Industry News
Yesterday, U.S. Ski & Snowboard and X Games announced a strategic partnership for the world’s best action snow sports athletes. This unique collaboration will unite two prominent organizations to create The Winter X Games Series, including the U.S. Ski & Snowboard World Cup events, the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, and Visa Big Air presented by Toyota, alongside the Winter X Games.
X Games and U.S. Ski & Snowboard aim to elevate further snowboarding and freeskiing competition, including creating an athletic pathway to the Winter X Games. Winners of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air events will receive guaranteed invitations to Winter X. The next podium place will be invited if the winners have already secured an invitation. Additionally, the next generation of the nation’s best freeskiers and snowboarders will have the opportunity to rise to the X Games based on results from the Revolution Tour, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s development series, which will also be co-branded with X Games. U.S. Ski & Snowboard and X Games will also collaborate on the calendar and events, adding X Games-specific disciplines like knuckle huck and street style to the U.S. World Cup weekends, including FIS-level halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air.
The collaboration will also involve co-branding and co-promotion efforts, leveraging the strengths of both organizations to enhance the visibility and engagement of athletes and their stories. U.S. Ski & Snowboard and X Games will also share content, ensuring comprehensive coverage and extending the reach for all events and athletes.
“Collaborating with X Games is an exciting step forward in our mission to provide more world-class competitive opportunities for freeskiers and snowboarders. With the recent announcements from X Games regarding their expansion to include more events in various locations and Shaun White’s Snow League, these sports have unmistakable momentum in the market and we are enthusiastic to work together to see them grow.”
– Sophie Goldschmidt, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO
Added Scott Guglielmino, X Games President and COO, “As we build toward the X Games League format, this partnership will allow us to deliver on the promise of more world-class competitions and a more consistent schedule for the athletes. Working with U.S. Ski & Snowboard will ensure we support and grow the athlete pipeline, which will benefit the entire industry.”
