Freestyle Skiing & Snowboard Progression
Key Questions
What updates are there on the Snow League and X Games League?
Snow League Season 2 is confirmed with Eileen Gu and Luke Harrold returning. The X Games League has announced its second club, with over 180 athletes in the draft, salaries introduced, and its inaugural event drawing 12 million viewers.
How is freeride being incorporated into the Olympics?
Freeride has been officially added to the 2030 Olympics, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard has added it as a new discipline. The Freeride World Tour Qualifier is returning to New Zealand to support this Olympic pathway, with Colorado athletes beginning qualification efforts.
Who has been named head coach for the U.S. Snowboard Team?
Snowboard icon Danny Kass has been named U.S. Slopestyle and Big Air Head Coach for the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team ahead of the 2026–27 season. This move strengthens the team's roster for upcoming competitions.
Snow League Season 2 confirmed with Eileen Gu and Luke Harrold returning. X Games League second club (Bay Area/Lake Tahoe) announced, 180+ athletes in draft, salaries introduced; inaugural event 12M viewers. Eileen Gu and Jamie Anderson as athlete founders. Draft Sept 16. Jonny Moseley named GM for Golden State team. X Games League expands to winter with four clubs: Golden State, New York, Park City, and Whistler. Jonny Moseley (Golden State) plus three other GMs appointed. Draft Sept 16. Kirsty Muir wins third British X Games title. Eileen Gu graduated Stanford. Zoi Sadowski-Synnott double silver, Su Yiming gold. FIS President Ospelt elected. X Games locked in Aspen through 2029. Big Air Glendale upcoming. Freeride officially added to 2030 Olympics; U.S. Ski & Snowboard adds freeride as discipline. Mixed reactions. Freeride World Tour Qualifier returns to New Zealand. Colorado athletes begin qualification push. Danny Kass named U.S. Slopestyle and Big Air Head Coach. Sabine Payer retires. Valentino Guseli featured on post-Olympic mindset. New 25m Big Air jump opens in Japan using dry-slope tech. Rising talent Lainey Steen wins triple gold at Junior Worlds. Snow League drops Cardrona World Challenge details: halfpipe event in September with roster and schedule announced. Hunter Hess headlines Team North America. Snow League introduces 720 spin cap in semifinals to counter 'spin-to-win' trend. Australia's Indra Brown named to Team Asia-Pacific. Teamwork Challenge at Treble Cone adds creative format. Su Yiming takes on climate advocacy role with UNCCD. Norway formalizes freeride under its ski federation, signaling sport maturation ahead of 2030 Olympics.