ASPEN, Colo. — The Snow League, a new series of halfpipe competitions created by Shaun White, will showcase an impressive roster headlined by Olympic gold medalist Ayumu Hirano. This exciting event will feature top-tier snowboarders competing for a substantial prize pool of $1.5 million.

Hirano achieved remarkable success at the Beijing Olympics, where he executed a daring triple cork jump that had never been successfully landed in a full halfpipe run before. Shaun White, a legendary figure in the sport and a three-time gold medalist, finished fourth in that final contest of his illustrious career spanning five Olympics.

At 38 years old, White aims to use The Snow League as a platform to unite athletes within the action sports community, addressing the challenges posed by fragmented schedules that often hinder the best competitors from coming together.

Among the athletes taking part are American snowboarders Maddie Mastro and Lucas Foster, as well as Olympic medalists Queralt Castellet and Sena Tomita from the 2022 Games. Additionally, Gaon Choi, who made waves last year as the youngest halfpipe gold medalist in Winter X Games history at just 14 years old, will also compete.

Notably, back-to-back Olympic champion Chloe Kim, an advocate for White’s league, will not be participating in this inaugural event.

The league has secured broadcasting agreements with NBC and Peacock, ensuring that the competitions will be televised and streamed, starting with the kick-off events scheduled for March 7-8 in Aspen. The long-term vision for The Snow League includes expanding the lineup to incorporate freeskiing in future halfpipe events, though specific details have yet to be revealed.