Shaun White spent his profession competing in halfpipe occasions and bringing house medals. Now, the Olympic and X Sport snowboarding icon has landed a deal for a halfpipe snowboarding and snowboarding TV present. The Snow League will showcase a number of the finest skiers and riders on the planet. It would additionally spotlight head-to-head halfpipe competitions at ski resorts across the globe.
On Nov. 19, 2024, NBC and Peacock introduced the multiyear media rights settlement with White. The Snow League will premiere as each a contest and a live-streamed NBC manufacturing at its inaugural occasion in Aspen this March.
“I’m so enthusiastic about this partnership for The Snow League with NBC Sports activities,” White mentioned in a press launch. “This collaboration will showcase the unimaginable expertise in snowboarding and freeskiing and produce the fun of the competitors to a complete new degree.”
All through the sequence, competitors occasions will happen at top-tier places throughout a number of continents. In response to the press launch, extra places will likely be introduced within the coming months.
“Shaun White is a real icon, and his imaginative and prescient for The Snow League has us excited for this subsequent evolution in our long-time partnership,” Joe Gesue, senior vp of NBC Olympics & Paralympics programming, mentioned.
Shaun White & The Snow League: Premiering This March
The Snow League was first introduced as a contest in June 2024 on the Cannes Lions Worldwide Competition of Creativity in Cannes, France. White promised it could be the primary sports activities league devoted solely to snowboarding and freeskiing. The occasion will likely be a four-stage international competitors. The primary leg will likely be held at Aspen Snowmass’ Buttermilk Mountain in March 2025.
As one would anticipate from White, all 4 competitors occasions will likely be targeted on males’s and ladies’s snowboard and freeskiing halfpipe. Athletes will earn factors based mostly on their outcomes from every occasion. On the finish of the season, the purpose complete will reveal the “Snow League World Champion.”
The primary occasion in Aspen will likely be strictly snowboarding. Freeskiing will likely be launched at The Snow League’s second occasion later within the 12 months.
“We hope to encourage the following era of athletes,” White mentioned. “And there’s no higher platform to assist showcase our athletes and their tales than NBC Sports activities.”
As with its Olympic protection, NBC will spotlight the athletes’ compelling backgrounds and tales via The Snow League. Because the 2026 Cortina, Italy, Winter Olympic Video games loom on the horizon for the world of professional snow sports activities, this competitors will assist construct momentum and pleasure forward of the massive occasion.
The Snow League’s first competitors will happen March 7-8 solely on NBC and Peacock. The competitors will likely be live-streamed on Peacock and replayed on the NBC broadcast community afterward.
Shaun White: Residing the Halfpipe Dream
Regardless of retiring in February 2022 following his efficiency on the Beijing Winter Olympics, White has stayed busy. Not lengthy afterward, in October 2022, he launched his personal line of snowboarding attire and gear referred to as Whitespace. GearJunkie spoke with White about retired life and his new challenge when he launched the model.
Over the course of his aggressive profession, he received 15 X Video games gold medals and three Olympic gold medals. This new endeavor with NBC is an extension of each his profession as an Olympic snowboarder and as an entrepreneur.
Now, White not solely has his athletic legacy and his personal snowboard model, however he additionally has his personal international halfpipe competitors and a multiyear cope with NBC and Peacock to cowl it.
“I’ve a lot gratitude for the rider tradition that I used to be in a position to compete inside,” White is quoted on The Snow League’s web site. “That’s why my subsequent journey is to be a teammate, working with the most effective of the most effective to pave the best way in the direction of a limitless new period for the following era.”
