The Snow League, the first professional league dedicated entirely to snowboarding and freeskiing, has raised $15 million to fuel global expansion. Founded by three-time Olympic gold medallist Shaun White, the league will use the funding to scale operations, enhance media properties, and grow partnerships ahead of events across Asia, North America, and Europe.
The Snow League, the first professional winter sports league entirely dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing, has raised $15 million to accelerate its growth and global expansion. Building on the momentum of its inaugural 2025/26 season, the funding will help The Snow League expand operations globally, grow its media properties and engagement, increase event production, and enhance partnerships with global brands in view of its upcoming events in Asia, North America and Europe.
Who’s backing it
The funding round was led by new investors 359 Capital (formerly Sapphire Sport), BITKRAFT Ventures and WISE Ventures, as well as existing investor Left Lane Capital. Additional new investors include Hillhouse Investment, Linda Henry of Fenway Sports Group, CAZ Investments, Trenches Capital, Purchase Capital, Alumni Ventures,FJ Labs, Fresh Tape Media and Range Group. Over ten existing investors participated in this latest round, including Ares Management funds, Bolt Ventures, Ryan Sports Ventures, Boardroom Sports Holdings and Kuvare Holdings. Will Ventures is an existing investor.
What they’re saying
“Our mission is to elevate the experience for athletes, fans, and partners alike, combining world-class competition with premium entertainment and storytelling. We’re proud to have the support of investors who share our vision and are helping us bring the next era of snow sports to life,” said Omer Atesmen, CEO of The Snow League.
Background
The Snow League was launched in June 2024 by winter sports legend and three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White. Season One, which boasts a $2.2 million season purse, features a four-event global format. Athletes compete to earn points to determine the overall champions. The season kicked off at Buttermilk in Aspen Snowmass on March 7-8, 2025. The first-ever Snow League World Champions will be crowned in Laax, Switzerland (March 19-21, 2026). The Snow League is broadcasted in more than 175 countries.
Why it matters
The Snow League is professionalising winter action sports at a time when traditional formats have struggled to engage younger audiences. By combining elite competition with entertainment and storytelling, the league aims to build a sustainable ecosystem for snowboarding and freeskiing—sports that have long lacked a cohesive professional circuit.
With $15 million in fresh capital and broadcast reach across 175 countries, The Snow League is positioning itself as the definitive platform for competitive snowboarding and freeskiing—bringing structure, prestige, and commercial viability to winter action sports.
