Shaun White’s Snow League Kicks Off in Aspen, Redefining Snowboarding with Fresh Competition and Vision

Shaun White’s groundbreaking Snow League staged its inaugural event at Buttermilk Ski Area in Aspen, Colorado, over the weekend of March 7-8, 2025, marking a spectacular debut for this ambitious new chapter in professional snowboarding. Combining an innovative competition format with direct input from the athletes, the tour brought renewed energy to the sport, with Japan’s Yuto Totsuka and Sena Tomita taking home historic wins and the offseason buzz turning into on-snow success.

The Snow League, envisioned and created by three-time Olympic gold medalist and snowboard icon Shaun White, is designed to bridge gaps in snowboarding’s patchwork competition landscape while offering a lucrative financial model. With a $1.6 million prize purse spanning its four-event season, White hopes the league will elevate the riders, build a clearer pathway for upcoming talent, and refresh a sport that has struggled to innovate in recent years. "I want to make it so you can have a decent season on this tour and make a great living—that’s the goal,” White expressed.

The weekend began with excitement as spectators gathered under Aspen’s winter sun for Friday’s qualifiers, where eight men and eight women advanced to Saturday’s finals. While many of the top riders performed as expected, the drama was saved for finals day. Each halfpipe run showcased impeccable talent, breathtaking athleticism, and unexpected twists, much to the delight of eager fans and stunned judges.

Japanese riders Sena Tomita and Yuto Totsuka stood out as the ultimate trailblazers of the Snow League’s inaugural weekend. Each claimed victory in their respective finals, earning $50,000 in prize money and gaining a perfect 100 points in the World Championship standings. “I’m so happy to win the inaugural Snow League event,” Tomita said through a translator. “This feels like the start of something big!”

The women’s competition was a nail-biter from start to finish. Tomita and American standout Maddie Mastro wowed spectators with their head-to-head battle in the best-of-three format. After splitting wins in the first two rounds, Tomita delivered a run to remember in the decider. Anchored by a towering 12-foot frontside 1080 tailgrab, two stylish 540s, and a perfectly executed frontside 900 melon, her flawless display earned her a razor-thin victory over Mastro by just half a point. Despite the loss, Mastro emerged as a fan favorite, with her social media gaining traction thanks to a viral moment where she impressively ollied a misplaced spectator’s helmet during one of her qualifying runs.

“This isn’t your typical snowboarding contest,” Mastro said afterward. “Being part of something that gets everyone excited about snowboarding again, from athletes to fans, feels great. Hats off to Shaun for making this happen.”

The podium was rounded out by Korean phenom Gaon Choi, who defeated Japan’s Mitsuki Ono in a third-place duel. At just 16 years old, Choi showed maturity and innovation well beyond her years.

The men’s contest was equally electric, with Yuto Totsuka stealing the show in a weekend of thrilling head-to-head matchups. Totsuka’s winning run in the final round against Ruka Hirano ensured his place in history. Starting with a jaw-dropping 13-foot switch backside double cork 1080 Japan, he flowed into a frontside triple cork 1440 Indy and back-to-back 1440s, earning an astronomical 96.5 score. Totsuka’s run was described by White as “one of the finest pieces of halfpipe riding” he’s seen in years.

Rounding out the men’s podium were Hirano in second and two-time Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano in third. Ayumu narrowly lost a heavyweight semifinal battle against Totsuka but edged out Oregon teen Alessandro Barbieri in a tightly contested third-place showdown. Barbieri, just 18, landed a personal-best run during the match, exploding in joy as he tossed both helmet and snowboard in a celebratory tribute reminiscent of Shaun White’s signature style. "Even if I didn’t win, landing that run felt like I conquered my Everest,” Barbieri said, beaming.

Reinventing the Sport

The Snow League aims to bring new dimensions to competitive snowboarding. Its core innovation lies in the head-to-head bracket format. Athletes are seeded into matchups, and while individual runs are scored, there are no cumulative totals. Instead, the competition operates like a direct elimination tournament, adding an element of strategy uncommon in snowboarding. Each duel is a best-of-three showdown, creating high stakes and unpredictable moments in every round. Riders are also required to vary their approach, entering the halfpipe from opposing sides during their first two attempts, which freshens up routines that otherwise risk becoming formulaic.

“You’re constantly engaged,” White said. “It’s not just about spinning the biggest tricks; it’s about quick thinking, and your ability to adapt mid-battle. That’s the great thing about this format. It keeps everyone on edge.”

This new pace also kept athletes warm and energized throughout the day. White, drawing from his years of competition experience, designed the event to eliminate lengthy waits between runs. “You won’t wait more than 20 minutes between runs,” he pointed out. “You don’t lose rhythm, focus, or warmth, and that really showed in the performances this weekend.”

The financial model is another step forward for snowboarding. Each participating athlete receives a guaranteed $5,000 appearance fee, with finalists earning a minimum of $2,500 for making it to the last rounds. By contrast, typical snowboarding events offer far smaller payouts. “We invest so much in this career, and it’s such a boost to feel truly valued like this,” said Mastro.

Building a Legacy

For White, the Snow League is not just about hosting competitions but building a long-lasting legacy for snowboarding. The league’s unique emphasis on accumulating points over four events mirrors traditional sports seasons and aims to establish a world champion who represents consistent excellence rather than being defined by a single victory.

“My vision is to give the sport a narrative that spans an entire season,” said White. “That way, fans follow not just individual events but entire journeys. The best athletes deserve this stage to display what they can do over and over again.”

The Snow League is set to expand globally, with its second stop at Secret Garden, China, in December 2025. This event will also introduce skiers into the mix, adding an exciting layer of competition. Aspen will host the third event in February 2026, before the season finale lands in Laax, Switzerland, the following March.

“I’ve spent my life trying to better myself and the sport I care so deeply about,” White reflected. “I see this league as snowboarding’s next great leap forward. If we can inspire the next generation to invest their passion into this sport, then we’ve done our job.”

If the buzz from Aspen’s crowds is any indication, Shaun White’s Snow League is already carving out a bright future for snowboarding. This weekend was just the beginning.