5:30 p.m. ET, corresponding to Saturday morning in New Zealand.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The event will serve as the preseason competition ahead of The Snow League\u2019s second regular season.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The regular season will begin at Buttermilk at Aspen Snowmass from January 7-9, 2027, before moving to Park City Mountain from January 21-23 and concluding at Laax, Switzerland, from March 11-13.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Snow League was founded by three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White and held its inaugural season in 2026. The league\u2019s first champions were snowboarders Sena Tomita and Yuto Totsuka, and freeskiers Eileen Gu and Luke Harrold.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_369359\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-369359\" style=\"width: 1047px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-369359 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAKPAQMAAADHVem1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAEpJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4MM8\/AAGiXFZsAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"655\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0748-min.jpeg?resize=640%2C655&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0748-min.jpeg?w=1047&amp;ssl=1 1047w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0748-min.jpeg?resize=293%2C300&amp;ssl=1 293w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0748-min.jpeg?resize=768%2C786&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0748-min.jpeg?resize=600%2C614&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"655\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-369359\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0748-min.jpeg?resize=640%2C655&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"655\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-369359\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eileen Gu training at Cardrona. | Image: Eileen Gu Weibo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Team USA skier Hunter Hess will represent Team America. | Image: Visit Bend Oregon Facebook Hunter Hess will headline Team North America at the inaugural Snow League World Challenge, bringing an elite field of snowboard and freeski halfpipe athletes to Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand on September 19. The event will feature 16 athletes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-2089380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2089380"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089380\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2089380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2089380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2089380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}