Aspen to Host Three of the World’s Biggest Park and Pipe Events This Winter

September 19th, 2024
Scotty James, in action at Aspen during the X games. Scotty has won six X Games halfpipe gold medals and will be chasing number seven in January. Photo: X Games

Mountainwatch | Press Release

ASPEN, Colo.—September 18, 2024— For winter events Aspen Snowmass is where it’s at this winter, having secured the three premier events in park and halfpipe snowsports for the 2024-25 season: X Games, Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and the all-new Snow League — all of which will be hosted at Buttermilk Mountain this winter. Hosting these three world-class events signifies the biggest season of slopestyle, park and pipe competitions Aspen Snowmass has ever seen.

“We’ve had some monster event years in the past, but this one might just top them all,” said John Rigney, SVP of Business Development at Aspen Skiing Company. “With X Games, Grand Prix and the new Snow League coming to town, we look forward to hosting the world’s top freeski and snowboard athletes to Aspen Snowmass, not once, not twice but three times this winter. Never before have we seen this level of competition in our pipes and parks.”

The XGames has long been one of the highlights of Aspen’s event calendar. Photo: supplied

The excitement will kick off with X Games in late January, followed closely by Toyota U.S. Grand Prix—both events with a long-standing history in Aspen Snowmass. Then in early March, Aspen will be the first resort to welcome The Snow League—the first-ever professional league dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing competitions.

“Our investment in this arena is purposeful,” said Rigney. “It’s a progressive and evolving setting to stay connected with young skiers and riders, to feed the generational pipeline for our sports and our resort and to, in tandem with our community, welcome back the very best and celebrate athletic achievement at the highest levels. We’re excited for Aspen Snowmass to continue to be the center of the winter action sports universe.”

X Games Returns: January 23-25, 2025

X Games, the world’s premier action snow sports competition, will once again take over Buttermilk Mountain January 23-25, with more than 100 of the world’s best Ski and Snowboard athletes, music and onsite activations. X Games Aspen 2025 will feature Ski and Snowboard SuperPipe, Slopestyle, Big Air and Knuckle Huck competitions. This year will mark the 24th winter season that Aspen Snowmass has hosted the X Games competition.

Freeski superstar and Olympic champ Eileen Gu is just one of the international big names who will be competing in Aspen this season. Photo: Christian Pondella / Red Bull Content Pool

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix & Visa Big Air: January 30-February 6, 2025

Freeskiers and snowboarders from across the globe will return to the slopes of Aspen Snowmass for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota January 30- February 6, 2025. The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix will feature competition in Buttermilk’s famed slopestyle course and halfpipe, and the Visa Big Air will showcase athletes defying gravity on a massive scale big air jump.

This season will be the first of a three-year partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard to host the event in Aspen Snowmass, with next winter’s event being part of the athlete qualification and team naming for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix is the longest-running winter action sports tour and has served as a major part of the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team and Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team Olympic qualification series since 1998, launching Olympic medalists including Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson, Red Gerard, Shaun White, David Wise and Nick Goepper toward medal.

Shaun White Launches new The Snow League in Aspen Snowmass The Snow League: March 7-8, 2025

World-renowned snowboarder Shaun White will launch The Snow League in winter 2025, marking the first professional winter sports league entirely dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing. The league will feature a four-event global competition format– with the inaugural competition kicking off at Aspen Snowmass—and continuing at top winter resorts worldwide.

“Aspen’s long history of successfully hosting world-class winter sports competitions, along with Shaun’s deep appreciation for Aspen’s contributions to his career makes it the perfect place to launch our new league,” said Ian Warda, COO of The Snow League.

The Snow League’s format will allow fans to follow athletes throughout the season as they compete to accumulate points, culminating in the crowning of The Snow League world champion, with a substantial $1.5 million prize purse for its inaugural season. Shaun White, drawing from his own experiences, hopes to elevate the sport and inspire the next generation of athletes by creating a platform that highlights their skills and stories. The League’s structure, including a points-based ranking system and head-to-head format, ensures a competitive and engaging experience for both participants and spectators.